Manchester Airport Office Complex Sold in £14m Deal 2026

Key Points

• Manchester International Office Centre has apparently been sold at a price of approximately £14m.
• The 90,200 sq ft office building had been listed with a price tag of £16m.
• The building has been put up for sale in October 2025 by asset management company Till AM.
• The purchaser is a family private business that is run through Gary Scorah’s Commercial Properties.
• MIOC is located on a plot size of 6.6 acres at Styal Road in Wythenshawe, near Manchester Airport.
• The three storeys building was almost 95% occupied at the time of its listing.
• Annual income from office rents was approximately £1.8m.
• Its annual rental income of £23 per sq ft was less than premium office rental rates of £27 per sq ft in South Manchester.
• The property comprises of a café, meeting and conference rooms, a gymnasium, showers, bicycle racks and parking for 534 cars.
• The building has a freehold ownership by Manchester City Council and a leasehold term of 169 years starting from 1982.
• Approximately 126 years have left in its lease that has a peppercorn rent.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 16, 2026 – International Office Centre was traded for around £14m , after being placed on the market with a guide price of £16m. The 90,200 sq ft office complex near Manchester Airport was marketed by asset manager Till AM on behalf of its private owner, with Carrick Real Estate acting as agent. Place NorthWest reported the sale and identified Neil Tague as the author of the report.

The purchaser is understood to be a private family operation represented by Gary Scorah’s Commercial Properties. The final price is believed to be approximately £2m below the guide price set when the property was launched for sale.

How much was Manchester International Office Centre sold for?

Manchester International Office Centre was sold for approximately £14m, according to Place NorthWest’s report by Neil Tague. The property had been marketed at £16m, meaning the reported transaction value was around 12.5% below the guide price.

The sale marks a change of ownership for one of the larger office properties close to Manchester Airport. It also places the complex in new private ownership at a time when office investors are assessing occupancy, rental growth and the long-term prospects of regional commercial property.

Till AM put MIOC on the market in October 2025. Carrick Real Estate worked with Till AM on the sale process for the private owner. The marketing campaign presented the property as an established office complex with substantial existing occupancy and additional potential to increase rental income.

Where is the office complex located?

Manchester International Office Centre is located on 6.6 acres off Styal Road in Wythenshawe, a short drive from Manchester International Airport.

The site’s location gives it access to one of Greater Manchester’s most important transport and employment areas. Its proximity to the airport is a central feature of the property, particularly for businesses that need links to national and international travel.

The complex was built in 1954 and has been refurbished several times during its history. The building is arranged over three storeys and extends to approximately 90,200 sq ft, according to the property details reported by Place NorthWest.

Its age means that continued investment has formed part of the building’s ownership and management strategy. During Till AM’s stewardship, the entrance and reception areas were remodelled. The asset manager also committed a further £1m during the previous year to refurbishing unlet space.

What was the property’s occupancy and rental income?

Manchester International Office Centre was approximately 95% let when it was launched to the market. The occupied space generated annual office rent of about £1.8m.

Place NorthWest reported that the average rent across the building was approximately £23 per sq ft. Carrick Real Estate indicated that there could be scope to increase this figure because prime South Manchester office rents were around £27 per sq ft.

The difference between the average rent at MIOC and the reported prime-market level provided a potential opportunity for the new owner. If occupancy remains high and rents increase as leases are renewed or new space is let, the property could generate higher income over time. However, the reported sale coverage does not confirm whether any specific rental increases have been agreed since the marketing campaign.

The building’s reported occupancy also gives the purchaser an established income stream from the date of acquisition. As with any office investment, the value of that income depends on tenant retention, lease terms, building condition and wider demand for workspace in the area.

What facilities does Manchester International Office Centre offer?

Manchester International Office Centre includes several facilities intended to support office occupiers and provide services beyond the main workspace.

The amenities reported by Place NorthWest include:

• An on-site café.
• Conference and meeting rooms.
• A gym with showers.
• Cycle lockers.
• 534 parking spaces.

The parking spaces also contribute rental income. According to the report, they generate approximately £75,650 a year.

The combination of parking, leisure facilities, meeting areas and refurbished reception space forms part of the property’s offer to occupiers. These features may be particularly relevant to businesses looking for a workplace outside Manchester city centre while retaining access to major roads and the airport.

The amount of parking is a notable feature of the complex. With 534 spaces on the site, the property has a substantial parking provision for employees, visitors and businesses operating from the building. The additional parking income also contributes to the overall financial performance of the asset.

Why could the property attract a new buyer?

The property’s existing occupancy, airport location and potential for rental growth were important elements of its investment proposition.

MIOC was marketed with approximately 95% of its space let and generated around £1.8m in annual office rent. This provided a buyer with an established commercial property rather than a vacant development site.

The complex also had a reported average rent of £23 per sq ft, compared with prime South Manchester office rents of about £27 per sq ft. Carrick Real Estate suggested that the gap created potential for rental improvement, although the ability to achieve higher rents would depend on tenant demand, the quality of available space and market conditions.

The £1m investment in unlet space was another relevant factor. Refurbished areas can be more competitive when offered to prospective occupiers, particularly when businesses are comparing older offices with newer or comprehensively upgraded buildings.

The site’s proximity to Manchester Airport added another part of the investment case. Businesses with regional, national or international operations may value access to the airport, while employees and visitors may benefit from the property’s position near major transport connections.

What happened in the South Manchester office market?

The sale took place against a backdrop of changing office rental levels across South Manchester.

Place NorthWest reported that a new sub-market record was achieved during the summer when Siemens moved to Towers Business Park in Didsbury. The report did not provide the full terms of that transaction, but it identified the deal as a new benchmark for the local office market.

The Siemens letting was relevant to the marketing of MIOC because it provided evidence of strong rental levels at the top end of the South Manchester market. Against that benchmark, the average rent at Manchester International Office Centre was reported at £23 per sq ft.

The comparison does not mean every office building in the area can achieve the same rent. Rental levels vary according to location, specification, refurbishment, lease terms, amenities, transport links and the amount of available space. Nevertheless, the reported market record helped establish the wider context in which MIOC was offered for sale.

Who owns the freehold and leasehold interests?

Manchester City Council owns the freehold of Manchester International Office Centre. The property’s leasehold interest runs for 169 years from 1982.

Based on the reported lease terms, approximately 126 years remain on the lease. The lease is subject to a peppercorn rent payable to Manchester City Council.

The long lease provides the purchaser with a substantial period of control over the property. The peppercorn rent also means that the ground-rent obligation is nominal, according to the property information reported by Place NorthWest.

The distinction between the freehold and leasehold interests is important in understanding the transaction. The private buyer has acquired the relevant leasehold interest in the office complex, while the council retains ownership of the freehold.

What does the sale mean for Manchester International Office Centre?

The transaction gives Manchester International Office Centre a new private owner and creates the possibility of further investment in the building.

The property has already benefited from improvements under Till AM, including work to the entrance and reception areas and a £1m commitment to refurbish unlet space. The new owner will determine how the complex is managed and whether additional upgrades, leasing activity or changes to the tenant mix are pursued.

The reported financial figures indicate that MIOC is an income-producing office asset. Its occupancy level, annual rent and parking income provide the basis for assessing the property’s performance, while the difference between its average rent and prime South Manchester levels may provide room for future growth.

The reported transaction price also shows that the property changed hands below its original guide price. That difference may reflect negotiations between the buyer and seller, the condition of the office market, the property’s lease structure or the buyer’s assessment of future income. The available report does not give a detailed explanation for the final price.

Background to the development

Manchester International Office Centre was built in 1954 and has undergone a series of refurbishments. The complex is located off Styal Road in Wythenshawe, close to Manchester Airport, and occupies 6.6 acres.

Till AM placed the property on the market in October 2025 with Carrick Real Estate. The guide price was £16m. Place NorthWest reported that the guide was approximately £2.5m higher than the amount Highcross achieved when it sold the asset in 2011.

At the time it was launched for sale, the complex extended to approximately 90,200 sq ft across three storeys and was 95% let. It generated around £1.8m in annual office rent, while 534 parking spaces produced an additional £75,650 a year.

Till AM’s ownership period included improvements to the entrance and reception areas. A further £1m was committed to revamping unlet space during the year before the sale report.

The freehold remains owned by Manchester City Council. The leasehold was granted for 169 years from 1982, leaving approximately 126 years remaining. The lease carries a peppercorn rent.

How could the sale affect tenants and local businesses?

The sale is likely to affect tenants mainly through the new owner’s approach to property management, refurbishment, leasing and rental negotiations. Existing occupiers may continue to benefit from the complex’s current facilities, including the café, meeting rooms, gym, cycle lockers and parking provision.

For local businesses, the transaction indicates continued investor interest in established office property in South Manchester. The complex’s location near Manchester Airport and its reported occupancy make it a significant commercial site in the Wythenshawe office market.

The longer-term effect will depend on whether the new owner invests further in the building, maintains occupancy and seeks to bring rents closer to prime South Manchester levels. Businesses considering the site may monitor any changes to available space, service charges, parking arrangements, amenities and lease terms.

The reported sale does not confirm any immediate changes for tenants. No statement in the available report indicates that occupiers will be required to leave or that the facilities will be altered.

Prediction: How could the sale affect the local business audience?

For local businesses, Manchester International Office Centre’s change of ownership could create both continuity and new opportunities. The property already has high occupancy, established facilities and a location close to Manchester Airport, so the immediate effect is likely to be continued office use rather than a major change in the site’s purpose.

The most important issue for current and prospective occupiers will be the new owner’s strategy. Further refurbishment could improve the quality of available offices and make the complex more attractive to businesses seeking space in South Manchester. However, efforts to increase rents towards the reported prime-market level could raise occupancy costs for some tenants when leases are renewed.

Businesses may also benefit if the new owner maintains the café, meeting rooms, gym, showers, cycle lockers and parking facilities. These amenities can support employee recruitment and workplace use, particularly for companies that require regular in-person attendance.

The nearby airport and the site’s substantial parking provision may continue to make the complex suitable for firms with travelling staff, visitors or logistics-related requirements. Overall, the development is likely to strengthen attention on Wythenshawe as an office location, although its future impact will depend on tenant demand, rental decisions and further investment in the 90,200 sq ft building.