Insurance giant Royal London is on the verge of striking a deal to relocate its 1,200 staff from Wilmslow to Alderley Park in Cheshire.
If the agreement with Alderley Park landlord Bruntwood goes ahead, Royal London will move to the Parklands office complex where staff will have access to family-focused amenities, modern sports and gym facilities and the benefits of an expansive rural location comparable to its existing home. The move is expected to take place before 2020.
According to an announcement by the Royal London, the company remains committed to its Wilmslow site but wants to develop mixed-use commercial, retail and housing sites elsewhere as part of a masterplan.
Neil Kilshaw, head of group facilities and estate transformation at Royal London, said: "It has long been recognised by Royal London and by Cheshire East Council that our existing buildings in Wilmslow no longer meet the needs of a growing modern business like ours.
"We have thoroughly investigated a range of possible sites, including remaining at a redeveloped Wilmslow campus or moving out of the borough.
"Our exhaustive search has convinced us that Cheshire East and Parklands, at Alderley Park, is the best possible location for our business and our staff.”
Cheshire East Council said the announcement should end fears that the 1,200 jobs may move out of the borough.
Council leader Cllr Rachel Bailey said: "This is excellent news and I wish to thank Royal London for demonstrating its faith in and loyalty to the borough by choosing to stay in Cheshire East.
"Royal London has recognised that our expanding economic base, together with the skills and talents of our working residents, combine to offer a sustainable and successful future for the company based in Cheshire East.”
Meanwhile, Alderley Park landlord Bruntwood confirmed negotiations with Royal London were incomplete but near conclusion.
A spokesman said: "We confirm that Bruntwood is in late stage negotiations with Royal London and that we hope to welcome their team to Alderley Park. We won’t be making any further comment until these talks have concluded.”
He went on: "Parklands was always zoned as offices as it sits outside the Bioscience Campus and we still have over 1m Sq ft of bioscience space where we are having considerable success having attracted over 50 new companies as well as funding the start-up of a wide variety of new enterprises.
"The Royal London disposal helps fund the capital to repurpose the Bioscience Campus, and the running cost that we incurred whilst letting it up, as well as bringing additional footfall to ensure the world class conference, sports, hotel and leisure amenity on site are sustainable for both our customers at Alderley Park and the local residents.
"Bruntwood is more committed than ever that Alderley Park is an internationally significant Bioscience Campus driving the life science economy of the Northern Powerhouse at the heart of the UK’s post Brexit Industrial Strategy.”
Royal London is the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company.
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