New HQ Office Building in South Manchester

Countryside Properties PLC and Liberty Property Trust have completed iCO 1, the first office phase at iCO Business Community, Didsbury Point, South Manchester.

iCO 1 provides some 5122 sq m (55,130 sq ft) net accommodation on 4 floors together with 176 car parking spaces fronting Princess Road, the main route between Manchester City Centre and Manchester Airport. The building, which is set in an attractive landscaped setting, is fully air conditioned with a BREEAM rating of “very good” and features a spectacular triple height reception.

iCO Business Community is part of the wider redevelopment of the 32 acre former Withington Hospital site, where, in addition to the commercial element, Countryside Properties have already developed some 375 contemporary homes together with a new urban park. The Business Community has planning consent for some 22100 sq m (238,125 sq ft) net of office accommodation together with The Point, a new mixed-use amenity centre providing on-site retail and restaurant facilities.

At the recent Launch, 60 or so Manchester agents heard Celebrity TV Chef and presenter Simon Rimmer, owner of the award winning “Green’s” vegetarian restaurant in West Didsbury extol the virtues of the Didsbury location, only 4 miles from Manchester City Centre.

Andrew Carrington, Director of Countryside Properties says “iCO 1 at Didsbury Point is the first speculative HQ office building to be developed in South Manchester for some time. Whilst the South Manchester market has been over supplied, the truth is there are now very few opportunities for companies seeking larger headquarters buildings of this quality and specification. Unlike many anonymous business parks, iCO Business Community is a mid-urban scheme, forming part of a wider mixed-use development with excellent communications and the full range of local facilities. As such, it constitutes a real alternative to Manchester City Centre.”

iCO Business Community is being marketed by joint agents Edwards & Company and Jones Lang LaSalle who are offering a wide range of freehold and leasehold options on iCO 1 and the other phases which will also include smaller freehold self contained office buildings. The quoting rent at iCO 1 is £22 psf (£234 psm).