Sunlight House, the landmark Manchester building which recently underwent a major refurbishment project, has announced the signing of coworking powerhouse, BLOCK, on a 20 year lease.
The popular coworking brand has snapped up 25,000 sq ft across the first and second floors of the heritage building, marking an exciting milestone for the building and the city’s thriving office scene.
Fresh from a £35m transformation led by investors Karrev, Sunlight House has emerged as a Grade A, design-led, sustainability-driven workspace. The market has responded fast – since completing in October, the building has already let half of the 195,000 sq ft building.
BLOCK, renowned for creating versatile spaces for the new era of flexible working, delivers a blend of modern private offices, beautifully designed co-working zones, and inviting breakout areas.
Set to open in Q3 2026, the new office will be BLOCK’s flagship in the North West. It will be joining its existing roster of workspaces in Bristol, Birmingham, Exmouth, Plymouth, and Taunton.
Alongside the 331 desks, meeting spaces, and flexible memberships set to be available, customers will also have access to Sunlight House’s high-end amenities, such as an in-house gym and yoga studio, cycle storage, and best in class shower facilities.
As part of Karrev’s refurbishment of the building, BLOCK customers can proudly reside in a high-spec fit-out that pays homage to Sunlight House’s rich history.
The announcement follows the recent signing of PINS Social Club and Joe & the Juice, who will occupy prominent basement and ground-floor spaces to elevate Sunlight House’s growing leisure offering.
BLOCK was involved in a competitive eight-way pitch process for the space but given BLOCK’s experience with heritage buildings and an alignment of company values, this was a natural partnership where customer service and expectations takes precedent.
Benn Dickinson, Leasing Director at Karrev, said: The addition of BLOCK to Sunlight House’s tenant roster is one that aligns cohesively with our strategy to deliver a best-in-class occupier experience. From the very beginning of our renovation project, we have positioned our occupiers as a priority, which includes responding to modern workplace needs and providing a flexible space for businesses of all sizes to thrive. We’ve seen the global flex market grow from £37b to £200b in the last five years, it is evident that there is demand for flexible co-working space and partnering with BLOCK to deliver this only strengthens our offering moving forward.”
Ben Cheriton, Managing Director at BLOCK, said: “Sunlight House is the perfect fit for our business as we expand into the North. We were particularly drawn to the building due to its unique blend of historic character and modern workspace as the recent transformation makes Sunlight House an ideal home for our community. We look forward to welcoming members next year and becoming part of such a vibrant and evolving part of the city.”
