Auto Trader grows presence ahead of move
The car sales giant is to expand its Manchester footprint from 60,000 sq ft to 76,000 sq ft at No. 1 First Street as it awaits a relocation to 80,000 sq ft in the estate’s next major office block.
Auto Trader acquired a fintech business called AutoConvert in August 2020, as the group looked to further automate its car sales processes, creating a need for further space.
In September last year, the business agreed to take 80,000 sq ft at the proposed 400,000 sq ft development earmarked for Plot 9 at First Street, a building designed by Jon Matthews Architects that is to house 270,000 sq ft of offices.
The building will occupy a two-acre site off Medlock Street once complete, and will be delivered by Bam Construction.
The project team also includes project manager Chroma Consulting, Deloitte as planning consultant, Gardiner & Theobald as cost consultant, Ramboll as structural engineer and Planit-ie as landscape architect.
Cundall is the M+E engineer and sound engineer, Design Fire Consultants is fire engineer while Vectos is the transport consultant, with Penny Anderson Associates as ecologist.
Auto Trader agreed a 15-year lease on 60,000 sq ft at Number One First Stret early in 2014, consolidating seven regional bases into one. The commitment to upgrading to the new building and exapnsing came ahead of a break in that lease.
CGI of No.9 First Street
