Canning O’Neill are pleased to announce the completion of a 35,000 sq ft letting at 3 Hardman Street to Protector Insurance. The Norwegian insurer has signed a new six-year lease, expanding its footprint within the 395,000 sq ft Spinningfields building by a further 25,000 sq ft.
Canning O’Neill advised Protector Insurance on both the recent 2025 acquisition of 35,000 sq ft and the company’s original 10-year, 9,900 sq ft letting within the building in 2019.
The deal follows a comprehensive refurbishment of parts of the building by landlord Mapletree and sees Protector recommit to 3 Hardman Street, which is also home to Glaisyers Solicitors, Goldcrest Financial, Barclays, Investec, and the GMC.
Melissa Haigh, UK finance director of Protector Insurance, explained the rationale behind the expansion.
“Over the last 10 years, we have grown our UK business from a startup of three people to over 200 employees, and we expect this growth to continue.
“Protector chose Manchester as the location for its UK head office, underwriting and claims functions, based upon the availability of local talent and the vibrant Manchester Insurance market.
“Our expansion reflects our continued investment in the UK and our commitment to our geographic footprint in Manchester, London and Birmingham.”
Henry Harrison, vice president of asset management in the UK and Ireland at Mapletree, added: “Mapletree welcomes Protector Insurance’s decision to extend and expand its existing lease at 3 Hardman Street.
“This deal is a testament to the quality and versatile space we offer. In addition, it is a further signal of the strong appeal Manchester has as a base for international corporations that want to establish themselves in the UK and Europe.”
Harrison added: “As demand continues to outstrip supply for prime office space in Manchester, we anticipate strong future interest in 3 Hardman Street.
“Our recent investment in state-of-the-art amenity facilities and newly refurbished best-in-class office space, addresses the current shortage of premium Grade A workspaces in the market.”
