Seddon signs first tenant to the Exchange

Seddon Estates has announced the first letting at its office development in Bury town centre.

Independent stockbroker firm James Sharp & Co has taken the 5,700 sq ft top floor of the building on a 10-year lease at an undisclosed rent.

Work has started on the £1.03m refurbishment of the former Craig House office building on Bank Street.

Martin Entwistle from James Sharp & Co said: "The Exchange is the ideal venue for our relocation and we are looking forward to making the move as soon as possible. Over recent years we have expanded quite significantly and outgrown our current premises [on Knowsley Street]. Our new offices at the Exchange will provide modern, open-planned space where we can continue to build the business. Its location is just a five-minute walk from our current premises which should help keep disruption to an absolute minimum."

Jamie Seddon, director of Seddon Estates, added: "After all the research and planning that goes into a scheme it is always exciting to see construction work get underway. We have already received a number of strong enquiries and to be able to announce our first deal so early on is a great acknowledgement of the quality of the scheme. We hope Martin and the team from James Sharp enjoy their new facilities when they move into The Exchange later this year."

Seddon Construction will strip out the building and create a new entrance and reception area. The full project is due for completion in early summer.

The Exchange will total 26,000 sq ft. Jamie said there are already an additional number of strong enquiries and he hopes to be able to make further announcements in the near future.

Matthews & Goodman advised James Sharp & Co on the deal. Joint agents on the scheme are CB Richard Ellis and Nolan Redshaw.