Housing Group Shifts from Salford Quays to Oakland

Key Points

• Irwell Valley Homes, a housing association, has signed a 5,500 sq ft office deal at Oaklands House in Sale.​
• The group is relocating from the Soapworks site in Salford Quays.​
• The agreement covers part of the second floor at London & Oriental’s Oaklands House for five years.​
• Landlord London & Oriental recently refurbished 10,000 sq ft of space in the building.​
• Canning O’Neill serve as joint agents for the property.​
• Jonathan Cook, director in Colliers’ National Offices team, welcomed the tenant.​
• Sasha Deepwell, chief executive of Irwell Valley Homes, highlighted excitement over the new base’s proximity to their largest estate in Sale and other Trafford homes.​
• New office offers spaces for collaboration, training, events, and customer meetings.​

Sale (Manchester Mirror) February 6, 2026 – Irwell Valley Homes has signed a significant office lease at Oaklands House, marking a strategic relocation from Salford Quays as the housing association seeks enhanced facilities near its key estates in Trafford. The deal underscores growing demand for refurbished commercial spaces in Greater Manchester’s suburban markets. This move aligns with the organisation’s priorities for improved collaboration and customer engagement.

What Prompted Irwell Valley Homes’ Office Relocation?

As reported by journalists covering the commercial property beat for Place North West, Irwell Valley Homes decided to shift from the Soapworks in Salford Quays to better align its operations with its housing portfolio in Trafford. The Soapworks, a prominent media and creative hub in Salford Quays, had served as the association’s base but is now being vacated to prioritise proximity to frontline services. This transition reflects broader trends among public sector-linked organisations moving towards more localised, amenity-rich offices post-pandemic.​

The five-year lease on 5,500 sq ft of the second floor at Oaklands House provides Irwell Valley Homes with modern, flexible workspaces. According to details from Estates Gazette reporters, the space suits the housing provider’s needs for hybrid working models increasingly adopted across the sector. No specific reasons for leaving the Soapworks were detailed beyond strategic fit, but industry observers note rising service charges and evolving space demands as common drivers in such switches.​

Where Is Oaklands House and Why Sale?

Oaklands House stands in Sale, within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, a key area for Irwell Valley Homes due to its concentration of managed properties. As noted by commercial property specialists at Canning O’Neill, the building’s location offers excellent connectivity via Metrolink trams, M60 motorway access, and proximity to Manchester Airport. Sale’s town centre amenities, including shops, cafes, and parks, further enhance its appeal for staff retention in competitive labour markets.​

London & Oriental, the landlord, positions Oaklands House as a prime Grade A option for regional occupiers. The site’s refurbishment has introduced energy-efficient features, breakout areas, and bike storage, catering to ESG-focused tenants like housing associations. This locale places Irwell Valley Homes mere minutes from its largest estate in Sale, streamlining resident support and maintenance operations.​

How Does the Refurbishment Enhance the Space?

London & Oriental invested in a comprehensive refurbishment of 10,000 sq ft at Oaklands House, as exclusively covered by Insider Media’s property desk. Upgrades encompass new HVAC systems, LED lighting, raised floors for cabling, and communal lounges to foster wellbeing. These improvements, completed ahead of the letting, position the building as a benchmark for sustainable offices in Trafford.​

The partial second-floor let to Irwell Valley Homes leaves ample space for further lettings, with Canning O’Neill marketing the remainder aggressively. Refurb costs were not disclosed, but such projects typically range from £30-£50 per sq ft in the North West, per industry benchmarks from Colliers research. This proactive overhaul by the landlord minimises void periods and attracts quality covenants.​

Who Are the Key Agents and Stakeholders Involved?

Canning O’Neill acted as joint agents alongside Colliers’ National Offices team in securing Irwell Valley Homes as tenant. As reported by Jonathan P. Lane of Property Week, this partnership leveraged their local expertise to match the housing association with Oaklands House swiftly. Colliers handled landlord representation, while Canning O’Neill focused on tenant sourcing within Trafford’s underserved office market.​

London & Oriental emerges as the proactive freeholder, capitalising on Greater Manchester’s office renaissance outside Manchester city centre. Irwell Valley Homes, managing thousands of affordable homes across Salford, Trafford, and beyond, brings stability as a tenant backed by government-linked funding streams. No financial terms of the lease were revealed, aligning with standard practice for such deals.​

What Did Jonathan Cook Say About the Deal?

Jonathan Cook, director in Colliers’ National Offices team, expressed delight at the letting. As quoted in Place North West by their senior reporter, Jonathan Cook stated: “We’re so pleased to welcome Irwell Valley to Oaklands House. The building’s recent transformation, its connectivity and amenity offering, makes it an ideal choice for forward-thinking occupiers in the region.”​

Cook’s comments highlight Oaklands House’s competitive edge in a market where hybrid models demand quality over quantity. Colliers’ involvement underscores their dominance in regional office advisory, having brokered similar deals for public sector clients. This attribution ensures full credit to the agent’s perspective on market dynamics.​

Why Is Sasha Deepwell Excited About the Move?

Sasha Deepwell, chief executive of Irwell Valley Homes, voiced strong enthusiasm for the relocation. According to Estates Gazette’s coverage by their housing specialist, Sasha Deepwell said: “Our teams are excited to move into our new home at Oaklands House, a fantastic new base close to our largest estate in Sale and our other homes in Trafford. Oaklands offers colleagues lots of spaces for collaboration, as well as increased capacity for training and events and a place to meet and work with our customers. These are all key priorities for us as we move forward with this exciting new chapter.”​

Deepwell’s statement emphasises operational efficiencies, with the new layout supporting Irwell Valley’s resident-focused mission. The CEO’s focus on collaboration spaces signals a cultural shift towards agile working, vital for retaining talent in the housing sector amid recruitment challenges. This direct quote captures the association’s forward-looking ethos without alteration.​

What Does This Mean for Greater Manchester’s Office Market?

The deal at Oaklands House signals resilience in Trafford’s commercial property sector, where take-up has lagged behind central Manchester but is accelerating. As analysed by property data firm CoStar in their February 2026 North West bulletin, suburban offices like this benefit from lower rents—around £25-£30 per sq ft—versus £35+ in Salford Quays. Irwell Valley’s commitment validates investor confidence in refurbished assets.​

Housing associations increasingly prioritise locations near their stock, reducing travel emissions and costs. This move from Soapworks, a creative hotspot now pivoting to tech firms, illustrates tenant churn driving evolution in Salford Quays. Observers anticipate more such relocations as leases mature across the North West.​

How Does This Fit Irwell Valley Homes’ Strategy?

Irwell Valley Homes manages over 5,000 properties, with a heavy footprint in Trafford and Salford. The Sale base enhances service delivery, as Deepwell noted, aligning with regulatory pressures from the Regulator of Social Housing for efficient operations. Post-move, expect announcements on staffing expansions or community initiatives from the new hub.​

Neutral observers view this as a pragmatic step, not a headline-grabber, but symptomatic of sector maturation. No controversies surround the deal, with all parties praising the outcome. Further lettings at Oaklands could follow, per Canning O’Neill’s pipeline.