Bridgewater office revamp progresses 

Credit Suisse Asset Management has lodged plans to overhaul and extend 70 Bridgewater Street in Manchester when its sole tenant Eversheds Sutherland relocates to Two New Bailey. 

Place North West revealed in 2019 that the law firm would move into a new 50,000 sq ft office at English Cities Fund’s New Bailey scheme after 20 years at Bridgewater Street, prompting landlord Credit Suisse to plan a refurbishment of the five-storey building.

The scheme, designed by OMI Architects, proposes increasing the amount of office space by 30,000 sq ft, from 70,000 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft, through the addition of two floors.

The project also includes reconfiguring the building to provide ‘category A’ office space, and completely replacing the existing facades to address “known structural issues with the brickwork and sandstone masonry”, according to a design and access statement lodged with Manchester City Council.  

Parking provision within the building would also be reduced by 75% under the proposals, leaving 15 spaces. 

Office space would increase by 30,000 sq ft, under the proposals

70 Bridgewater Street, which backs onto the Rochdale Canal, was designed by Fairhurst Architects and completed in 2001. It has been occupied in its entirety by Eversheds Sutherland since then.

Credit Suisse Asset Management bought the office building from State Street Corporation in 2019. 

The landlord hopes the project “will allow the building to continue to function as a viable office location within the evolving market”, according to the planning consultant for the proposed scheme, Savills.