Practical completion for Granada Studios overhaul

Aviva Investors has reached the finish line on one of the core assets within the Enterprise City cluster in Manchester’s St John’s area.

Styled as Old Granada Studios, the Atherton Street complex formerly housed the regional TV powerhouse of that name, and is now home to the Soho House members’ club, together with a 128-bed Mollies Hotel and Diner, both of which are now open and trading.

There are also container-style stacked offices at the site, which is a neighbour to the Aviva Studios cultural venue. Bowmer + Kirkland was the main contractor.

Private members club Soho House opened in November, after years of speculation, and offers a suite of facilities, including a full gym and health club, 22 hotel rooms, bar, restaurant and lounge spaces, along with studios and event space.

Completion at Old Granada Studios represents a landmark, after Aviva committed an initial £300m to delivering the new neighbourhood in 2018.

The global investor originally acquired three existing buildings and committed to funding the development of a further threes across the neighbourhood, in partnership with Allied London.

Along with Old Granada Studios, this included Versa Manchester Studios and Bonded Warehouse, along with the new-build Manchester Goods Yard office block, anchored by Booking.com, and The Globe Building, home to WPP, together with future development sites at 1 Grape Street and St John’s Place.

Taking to Linkedin, Allied London’s Mike Ingall said “we have created a landmark that is a catalyst for St John’s, the UK’s fastest growing tech and media community”. Ingall trailed that “several new directions” will be launched in the coming weeks, “including OGSworks, OGSmusic and OGSyard”.

When complete, Enterprise City will span more than 2m sq ft across 21 buildings including offices, hospitality and retail, and residential.
Enterprise City is one of several investments by Aviva Investors across central Manchester. In 2019, it committed £45m towards Circle Square, with other commercial assets including 11 York Street, 11 Portland Street, 40 and 55 Spring Gardens.

Julian Cobourne, head of regional investment management at Aviva Investors, said: “Enterprise City is a transformational project which befits Manchester’s emergence as one of the leading media, tech and creative clusters in Europe, and we are incredibly pleased to play a role in its development. It is already home to world-leading businesses that are shaping new technologies across the digital, creative and media industries.

“This is a best-in-class example of Aviva Investors helping the UK get ready for the future, regenerating communities across the country and creating dynamic new places for people to live and work in, and which can also deliver investment outcomes for savers and investors.”