Soapworks

www.soapworks.co.uk

Abstract has joined forces with Nikal Ltd for a project in Manchester.   Abstract Nikal Management Ltd, in a joint venture with The Carlyle Group, purchased the former Colgate-Palmolive site in Salford Quays, Manchester for a £40 million office-led regeneration project.  The 8.4-acre site, renamed Ivy Wharf, comprised existing offices, cleared production and warehouse space and approximately 700 car parking spaces.

The existing factory building within Ivy Wharf has been renamed Soapworks and is being converted to deliver over 400,000 sq ft of new commercial space, designed and consented to include contemporary office, media, hotel and complementary retail and leisure space.  It is being delivered in three phases and is well-located within the Media City boundary, providing space that can appeal to both the creative industry and corporate occupiers.

The first phase, The Boilerhouse, comprising of 20,000 sq ft of office space over 5 floors, has already been redeveloped and let to engineering consultancy Vital Services Group.  This first phase also included the creation of a new public realm at Soapworks, including a new ‘Green Link’ public route through the site between the Ordsall Estate and the Manchester Ship Canal.

The second and most significant phase of the project is currently under construction and will see the creation of more than 200,000 sq ft of space in Blocks A, B and C of the original building, together with the new waterside external realm and car parking.  This will be completed for occupier fit out in March 2014. The final phase is the redevelopment of Block D, the biggest stand-alone block containing a further 200,000 sq ft of space over 7 floors.

The scheme also has planning consent for further commercial, retail, hotel and residential development on the waterfront on the remainder of the site.