International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has taken a huge 80,000sq ft office space at Salford’s One New Bailey offices for its new legal and business services centre.
It’s thought to be the largest city centre inward-investment letting in over 10 years.
The eight-storey, 125,000sq ft One New Bailey office block on Stanley Street is set to be completed in May 2016.
Freshfields Global Centre (Europe) opened at Arndale House in Manchester in July 2015.
It accommodates legal services staff, as well as elements of HR, IT, marketing and business development, office management, document specialists and change management.
Staff are expected to make the move to Salford in early 2017.
“One New Bailey gives us both the high quality and attractive location we want for our staff,” said Anup Kollenathu, Freshfields Global Centre director.
“The developer has granted us valuable flexibility to adapt, up or down, the amount of space that we would occupy to reflect the evolving needs of our clients’ and our business.”
He added: “We are grateful to both Manchester and Salford City Councils for their help in setting up our current activities in Manchester and support in moving to the North West.’
Knight Frank Manchester advised Freshfields throughout the selection process.
In January 2014 Legal and General Property agreed £60 million in forward funding for One New Bailey offices along with a 615-space NCP car park.
One New Bailey is being built on the former site of the New Bailey Prison, where an archeological dig in March this years found stunning evidence of the history of the gaol.
Watch: New Bailey Prison dig into 18th century Salford
Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart added: “It’s exciting news that Freshfields has selected Salford as the long term location for its Global services centre.
“We welcome the creation of new jobs in Salford and the city council is ready to work with the firm to make their staff welcome and to assist with recruitment support.”
