Relentless on board for 500,000 sq ft Kendals office regen
Having recently completed and filled phase one of St Michael’s, Gary Neville’s development company is now turning its attention to another large Manchester workspace project: the conversion of the House of Fraser department store on Deansgate.
Relentless has been working with Kendal Milne building owner Investec for several months but the firm’s involvement has not previously been reported. The scheme could form part of a wider vision for the St Mary’s Parsonage area; Relentless owns Cardinal House and is reported to be in talks for Alberton House next door. Neville and business partner Anthony Kilbride have set up a string of companies recently, including St Mary’s Holdco.
Place North West understands Relentless is working as development manager on the long-awaited Kendals project, which proposes the conversion of the 400,000 sq ft Kendal Milne building from retail into 230,000 sq ft of offices.
Around 100,000 sq ft of active ground floor uses are also consented, as well as a 14-storey, 250,000 sq ft new-build office block where the adjoining car park currently stands.
The scheme, which was designed by Sheppard Robson, received a £44m funding boost from the £1bn Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund last week.
Anthony Kilbride, chief executive of Relentless Developments, said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Investec to secure the future of this much-loved Manchester landmark.
“The support from GMCA breathes new life into this critical area of Manchester and will unlock the wider regeneration of the Parsonage district. We look forward to drawing on our reputation for creating modern, future-facing workspace that fulfils the city’s commercial ambition while also preserving the architecture and heritage of its historically-significant buildings.”
Investec has struggled to get the ambitious project moving since securing planning approval in 2021 due to macro-economic headwinds, office market uncertainty, and complexities around the building’s listed status and title.
In 2022, Manchester City Council relinquished a lease on the multi-storey car park and ground floor retail units on King Street West in order pave the way for the project.
With the lease issues resolved, funding secured, and Relentless on board, a start in site could finally be near.
The project is among the largest and most eagerly anticipated workspace projects in the region.
Will Lewis, chief executive of OBI Property, which is advising Relentless, said: “The Kendal building is one of the most iconic buildings in the city centre and this exciting workspace conversion will deliver some of the most impressive prime office space in the city.
“Manchester’s office market continues to be fueled by high levels of demand from large occupiers across a variety of exciting growth sectors, underpinning its global appeal as a place to do business. Kendal will play a critical role in filling the obvious gap in supply.”
Relentless will be hoping the Kendal project will achieve similar levels of success to No1 St Michael’s which is fully let to a range of occupiers and broke Manchester’s record rent three times in the process.
No wonder Relentless are involved with £44m of free money from Andy Burnham!
By Anonymous
This is great news! Sheppard Robson’s design for Fraser Building is stunning and reminiscent of Three Hardman Street. Pedestrianise the whole area and expand Motor Square next.
By Anonymous
Good move from Investec but as this is equity and not grant, even with low / zero returns, that scheme does not stack up!! Relentless fairy dust or not, the macro economics don’t change.
By Anonymous
Relentless’s timing on St Michael’s was great. It’s a decent scheme but no better than no 1 spinngfields etc. once people are past the Nev factor, this will be a big lump of refurbished offies in a very sensitive market. Going to have to achieve £55+ to make that stack and that depth is not there at present.
By Jim
Good on Gary and the team, done a fantastic job on St Michaels with a world class building and attracting some heavyweight tenants. I’m sure this will be the same. Would also rather a local developer that knows Manchester
By Bob
Are House of Fraser staying, relocation or closing down?
By Anonymous
Hopefully the features that make the Kendals building ‘listed’ are restored and not seen as a hindrance. Shame the original glass bricks are going.
By Clouded Leopard
Having worked in Kendals in the 1990s (when it was already a dump), it is a sad day for retail that the edifice has been so under invested in. You do wonder, if it had been properly treated and a superb experience perhaps it could have survived. But House of Fraser have run it into the ground – even before the Mike Ashley days. But……..I applaud the ambition to regenerate this set of blocks as the area is a mess at the moment and if those visuals actually become reality then that will be good.
By Sad days
Great news having seen what they’ve done at St Michael’s.
By Anonymous
Manchester is full of entrepreneurs even the footballers are getting involved. Neville has done more for Manchester than Steve Rotheram has done for Liverpool.
By Trevor