TalkTalk takes space in Soapworks

Asset manager The Carlyle Group and joint venture partners Nikal and Abstract Securities have let the 20,000 sq ft Boilerhouse at the Soapworks to TalkTalk.

The telecoms group has taken a 10-year lease at the Boilerhouse, and will use the site for a new meeting and training facility, which is expected to become operational in March 2015.

Vital Services Group was confirmed as the Boilerhouse tenant in 2012, but went into administration in 2013. the company was liquidated and the staff were made redundant.

The Boilerhouse is located on the edge of the River Irwell and forms the first phase of Soapworks, a 400,000 sq ft redevelopment of the former Colgate-Palmolive factory, with the 210,000 sq ft second phase due to complete in November.

The scheme has floor plates of up to 46,000 sq ft.

Ben Du Boulay, director of the Carlyle Group, said: "For such a significant and prolific business as TalkTalk to choose Soapworks as its new facility is a major endorsement of the high quality space we have created here. The Boilerhouse letting gives us really good momentum ahead of the completion of the second phase of the scheme, which is due to complete later this month, bringing 210,000 sq ft of Grade A office space into a very low supply market."

JLL and Canning O'Neill are joint agents on the Soapworks scheme.