Watch This Space completes first Manchester project

Joint venture partners Watch This Space and Roundhouse Properties have finished the refurbishment of the grade two-listed  31-33 Princess Street, bought at the start of the year from Buttress Architects.

The 7,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme has been fully let prior to completion, with one remaining suite under offer.

Tenants include digital marketing agency Clickoo which has taken 1,700 sq ft, and salad bar eatery The Street Garden which is opening its second operation, with a base already in Wilmslow.

Watch This Space has retained a floor in the building for use as a property co-work space, That Space. Pre-lets include Falconer Chester Hall Architects, Businesswise Solutions and landscape architect Carolyn Willitts Studio.

The grade two-listed building had been vacant since September 2013, with the exception of Clarity’s hairdressers which occupied one of two units on the ground floor.

Over the last six months refurbishment work has taken the structure back to its shell and re-configured it to open up floorplates and creating a new reception, bike and shower facilities, and a kitchen in each self-contained unit. J Waring & Sons was the contractor.

Michelle Rothwell, founder of Watch This Space, said: “To be in a position to announce that we have fully occupied the scheme prior to practical completion shows true confidence in the market post-Brexit. It’s encouraging to see businesses seeking a real identity for their business to set them above and apart from their competitors.

“We are working on similar buildings and looking for more opportunities in Manchester. Make no mistake, we’re on a mission to provide inspiring places to work for forward thinking, dynamic organisations.”

Office letting agents for the scheme are Dan Barnes of Savills and Andrew Rands of JLL. The retail agent is Andrew Hynes of Hynes Illingworth.

Quoting rent for offices is £18.50/sq ft.