Auto Trader has signed for 130,000 sq ft of workspace at Bruntwood SciTech’s No.3 Circle Square scheme in Manchester for its new HQ.
The company has taken seven floors of the 267,000 sq ft development, including a private rooftop terrace.
The £87m building, which is being delivered by joint venture partners Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, is due for completion in April 2025.
The building will be net zero carbon in construction and operation for shared spaces and is expected to achieve BREEAM Excellent, NABERS 5* and an EPC A rating.
Josh Whiteley, commercial director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Auto Trader to No.3 Circle Square and have them join our community of science, technology and digital innovators. Their decision to join us highlights the vibrant, collaborative ecosystem we’ve created within Circle Square and throughout Manchester’s knowledge quarter.
“We’ve seen first-hand how the support we offer and community we’ve built at Circle Square forges connections and promotes knowledge-sharing between large, well established businesses, start-ups and scale-ups, from the tech incubator through to the large scale new buildings. All customers have access to the same talent, funding, and networking opportunities to help them develop and reach their full potential.
“As work at No.3 Circle Square progresses, we’re looking forward to welcoming even more forward-thinking businesses to the neighbourhood with more to be announced in the coming months.”
Alison Ross MBE, Auto Trader’s chief people and operations director, added: “We are deeply proud of our connection to Manchester, and over the course of the last decade, it’s become ingrained in our culture. The access to exceptional digital talent and skills from across the region has been integral to our growth and one of the key reasons why today, we are one of the UK’s largest technology companies.
“To continue to grow, we not only need more space to house our rapidly expanding data and technology teams, but also state-of-the-art facilities which can support their pace of innovation and ambition. We also need a space where we can welcome the wider automotive ecosystem, our partners, customers and peers to share data, insights and work collaboratively. The relocation of our head office to Circle Square within the heart of Manchester’s thriving tech community will help us to deliver this growth, and it reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the city.”
