A global sports marketing agency has been revealed as the first corporate tenant at Foundation, Altrincham's new work, retail and leisure development on the former Rackhams site.
SPORTFIVE has agreed a lease for the entire second floor (c.13,600 sq ft) for 10 years, doubling its existing office space as the firm looks to expand due to increasing demand for its sport marketing services.
The agency, which has a long history and heritage in the sports marketing industry both in the UK and globally, has been based in Wilmslow for over 20 years.
Bruntwood and Trafford Council, who co-own the development, announced the first workspace tenant ahead of the major development's proposed completion in the autumn.
Bowling brand Lane7 has previously been announced as the first leisure operator at Foundation, with more names set to follow later this year.
The transformative development will include a 375 sq m living biophilic wall on the building’s external façade, made up of 36,000 carefully selected plants grown by local firm I Want Plants, reducing the building’s carbon emissions and creating a habitat for wildlife.
A range of other sustainability measures are being taken, such as adding new thermal insulation, improving air tightness, removing gas fired heating and replacing with high efficiency heat pumps and the introduction of roof mounted solar PV panels.
It will complete a complete reimagination of the old Rackhams department store, including the transformation of 50,000 sq ft of commercial workspace and 25,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.
This redesign of the ground floor will offer a unique, welcoming arrival experience, and provide hospitality with a cafe, host, restaurant and bar offering, and retail. The development will include a flexible coworking space to provide an exciting workspace environment for freelancers and start-ups wishing to work in the town centre.
A new two-storey extension will also create an indoor-outdoor work and lifestyle experience, incorporating new terraces on the first floor which will feature breakout areas. A fitness studio, as well as cycle storage and showers and vanity areas, have also been incorporated into the plans to encourage a cycling commute and promote wellbeing among customers.
Sharon Johnson, Head of Commercial Bruntwood, said: “As we near completion of Foundation, it’s incredibly exciting to be building our community of forward-thinking and innovative businesses that will make it one of the most exciting workspaces in Greater Manchester.
David Prior
“Our vision for Foundation has always been to create a place where businesses and the wider community can come together, collaborate, socialise and learn, and really add to the culture and vibrancy that already exists in Altrincham. SPORTFIVE is a perfect example of a business that has its entrepreneurial and ambitious roots in Manchester, which has seen it expand globally, meaning it has much to offer the wider community of customers that will be based at Foundation.
“We are looking forward to officially welcoming SPORTFIVE to Foundation, and introducing other like-minded, ambitious businesses to the community in the coming months.”
Tim Birt, UK CFO & Executive Vice President of Operations at SPORTFIVE, added: "We're incredibly excited to be relocating our office to Foundation in Altrincham and have been impressed with the vision for the scheme and the wider plans for the Stamford Quarter. This provides us with the opportunity to create a modern and sustainable workplace for the benefit of our employees which will support the continued growth of SPORTFIVE.”
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “I am delighted that SPORTFIVE are the first company to take up the opportunity of setting up in the Foundation building. This is a fantastic development which will undoubtedly add to the excitement and vibrancy of central Altrincham.”
