Urbis and library lease 41,500 sq ft

Manchester City Council has signed a lease at an undisclosed rent for storage space in three units at Maple Industrial Estate, Ardwick for use by Urbis, the future home of the National Football Museum, and Central Library.

The deal by local landlord Maryland Securities is for a 4,500 sq ft unit on a three-year lease and will be used to store exhibits. The lessee, Manchester City Council, has taken a further two units totaling 37,000 sq ft for use as the main storage and distribution facility for its library service. The city's main library is currently relocated to Deansgate while it undergoes an extensive refurbishment and redesign internally.

Knight Frank and Colliers International are joint agents on Maple Industrial Estate.

Andrew Johnson of Knight Frank said: "Ardwick is a more cost effective option for city centre occupiers which require storage facilities yet do not want to pay high rates. The scheme's close proximity to Manchester and the North West motorway networks ensures that it functions well as a distribution hub for the Council. Five units remain vacant on the estate, totaling just over 65,000 sq ft.''