Three firms snap up 17,000 sq ft at Manchester’s Windmill Green 

CityBee, the joint venture between Europi Property Group and Trinova Real Estate, has welcomed Clancy Consulting, Hempsons Solicitors, and Lambert Smith Hampton to the 81,000 sq ft office. 

Clancy has signed a 10-year lease on 7,700 sq ft of Cat A refurbished space on the fourth floor. The deal sees the engineering consultancy relocate from Altrincham, where it has been based for 24 years. 

“Investing in our new head office workspace is a significant step forward for the business and by relocating into the heart of the city we’re keen to benefit from the buzz of activity that Manchester offers,” said Clancy chief executive Chris Acton.

“We see this move as beneficial to our ability to better service clients, to welcome potential new recruits into the Clancy family due to the benefits of its central location and to create a vibrant new workplace that supports cross-discipline collaboration, while introducing new facilities which support the health and wellbeing of our team.”

Acton added that the building’s sustainability credentials and focus on wellbeing played a key part in the company’s decision-making process.

Clancy, which was advised by Colliers, will be joined on the fourth floor by LSH, which has inked a 10-year deal on 4,700 sq ft of fully-fitted space at Windmill Green. 

LSH will make the move to CityBee’s building from 3 Hardman Street in Spinningfields where the firm has been based since 2010. 

The third deal will see health and social care law firm Hempsons Solicitors relocate its Manchester operations from City Tower to Windmill Green’s third floor. Like LSH, Hempsons has signed a 10-year lease on 4,700 sq ft. 

Savills and Avison Young acted for CityBee on all three lettings. 

Located opposite Manchester Central, Windmill Green was the city’s first BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ office building upon completion of a retrofit project by Fore Partnership in 2019.  

Europi Property Group and Trinova Real Estate joined forces to acquire the building in 2021. 

“Windmill Green is a leading example of what a modern workspace needs to deliver,” said Mike McCarrick, asset manager for Trinova. 

“This vision is shared by the incoming tenants who we are delighted to welcome into the building on long-term commitments.” 

CityBee also has offices in Glasgow, Leeds, and Edinburgh. 

James Tootell, asset management director at Europi Property Group, added: “The focus for the CityBee strategy is to invest in well-located and highly sustainable workplaces in key European innovation cities. 

“Alongside the building fundamentals, we believe the provision of high-quality amenities and a strong community feel will continue to appeal to modern office occupiers. We are delighted with the recent lettings at Windmill Green, which we consider to be a clear validation of that approach.” 

To learn more about the office market in Manchester and across the North West, sign up to attend Place North West’s Offices and Workspace update on 11 October.