Schroder lines up 40,000 sq ft City Tower letting
The University of Greater Manchester, previously the University of Bolton, is the latest in a long line of education providers seeking office space in Manchester, and is closing in on a deal for the first-floor podium within the 28-storey Piccadilly office scheme.
Schroder Real Estate is in talks with LCA Education, a private company that provides degree courses on behalf of the University of Greater Manchester, according to plans submitted to the city council.
The University of Greater Manchester already occupies 36,000 sq ft at Bruntwood SciTech’s Base Building. Its City Tower campus would allow the university to accommodate up to 850 extra students enrolled in courses including marketing, business studies, and social care.
Schroder, which acquired the building in 2014, has applied for permission to use the 40,000 sq ft podium for education purposes, naming the education provider as the prospective occupier.
The NHS was the previous tenant of the first-floor podium, exiting at the end of last year.
Since then, office agents have struggled to find a conventional office occupier to take over the space, due to a lack of demand for this size of office.
News of what would be one of Manchester’s largest lettings since the pandemic comes just a week after Place North West reported that Schroders was in talks with another education provider interested in taking space in the building; EC English wants to occupy the 9,000 sq ft 14th floor at City Tower.
Education providers have been among the most active organisations in the office occupation market in recent years, with many plumping for traditional office space over purpose-built buildings.
Global Business School is seeking to more than double its footprint at Universal Square in Ardwick to more than 100,000 sq ft as demand for education space in the city hots up.
Last year, Arden University took an additional 12,000 sq ft within 2 Hardman Street having already signed for 43,000 sq ft in 2023.
Elizabeth School of London is also eyeing up a deal for the entirety of Custodian REIT’s 30,000 sq ft Arthur House, while Victoria College of Art and Design has signed a 16-year lease at Britannia Invest’s 20,000 sq ft Bridgewater House on Whitworth Street. In Liverpool, John Moores university is close to agreeing terms on 24,000 sq ft at City Square.
Will the university be employing any marketing experts from elsewhere for this?
By Anonymous
Boom! Bust!
By Anonymous
OFS made a mistake in allowing the ”University of Greater Manchester” rebrand feels like a sly attempt to associate with a more prestigious organisation
By H