Thursday 15 Jul 2010
NETWORK RAIL STEPS UP TO SUPPORT BUSINESS IN MANCHESTER
- Region & Route:
Network Rail today launched its new-look lettings portfolio, as the largest commercial property estate in Manchester. Previously trading under the name of Spacia, over 350 properties in a 1.3million sq ft lettings estate will be re-branded, signalling a new era for Network Rail’s property business.
With many of the units located in railway arches and other key locations, Network Rail is in a unique position to back small businesses and help drive regeneration in Manchester. With further investment Network Rail is committed to attracting new business as well as supporting established local companies by offering affordable, well-placed properties.
This change of emphasis towards commercial activities will generate income to support further investment. Around £1.5million last year was invested across the Manchester estate last year to create innovative spaces, including renovation of arches in Hewitt Street and Salford which caters for a range of business uses.
Network Rail’s nationwide estate offers a wide variety of properties in terms of type, style, quality and size for uses ranging from light industrial and storage, to leisure, retail and office space. Network Rail also offers flexible terms that offer good value for money, simple contracts and a 48 hour turnaround from enquiry to entry.
Director of property David Biggs said: “Through Spacia, we already support many small businesses and we understand their needs.”
“This move is a clear symbol of Network Rail’s dedication to its property division, which through targeted investment encourages local businesses to grow and in turn helps to drive regeneration and boost the regional economy of Manchester.”
Maximising the value of Network Rail property portfolio also allows the company to re-invest in the railway, bringing better services for passengers.
More information on business space available to lease in Manchester can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk/property, or by phoning 0800 830 840.
Notes to editors
Network Rail is the 'not for dividend' owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations - the largest of which we also manage We aim to provide a safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure for freight and passenger trains to use Our website: www.networkrail.co.uk
Network Rail will generate over £1bn from commercial activities in the next five years. This would pay to transform Birmingham New Street or King’s Cross stations, or put in place 5,000km of new railway.
Network Rail is the country’s largest provider to small and medium sized business enterprises, with over 7,000 properties UK wide with a total 18m sq ft of space. Individual units range from 100 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft with uses ranging from office, retail and leisure to light industrial and storage.
The lettings estate offers a wide range of properties in terms of type, style, quality and size and current tenants range from car mechanics, hair dressers and cafes to architects, specialist cheese manufacturers, bathroom retailers and even a theatre group.
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About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
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