Greater Manchester Police to take 240,000 sq ft at Ask:Goodman's Central Park
Date: 05/06/2009
Source: Nick Duxbury, Property Week
Greater Manchester Police's Force is to relocate its headquarters to Ask and Goodman's 1.4m sq ft Central Park, in one of the biggest deals of the year.
It is to move in to a 240,000 sq ft HQ which will cost £64m to build and will bring over 1,000 staff to the 6 acre plot 16 on the site.
Planning approval for the building, which was designed by Aedas and will seek a BREEAM rating Excellent, was given by Manchester City Council in April. The building, which will feature coloured glass and be lit blue at night, will be visible from Piccadilly.
The move got the Green light at the Police Authority meeting this week and work will begin on site this month, with completion scheduled for March 2011.
Ask:Goodman, a joint venture between Ask Developments and Goodman, is developing the park on behalf of urban rgeneration company, New East Manchester.
David Burkinshaw, director at Ask Developments, said: "The relocation of more than 1,000 staff will significantly increase Central Park's business community, creating a critical mass of 600,000 sq ft when the building completes".
James Raven, development director UK business parks at Goodman, said: "GMPA and GMP's decision, alongside the NHS's recent letting at Madison Place, underlines the significant demand for business space from the public sector that is becoming an increasing trend for many regional cities."
Ask:Goodman were advised by Lambert Smith Hampton and Cushman & Wakefield.