We’re letting in New Year

PENNINE House, a landmark town centre building, is close to being let by chartered surveyors Roger Hannah and Co which is enjoying a hectic start to the New Year.

The 13,000sq ft property in Union Street, formerly the headquarters of West Pennine Housing is one of three town-centre properties handled by the agents.

Acting for an Oldham-based property company, the agent has let the ground floor of Motion House in Union Street to Remploy for use as a training, skills and employment centre.

Leisure

And a former snooker club and function suite extending to over 10,000sq ft in Rock Street, Oldham town centre, has also attracted a considerable amount of interest.

On behalf of a local property company, Roger Hannah and Co is at an advanced stage of negotiations with a leisure operator with a view to completing a let of this long-vacant building early in the New Year.

The agent’s senior surveyor Chris Breakey said: “There has been a considerable amount of interest in this building, both as a whole and on a floor by floor basis. It is now under offer with a letting agreed to a single tenant and January target for completion.”

Mr Breakey is upbeat about plans and progress for the town’s redevelopment, saying: “Occupier demand within the borough has been strong and has held up well..

“The 35,000 square foot office development at Kings Point will crown the Oldham office market and completion is expected later this month.

“Funded by Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund (GMPVF), this is a ‘grade A’ development which will set a benchmark for Oldham’s business district.”

He also points to new retail sites as a reason to be optimistic in 2009 adding: “Despite the gloom of the current climate, these new developments in Oldham will support around 850 new jobs.

“The Tesco site in Huddersfield Road is undergoing major redevelopment and Wickes, Chadderton, on a five-acre site at the junction of Chadderton Way and Featherstall Road.

“Plans have been submitted and Wickes is to relocate to the site. Other occupiers will be Aldi, along with two furniture retailers. Other tenants will be announced.”