Insurance company 1st Central to launch northern office in Salford

Car insurance firm 1st Central is set to establish its first northern base after securing space at Exchange Quay.

The West Sussex-based business will occupy 10,838 sq ft in the recently transformed office development at Salford Quays.

1st Central’s head of procurement, Tom Freestone, said the firm initially considered Manchester city centre for its North office.

He continued: “However, Exchange Quay offered a credible and viable alternative that provided large open plan floor plates with excellent on site amenity and connectivity akin to the city centre but at a discount of 25-30% on occupational overhead.”

Earlier this month, Hunter Real Estate Investment Managers, which acquired Exchange Quay on behalf of a US-based investor three years ago, completed a £10m investment in the 433,637 sq ft office development.

Hunter’s investment director, Jeremy Birkett-Jones, said: “To be attracting occupiers with search criteria of the City Centre is an excellent result for Exchange Quay and the broader Salford Quays area.

“We have been striving hard to match all the requirements on occupiers’ wish lists with our investment into the development and to be starting 2016 with over 23,000 sq ft of lettings to 1st Central and 3M is fantastic.”

Canning O’Neill and Savills are joint property agents on the scheme.

James Dickinson, director at Canning O’Neill, commented: “The momentum at Exchange Quay continues to build.

“Hunter has really translated the needs of the North West market into a development of excellence and this is resulting in high calibre lettings.”

1st Central was introduced to the scheme by property advisory firm Matthews and Goodman.

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