14 C
Manchester
Monday, April 7, 2025
AppointmentsBAM appointed by Ask Real Estate as main contractor for expansion of...

BAM appointed by Ask Real Estate as main contractor for expansion of First Street Estate 

Property developer Ask Real Estate (Ask) has revealed the appointment of lead contractor, BAM Construct UK, to deliver the next phase of office development at First Street in Manchester City Centre. 

Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds, has invested £105 million to forward fund the new 130,900 sq ft net zero in operation office.

Plot 9a is being brought forward by lead developer, Ask and its JV partner, The Richardson Family. The building will have a BREEAM minimum rating of Excellent and is also one of the first offices in Manchester capable of achieving a minimum NABERS Design for Performance rating of 5.5* stars or above – the highest level of environmental performance in use.

It was announced in August last year that the Government Property Agency (GPA) has taken a 25-year lease on the entire building which will accommodate around 2,500 staff.  It is expected that £31m in economic benefits will be generated by the relocation from London to Manchester of over 700 civil service roles, which forms part of the Government’s Places for Growth initiative.

The Government Hubs Programme enables the GPA to provide a smaller, better and greener estate which supports the Government’s ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The hubs allow the GPA to create modern, inclusive environments where departments can be collocated in shared buildings across the UK. Supporting Government’s Levelling Up agenda and Places for Growth initiative, encouraging the movement and creation of jobs outside London.

Ask has worked successfully with BAM over the past five years on a number of high-profile schemes with a combined contract value in excess of £137 million delivering almost 367,000 sq ft of floor space across Manchester, Salford and the North East, the most recent of which is a new flagship headquarters for one of the UK’s largest providers of social housing, Home Group, in the centre of Newcastle.   

John Hughes, Managing Director at Ask Real Estate said: “We are delighted to have appointed BAM to take this project forward. Since announcing our pre-let to the GPA we have had an unbelievable reaction to the building’s sustainability credentials and the jobs this development will bring to First Street. Having worked with BAM for a number of years, they have become a trusted contractor partner for us and this appointment continues our positive relationship.”

Ian Fleming, North West Regional Director at BAM added: “The ‘Holy Grail’ in the construction sector, which enables gold standard collaboration, is the early involvement between all the parties and in particular, developer and contractor. This pre-construction phase is where problems get identified and solved, partnerships are forged, and ideas and solutions realised that add value to a scheme and guide it to success.

“That’s our experience of working with Ask – it means our ability to enhance the sustainability and social value of how we work and what a scheme can achieve is improved. I know that the great challenges of a scheme like this can be met through the innovation and creativity our partnerships will bring.”

Olivia McHugh
Olivia McHugh
Staff writer
Latest

Funding approved to upgrade Rochdale primary schools

Primary schools in Rochdale are to receive a share of more than £2.9 million as part of an upgrade to local education facilities. This investment, funded...

Salford police appeal for information following ‘assault’

Salford police want to make sure a man is safe and well after appearing to be attacked. Officers received reports that the man was forced...

Limited100 Reaches 400 Customers with Global Demand for British-Made Automotive Wall Art

Luxury automotive art company Limited100 is celebrating a remarkable achievement with its 400th customer, as demand continues to grow for its high-quality, handcrafted car...

Joe Fraser Gymnastics Club Arrives in Lichfield, Powered by LoveAdmin’s Tech

Olympic gymnast Joe Fraser is launching an exciting new gymnastics club in Lichfield, supported by technology partner LoveAdmin. The Joe Fraser Gymnastics Club is...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

People’s History Museum introduces its re-launched venue hire offer

People’s History Museum (PHM) has relaunched its venue hire offer, comprising the very best of both its heritage and contemporary multi-use spaces. The transformation has been...

XIMEA Introduces World-Leading 245MP Camera with Sony IMX811 BSI Sensor

Renowned for its innovation in high-performance imaging, XIMEA has added a new powerhouse to its xiX-XL line – a medium format camera equipped with...

Joe Fraser Gymnastics Club Arrives in Lichfield, Powered by LoveAdmin’s Tech

Olympic gymnast Joe Fraser is launching an exciting new gymnastics club in Lichfield, supported by technology partner LoveAdmin. The Joe Fraser Gymnastics Club is...

Two men arrested in money laundering crackdown

Warrants were carried out yesterday as part of an operation cracking down on money laundering in Greater Manchester. Two men, aged 30 and 25, have...

More News

Kaur Sutherland Champions Wellbeing-Focused Conveyancing Practice

As demands on the conveyancing sector continue to rise, law firms are being challenged to maintain quality, stay profitable, and look after the mental...

New managing director of Walker Sime named as firm strengthens future vision

Walker Sime is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Neville as its new Managing Director. Jon takes on the role following 18 months as Director...

Works begin to create 81 new homes on disused land in Bury

Work has started to transform the site of the former Seedfield Centre in Bury into 81 new family homes. The brownfield site off Walmersley Road,...