A key signing is the first at its landmark Smith’s Dock regeneration scheme in North Shields – a neighbourhood Urban Splash is delivering with JV partner, Places for People.

Restaurant, 31 The Quay has taken 3750 sq ft on a long leasehold sale, becoming the development’s first commercial amenity; it will be headed up by award winning regional chef Andrew Wilkinson – famed for creating culinary masterpieces for over a decade at the Biscuit Factory in Shieldfield, Newcastle, at both Brasserie Black Door and Food Social and more recently at the critically acclaimed Artisan. Now aged 32, Andrew has decided to take on his first solo restaurant project, choosing Smith’s Dock as the ideal location for the venture.

In Liverpool, 2,429 sq ft of deals have been completed, with lets to marketing company, Inside Marketing London Ltd at Vanilla Factory and 756 sq ft to RCT Building Services at Match Factory.

Whilst over in Manchester, Boat Shed continues to attract a wide range of businesses following Urban Splash’s six figure refurbishment investment into the building. New tenants include marketing company, Behaviours Agency who has signed up for 1,676 sq ft of space as well as recruitment company, Blue Arrow Ltd taking 2,267 sq ft for its operations.

At City Court Trading Estate in Manchester, signage and branding business Scan-Stick has taken 2,355 sq ft; the growing Manchester signage and branding company is responsible for some of the coolest signs around the city including those of Almost Famous, Home Sweet Home, Luck lust Liquor & Burn, Crazy Pedro's, Common and Oi Polloi. Owner Chris Scanlon said: “We started life in my spare room and we’ve grown at a fast rate, meaning we needed suitable workspace. City Court and Urban Splash have given us just that; their flexible attitude means we know we can adapt and grow from here with their support now too.”

Other deals at Waulk Mill and Schoolhouse, alongside 667 sq ft at the Grade II listed Beehive Mill, bring the past two month’s total lettings to 16,033 sq ft – a success that Urban Splash’s commercial lettings director, Emily Handslip attributes to the great mix of space it offers across the North. She said: “We have a diverse portfolio of space and that’s reflected with these new tenants.

“Our team has developed its reputation in the market for finding a solution for everyone – particularly those businesses that benefit from flexible terms. From start-up creatives to national recruitment agencies, we can provide a space that is well designed and well serviced by amenities and transport options – somewhere that a business can get excited about and build a bright future from.

“We have more new space on the market such as our industrial offering at Barton Business Park, with a variety of units available at this great Eccles location, just half a mile from Trafford Park.

“Plus, our iconic Urban Splash Pod on the Mancunian Way in Manchester will be back on the market; we work with so many different businesses, each with their own needs and requirements, but always with a desire to find a great space in a commutable location.”