Splash reports commercial lettings

Urban Splash has signed its first business tenant at the colourful Chips building in the New Islington development on the fringe of Manchester city centre.

The Manufacturing Institute took two units, totalling 2,200 sq ft, for an inventors' laboratory to be known as Fab Lab. The centre was officially launched today and opened by the leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Sir Richard Leese.

Julie Madigan, chief executive of the Manufacturing Institute, explained the concept: "A Fab Lab or fabrication laboratory is a fully kitted fabrication workshop, a kind of mini community factory, which gives everyone in the community from young children through to entrepreneurs and businesses the capability to turn their ideas and concepts into reality. We are delighted to have based the UK's first laboratory in the Chips building; the creativity it evokes fits perfectly with the service we're offering."

Urban Splash associate director, Lynn Haime, added: "This is fantastic news. We're incredibly proud of the Chips building and the unique opportunity it has created for businesses in Manchester looking for commercial space with a difference. New Islington is also fast becoming a desirable community, just last week we announced new public realm works, including a park, marina and promenade areas. These will all be located adjacent to the Chips building and will add another dimension to this thriving commercial and residential community."

Elsewhere in the Splash estate, Nightclub group Blessed has taken a 3,600 sq ft industrial unit in Castlefield which it will use for storage. In Liverpool, Shove Media has taken a 360 sq ft unit on Slater Street.