Avison Young makes Stoke move
The consultancy has taken over the 5,000 sq ft Pavilion building at developer Capital&Centric’s Goods Yard development close to the city’s station.
Committing to moving its Stoke-on-Trent office in May, AY was the first commercial business to sign for space at Goods Yard, a residential-led project also featuring retail & leisure traders such as Glaze Café Bar, Panko & Sushi and Cotton.
The Pavilion building opens onto a new public square.
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “Back in 2021, we knew Stoke-on-Trent would be one of the next best places to invest, which was validated by Stoke’s appearance in the Sunday Times’ Best Place to Invest feature earlier this year.
“Our vision for Goods Yard has always been to create a collaborative mixing pot for like-minded businesses, leisure retailers, residents and locals to come together and share ideas. We’re buzzing to see this vision becoming a reality as we start to welcome Avison Young into the space.”
Tony Burchett, principal and managing director, workplace services at Avison Young, said: “Opening our office at the Pavilion building in Goods Yard is a huge milestone for us. Our presence in Stoke has been long-standing, and in relocating, we knew we needed somewhere collaborative, vibrant and modern, where our team would look forward to coming together and delivering great work.
“This investment is a representation of our confidence in the wider regeneration of Stoke, as well as our ongoing commitment to having a strong presence in regions across the UK.”
Cllr Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Goods Yard is exactly the kind of bold, creative regeneration that Stoke-on-Trent deserves. Capital&Centric have taken a once-derelict site and turned it into a thriving new part of our city centre.
“Their investment and belief in Stoke-on-Trent have helped to change perceptions of what’s possible here, and it’s fantastic to see major employers like Avison Young choosing to be part of that story. It shows the confidence that businesses now have in our city’s future.”
Adjacent to Stoke’s mainline station, Goods Yard has seen 115 of its 175 apartments rented to date. The scheme includes new public spaces, incorporating courtyard gardens, with more than 70 trees. Commercial spaces range from 1,200 sq ft to 14,000 sq ft across The Vaults and the Signal Box on Glebe Street, along with units on the ground floor of the apartment building.
Increasingly in demand from councils across the country for its ability to spark regeneration, Manchester-headquartered Capital&Centric is also working in Newcastle-under-Lyme on a trio of linked projects, and in Wolverhampton.
