November start for Old Granada Studios office

Bowmer + Kirkland is set to sign a contract this week to deliver a nine-storey office at Allied London’s Old Granada Studios, Place North West understands, with work to begin in November.

The developer secured revised consent for its overhaul of the studios in May last year; this is to include a hotel in the former Granada TV office building, featuring a 4,000 sq ft rooftop extension, along with a nine-storey office block.

Bowmer + Kirkland has been picked to deliver the office via a competitive tender with the project carrying a price tag of around £13m. The building will provide 64,000 sq ft of offices along with retail units in the basement and ground floor level. Previously, Allied had planned to use the upper floors to house 22 apartments but this has been scrapped in favour of more office space.

McLaren, as a construction partner for St John’s and Enterprise City, was formerly on board to deliver the whole project including the refurbishment elements, but is no longer involved with the new-build.

Under the existing consent, and including the revision to the office block, the proposals for the redevelopment of the area will include 100,000 sq ft of hotel space; 75,000 sq ft of studio and events space; 64,000 sq ft of office space; 14,000 sq ft of modular workspace; 13,900 sq ft of restaurant space; and 8,000 sq ft of retail space.

Wates was originally lined up as main contractor for the whole scheme when plans were first submitted in 2015, having prepared a construction method statement and phasing plan which outlined a two-year construction programme.

However, the project was retendered due to the extensive changes to its design.

The professional team has also changed significantly in the past 12 months. While Levitt Bernstein was originally the architect and Paragon the project manager, both have decided to step away. The architect is now 3DReid, while Gardiner & Theobald is the project manager and cost consultant. Curtins is the structural engineer with Crookes Walker as M&E consultant and Dalbergia as employer’s agent.

Elsewhere within St Johns and Enterprise City, Lendlease is the construction partner for new-build schemes, including Booking.com’s 200,000 sq ft campus.