Vitality signs largest Stockport Exchange deal to date
The insurance provider has signed a 10-year lease on 45,000 sq ft at the £145m commercial development next to the town’s train station.
Vitality will relocate from its current head office on Wellington Road to four floors at No3 Stockport Exchange.
The deal is understood to be the largest in South Manchester since before the pandemic and is the largest to date at Stockport Exchange, co-owned by the council and Muse. The previous record was 33,000 sq ft to Stagecoach back in 2017.
Some 1,000 staff will make the short trip to Vitality’s new Stockport HQ next summer. Fit out work will commence in the new year.
Luke McClaran, group chief people officer at Vitality, said: “Stockport Exchange provides the perfect space for us to create a vibrant, inclusive workplace that helps promote collaboration, connection and innovation.
“Vitality already has a strong presence in Stockport, and this move reflects how proud we are to be a business within the local community and our continued commitment to the North West.”
Vitality is the second firm to commit to No3 Stockport Exchange; Hurst signed for the top floor prior to completion in early 2024.
The building provides 64,000 sq ft of office space across six floors and was designed by Ryder Architecture and built by Galliford Try.
Stagecoach, music retailer MusicMagpie, global chemical company BASF, property company Indurent, and ONP Solicitors are among the other occupiers at Stockport Exchange, which features a combined 160,000 sq ft of office space across three buildings.
Once complete, the wider Stockport Exchange development will have delivered up to 375,000 sq ft of office space and 28,000 sq ft of commercial retail and leisure floor space.
A 1,000-space car park and 115-room Holiday Inn were delivered in the initial phase of the project a decade ago.
Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts, hailed Vitality’s decision to move to Stockport Exchange as an indicator of business confidence in the town.
“This is more than just a relocation; it’s a clear signal that Stockport is now firmly on the map as a leading business destination in the North West and a key player in Greater Manchester’s economic growth,” he said.
“Creating a booming business district in an accessible town centre location, right by the station and the award-winning Interchange, has proven to create new opportunities and jobs that benefit everyone in our borough.”
Steven Knowles, director of development management at Muse, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Vitality to Stockport’s flourishing business community.
“Stockport Exchange is a prime example of how thoughtful placemaking can transform an under-utilised site into a thriving destination. By creating high-quality workspaces alongside vibrant public spaces and excellent connectivity, we’ve created a place where businesses, people, and communities come together.”
Cushman Wakefield & CBRE acted for the council and Newmark acted for Vitality.
No doubt freeing up their current concrete monstrosity office block for a cheap and cheerful PD conversion to cruddy one bed apartments with no supporting infrastructure
By Anonymous
Better than that, anonymous. It’s likely to become a self- storage space.
By Living in a Box
Worth remembering that Stockport Exchange happening was almost entirely down to Stockport getting Eamonn Boylan as Chief Exec.
By Anonymous
One wonders how cheap the rent is to persuade them to go through the hassle of moving not long after refurbishing their current home.
By Alastair
What exactly is the point of enabling comments on this item and, arguably, on all items? What does it really achieve?
By Anonymous
Jesus Christ it ain’t cheap and cheerful…Anonymous clearly you not from Stockport you never visit Stockport for real life your own eyes look the Stockport office building. Go have a look out for images of Stockport office building it absolutely lovely as real, I was there last week it beautiful office it ain’t cheap and cheerful for sake. Grow up Anonymous
By G J Kitchener
G J Kitchener – I read anonymous’ comment as saying that the inevitable permitted development conversion of the Vitality’s current office into residential would be cheap and cheerful, rather than it being a comment on the quality of that existing office or the new one that they’re moving into.
By the light of the moon