Trio of GVA wins points to health of South Manchester

The recovery of the South Manchester office market has continued with new agency instructions for GVA Grimley on three parks totalling 500,000 sq ft.

Wereldhave appointed GVA as joint letting agent with WHR on the Towers Business Park, which comprises 330,000 sq ft with suites from 2,012 to 38,320 sq ft.

Orbit Developments instructed GVA as sole agent on Handforth Dean Business Park, a scheme with planning consent for a total of 154,000 sq ft of office development, 23,000 sq ft of which is currently under construction speculatively, reflecting confidence in the Wilmslow area.

In Knutsford GVA has been instructed as joint agent with JLL by Miller Developments on The Pavilions, a 27,000 sq ft scheme, which is also currently under construction.

Chris Cheap, partner at GVA Grimley said: "The South Manchester office market is as healthy as it has been for some time, with very real signs of significant activity amongst corporate occupiers. GVA Grimley remains very much at the centre of activity and is highly optimistic that the lettings will come thick and fast for these three key developments."

After reaping the rewards of the dot.com boom ten years ago, the market subsided rapidly in South Manchester, with falling take-up as corporates receded or looked to city centre locations once more.