Firm of solicitors takes two floors at 2 Stockport Exchange

Conveyancing solicitors, O’Neill Patient, have signed to take two floors at 2 Stockport Exchange, moving the firm’s offices from Hazel Grove to the town centre business hub.

The firm will occupy 22,901 sq ft at 2 Stockport Exchange, taking the 2nd and 3rd floors, joining chemicals giant BASF, who moved their UK head office from Cheadle to the building in 2020. musicMagpie and Stagecoach Shared Services also have their bases in the wider Stockport Exchange development, which also includes a Holiday Inn Express hotel.

The move from Hazel Grove aims to help O’Neill Patient take advantage of Stockport Exchange’s accessibility, both locally and nationally, to modernise and attract and retain the best talent.

Andy Scaife, CEO of O’Neill Patient Solicitors, said:

Stockport Exchange is a really well thought out development. ONP is growing rapidly and has continued to do so throughout the pandemic. We had been looking for new offices to accommodate our growing workforce and Stockport Exchange provides the perfect setting which is easy to get to and provides a really positive workspace for our team, as well as providing an image which is commensurate with our future plans and vision for the business which will see us modernise conveyancing.”

Stockport Exchange is a £145 million development being delivered collaboratively by Stockport Council and Muse Developments and is a flagship commercial property scheme within the town centre’s Mayoral Development Corporation and £1 billion regeneration programme. With the remaining space in the 61,500 sq ft 2 Stockport Exchange building attracting strong interest, the partnership behind the scheme has recently secured planning approval and £54 million funding from the government’s Getting Building Fund to bring forward the next phase of the scheme.

Phase 4 of development at Stockport Exchange will see the delivery of a further 64,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, alongside a 399-space multi-storey car park, along with EV charging facilities, green wall and solar photovoltaics to deliver 25,000 kg annual carbon savings.

Tom Webber, senior development surveyor at Muse Developments, said:

“The signing of O’Neill Patient at Stockport Exchange is a ringing endorsement of what we’re achieving here, and we’re delighted to welcome them to the growing community.

“Through our strong partnership with the council, we’re continuing to drive economic growth in the town centre, through the delivery of a high-quality product that benefits from unrivalled connectivity, which all comes together to create a destination. We’re proud to be playing a significant role in the renaissance of Stockport town centre to benefit the whole community, and the town’s future success in the Mayoral Development Corporation.”

Cllr David Meller, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport Council, said:

“Despite the current crisis, O’Neill Patient, are joining the town centre at an exciting time and will join BASF at this fantastic location. The fact that we have attracted such high calibre businesses to Stockport Exchange is testament to its high-quality design in such an accessible location, with all the benefits of the town centre nearby.

“It’s good to see the private sector reflecting the confidence we have – and will always have going forward – in our borough. Our ambitious Mayoral Development Corporation and the thousands of new homes and business opportunities it will create, the new Transport Interchange and improvements to Merseyway, all coming to fruition in the near future, will increase our appeal even further. I look forward to welcoming O’Neill Patient to 2 Stockport Exchange.”

Once complete, Stockport Exchange will had delivered 375,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 28,000 sq ft of commercial retail and leisure floor space.

Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are appointed as joint agents for 2 Stockport Exchange; Avison Young acted for O’Neill Patient.