Bruntwood to build bespoke 70,000 sq ft Booths Park office

The developer has revealed plans for a purpose-built 70,000 sq ft office at Booths Park in Knutsford for occupier Portswigger Web Security.

The office at Booths Park, which is within Cheshire East’s Green Belt, is set to be the new home for Portswigger, which is based in Knutsford’s Victoria Court.

The company currently employs 50 staff but is looking to expand to 400 over the next three years; Portswigger’s web security testing software is currently used by more than 15,000 customers worldwide. According to planner P4, the company had considered moving to Airport City or Alderley Park, but decided to remain in Knutsford, where around a third of its workforce is already based.

Designed by architect Calderpeel, the occupier’s bespoke two-storey office will feature two wings joined by a central area, with bronze and timber cladding, along with full-height glazing. Each of the wings is divided into four suites of roughly 6,800 sq ft each.

There will also be 197 car parking spaces, accessed via Booth Park’s central road, while arrival gardens and a plaza are proposed to the front of the building.

The developer’s team said: “Portswigger very much aligns with Bruntwood’s growth aspirations for Booths Park – falling within the high value knowledge based IT sector, with an emphasis on creating an exceptional workplace environment to foster collaboration and innovation, all part of the ‘Live Work Play’ long term vision and strategy for Booths Park for additional office accommodation and housing”.

Booths Park benefits from an outline permission for 226,400 sq ft of offices, granted by Cheshire East in 2014. Portswigger’s office is the first of the three proposed offices to come forward at the park.

Global brand Velcro Companies, IT managed services company CC Engineering, lighting designer and manufacturer 4lite and engineering consultancy Perpetual Partnerships have all agreed terms at Booths Park this year, while existing tenant Fishawack also agreed to expand.

Together, these deals, agreed at the start of the year, total 18,706 sq ft; all of these will be within existing buildings, rather than in new-build.

Booths Park is also set to include some housing; in October 2018, Bruntwood announced a joint venture with Hillcrest to deliver around 150 homes at the park.

The professional team on Portswigger’s office also includes Vectos; Planit IE; Hulley & Kirkwood; DW Consulting Engineers; and Richard Boothroyd & Associates. Matthews & Goodman acted for Portswigger on the deal.