Refurbished business centre welcomes new Warrington tenants
The Causeway in Warrington, previously known as St James Business Centre, underwent a £5 million refurbishment as part of a joint venture between Langtree and Warrington Borough Council.
The redevelopment aimed to attract small and mid-sized digital firms.
Jayne Furnival, executive director of property at Langtree, said: "You take a big leap of faith when you re-purpose such a large building.
"How people use office space has changed fundamentally since the pandemic and Warrington's economy has evolved too, so our refurbishment was a real test of our reading of the market.
"We're delighted with the results."
Since the refurbishment was completed in February, the centre has secured 11 new tenants, with five more deals currently in negotiation.
Exterior showing the new entrance on Wilderspool Causeway (Image: Langtree)
The 13,600 square feet let so far represents 17 per cent of the building's total space.
If the additional deals are finalised, occupancy will rise to more than 80 per cent of the 80,000 square foot property.
In addition to increased occupancy, there has been strong demand for the centre's new co-working and events facilities.
In the six months since the £5m transformation was completed, co-working bookings have reached 270 and meeting room reservations are up 65 per cent.
The Coffee House, a new outlet from the Lymm-based chain, has exceeded trading forecasts and now operates throughout the weekend.
Paul Chadwick, owner of PRISM Studios and a tenant at The Causeway, said: "Since we moved to The Causeway, we have been delighted with the facilities and how they have helped support our business grow.
"It's more than just a workspace, it's a community that genuinely invests in its tenants' success and is one of the key reasons we are here in Warrington.
"The eco system at The Causeway and in the wider town gives us access to the skills and talent that is critical to our success."
A key feature of the redevelopment is The Co-Lab, offering modern co-working space with flexible membership and usage options, supported by ultra-fast multi-gig broadband and shared facilities including meeting rooms.
Ms Furnival said: "The Co-Lab has been a big draw for a wide range of businesses, from start-ups to scale-ups and those requiring a short-term, high-quality base in Warrington.
"Many represent the continued evolution of the Warrington economy, with a focus on AI and other digital businesses, but the fact remains that The Causeway offers a perfect reflection of the breadth of businesses that call Warrington home."
The Causeway forms part of the Wire Regeneration project, a joint initiative by Langtree and Warrington Borough Council to regenerate the Southern Gateway area.
