Kames reveals 17-storey Manchester office plan

Kames Property Income Fund has released the first image of a proposed 135,000 sq ft Sheppard Robson-designed office building at 39 Deansgate, ahead of a consultation session next week.

The building will include 5,000 sq ft of ground floor retail and restaurant space. It sits on a prominent site at Deansgate’s junction with St Mary’s Gate in the retail core, and would replace an existing 40,500 sq ft office building acquired by Kames in early 2018. Place North West reported on earlier plans for the site in September.

Local residents, businesses and stakeholders are invited to view the plans at a drop-in consultation session on Thursday 28 November at 39 Deansgate from 3pm to 7.30pm. Following the session, the plans will be available to view via advisor CBRE’s website.

A planning application is due to be submitted to Manchester City Council in early 2020.

Richard Peacock, co-manager of the Kames Property Income Fund, said: “Manchester has experienced a sustained period of unprecedented growth over the past two decades and the city remains highly attractive to major occupiers.

“There is strong demand for high quality office space in Manchester and 39 Deansgate represents an attractive redevelopment opportunity. We welcome the views of local residents and business on the proposals.”

Tenants at the current building, which was refurbished in 2016, include Investar Property, which has a five-year lease on a 2,300 sq ft space. Harrington’s Advisory previously had 4,600 sq ft on the second floor but has since moved out. The Flight Centre also has office space and operates out of one of the ground floor retail units.

Other retail occupiers include Greggs, while Ladbrokes was formerly on the ground floor but has recently departed. Formerly known as Speaker’s House, the current building was completed in 1963 to designs by Douglas Stephen & Partners.