£1.9m scheme for Russells Construction
7/16/2010LGC Standards laboratory project from Trafford-based contractor
Russells Construction has commenced a new build project on behalf of Property Alliance Group at The Green, a new commercial office development in Bury. The contemporary scheme will provide a bespoke headquarters for LGC Standards, the Bury-based proficiency testing provider.
The £1.9m design and build contract involves the construction of a new 19,500 sq ft office, laboratory and warehouse for LGC Standards, which is set to move from its current premises at Bury's Europa Business Park. Work has begun on site at Carlyle Street and is due for completion in November.
It is the second scheme the contractor has started in the last month, following Russells Construction's appointment as construction partner for the Peel and Manchester City Council joint venture at the Eastbank residential development in Ancoats.
Andrew Russell, managing director of Russells Construction, said: "I'm delighted Property Alliance has secured its first tenant for The Green and, as their preferred construction partner, we have been able to commence work on this project. This is part of a major programme of investment in Bury town centre and is a welcome sign that the commercial property market is starting to move again.
"Until recently many schemes have involved refurbishment and renovation rather than new build, but the development of The Green demonstrates there is an appetite for high quality commercial property in good business locations. And, because we have remained very active during the downturn, with schemes including the £9m Holiday Inn Express in Manchester and a number of new manufacturing developments, Russells Construction is ideally placed to take advantage of these new opportunities as they arise."
LGC Standards is relocating to The Green as part of its future expansion plans. In need of larger, more up-to-date premises, LGC Standards was also keen to stay in the Bury area enabling it to retain staff while also growing the business. Liz Jordain, General Manager for LGC Standards, said: "We were keen to relocate to a more modern, purpose-built headquarters which offered top-of-the-range internal specification and a pleasant working environment. It was important for us to remain in Bury and reduce the impact of the move on our valued employees, so The Green is the ideal location and I have no doubt our fantastic new facilities will also enable us to attract talented new staff from Bury and beyond."
LGC Standards is the first confirmed tenant of The Green, the development of 92,000 sq ft flexible Grade A office accommodation right in the heart of Bury town centre, offering easy access to the north west motorway network. Set within landscaped grounds, overlooking the River Irwell, The Green will incorporate four separate buildings which can be subdivided depending upon customer requirements, and 265 parking spaces for employees and visitors.
Dominic Pozzoni, commercial director for Property Alliance Group, added: "We're delighted to have attracted LGC to The Green and see the commencement of the construction project as an exciting step forward. The range of amenities available in Bury, the wider regeneration programmes ongoing in the town and the development's location, make The Green the ideal solution for anyone seeking to relocate within the Greater Manchester and south Lancashire region."
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Photocaption
Artist's impression of The Green in Bury
Editor's notes
Russells Construction
Russells Construction works across the retail, leisure, industrial, residential and commercial sectors. It undertakes new build and refurbishment projects from the planning stages to completion on a design and build or traditional contract basis. Services include structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical design, cost work and project management. The shareholder directors of Russells Construction are Andrew and Gareth Russell.
Press contact: Heather Butler, Bell Pottinger North
(01625 506 435 / 07940 508 585)
hbutler@bellpottingernorth.co.uk
About LGC Standards
LGC Standards provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose Science & Technology Division acts as the UK National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurements. LGC Standards supplies over 20,000 reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards, proficiency testing and training in analytical quality. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China, Russia and the UK, a joint venture presence in India, and representatives in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey and the US.
About LGC
LGC is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. A progressive and innovative enterprise, LGC operates in socially responsible fields underpinning the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for UK government departments and blue chip clients.
LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, LGC Genomics, LGC Standards, and LGC Science & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supporting LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement.
Our operations are extensively accredited to international quality standards such as ISO 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs 1500 staff in 28 laboratories and centres across Europe and at sites in India, China and the US. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint, LGC was founded almost 170 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.
