AO World PLC chooses Bruntwood’s Riverside as Manchester base

AO World PLC, one of Europe’s leading online retailers of electrical products, is to consolidate its Manchester operation by taking the whole of Baskerville House at Bruntwood’s Riverside office complex.

The move will see the Bolton-headquartered white goods specialist take an 11-year lease for the entire six-storey building, occupying just under 37,000 sq ft.

AO World PLC, which trades as AO.com, is currently based in City Tower at Piccadilly Plaza, a former Bruntwood building, and in an office suite within Riverside’s five building cluster.

Riverside, situated on New Bailey Street on the banks of the River Irwell, near to Salford Central rail station, lies on the edge of the city centre’s core business district and has recently undergone a £5 million refurbishment.

Along with 1.5 acres of public realm, including a private courtyard with water features and sculptures, the campus also has a secure bicycle storage area and shower facilities to encourage workers to walk, run or cycle to work. A new boutique gym and personal training facility called FORM has also just opened at Riverside.

Steve Caunce, chief executive of AO World PLC, said: “Moving our entire Manchester operation under one roof not only makes sense, but is a reflection of the business’s success and our continued growth ambition.

“Baskerville House is a perfect location for this next stage of our development and will meet the needs of our staff with great transport connections and excellent local amenities.

“Bruntwood has also really thought about how the environment at Riverside can benefit their customers and I have no doubt that AO and our people will thrive here.”

Andrew Butterworth, sales director at Bruntwood, said: “We have had a long-term relationship with AO World PLC since the company moved part of its business into Manchester city centre some eight years ago.

“We are very pleased that AO World has now chosen to locate all of its Manchester operation at Riverside, where we are sure the company will flourish and continue to build on its success and we look forward to supporting it with any future plans to expand.”
OBI Property represented AO World on the leasehold acquisition. Will Lewis of OBI commented “We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with AO and we are now looking forward to delivering a state of the art working environment for the AO team.”
OBI Property is appointed by AO to design and project manage the fit out.
Bruntwood represented themselves in the transaction.