Exclusive: Real estate firm still hasn’t been able to return
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has temporarily relocated its Manchester office after a giant crack appeared in one of the building’s walls.
The firm, which employs around 100 staff in Manchester, had to evacuate the Grade II-listed building last November when a fence smashed into the brickwork during high winds. At the time, Manchester City Council stressed that the incident wasn’t a safety issue and repair work was already being arranged.
However, several months on and with all the building’s other tenants understood to be back on site, Legal Cheek has learned that BCLP, continues to operate from an interim office space across the street. According to one insider, this is because the 32-office-outfit is now in a “dispute” with the building’s landlord over the “repair work”.
The 76 King Street building, which is home to other businesses including retailers Belstaff and DKNY, is currently owned by HPPUT, an investment outfit which is part of the Daily Mail & General Trust pensions group. It purchased the building from real estate firm, Aprirose, for £18.25 million in September — just months before the crack appeared.
BCLP declined to comment.