Hurst are latest business to sign up for new headquarters at 3 Stockport Exchange

Accounting and business advisory firm HURST are the latest business to sign a deal to move their head office to the popular Stockport Exchange development.

3 Stockport is the third stunning, high-quality 64,000 sq ft office building, which is currently under construction and due to be completed before Christmas.

This latest phase is adjacent to 1 and 2 Stockport Exchange and is home to a number of high profile businesses, including BASF, Stagecoach and musicMagpie.

Office occupiers will benefit from an innovative 398-space multi-storey car park featuring 24 electric vehicle charging points, solar photovoltaics and a green ‘living’ wall.

Other features include 38 cycle racks, showers, lockers and a drying room, high-speed passenger lifts, high-speed fibre infrastructure provided by BT Openreach and Virgin Media, and a BREEAM excellent rating.

3 Stockport Exchange will build on the success of previous phases and will incorporate additional public realm improvements to further enhance the area, making it an attractive space for businesses and residents to enjoy.

The £145m Stockport Exchange development is being delivered by Stockport Council and Muse, and forms part of Stockport’s Town Centre West £500m regeneration masterplan, being delivered by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), alongside it’s public and private partners. The 130-acre site will bring over 4,000 new homes, alongside major transport and infrastructure improvements, Grade A office space and new leisure spaces and amenities to the town centre.

The deal will see HURST take over the entire fifth floor (11,000sq ft) at 3 Stockport Exchange, to accommodate their growing team. They will move from a building in Tiviot Dale in Stockport town centre where they have been based since 1998 and have now outgrown the premises.

The fit-out is due to begin in January 2024, with HURST’S 120-strong team scheduled to move in next April. The new HQ will give the firm scope to expand to around 170 staff, which it aims to achieve over the next three years.

HURST focuses on advising entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses with turnover of £5m and above across all sectors. Clients include Duerr’s, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Creamline Dairies and Arighi Bianchi.

Cllr Colin MacAlister, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “I’m delighted that HURST has seen the benefits of moving to Stockport Exchange and choosing it to grow and attract their workforce. They will not only reap the benefits of a high-quality office development with fantastic accessibility, but also our ambitious plans for the town centre like the new transport interchange, improvements to Merseyway and our growing retail offer.

“Despite operating in challenging times, we are seeing strong demand from the business community who are seeing Stockport as a great place to establish their business and attract high calibre staff. I look forward to welcoming HURST to their new premises next year.”

Tom Webber, senior development manager at Muse, said: “The news that HURST has decided to make 3 Stockport Exchange its home represents another significant step forwards in our efforts to create a vibrant, thriving business community at the heart of the development.

“It’s rewarding to see our ambitious and progressive vision for Stockport, which we’re proud to be delivering alongside Stockport Council, continuing to come to life as we create a place that not only supports wellbeing and sustainability, but drives growth and prosperity for the town.”

Tim Potter, managing partner of HURST, said: “Although we looked at various sites in Manchester city centre, Stockport has always worked very well for us from a client and team perspective.

“It’s a great place to be and is firmly on the map for business and leisure, reinforced by its recently-awarded status as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2023.

“When it came to looking at locations in the town, 3 Stockport Exchange stood out because of its environmental credentials and its superb public transport links, which offer easier access to staff and thereby will broaden our recruitment appeal even further as we look to expand the firm.”

Once complete, the wider Stockport Exchange development will have delivered up to 375,000 sq ft of office space, creating a new business hub for the North West.
Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are joint agents for the Stockport Exchange scheme.