Strategic Property Solutions (SPS), a developer of accommodation of people with mental health problems, is to be acquired for the second time in a year. AIM-listed Ashley House has entered into a contract to purchase the development pipeline of the Warrington-based business, which includes eight assisted living schemes for mental health patients. The company will issue 2.3 million new shares at 65p each, valuing SPS at £1.5m. Last July, SPS changed hands for £1.63m when it was bought by investment vehicle Ely Capital. For Insider comment, click here.

First Jamie Oliver, now Marco Pierre White. The fiery celebrity chef is to open a new restaurant in Liverpool city centre. The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, set to open in spring 2011, will be the focal point of the new £15m Hotel Indigo, to be owned and operated by Sanguine Hospitality in Chapel Street. It will be his third North West venue after the Swan Inn in Aughton and Doubletree by Hilton Chester. White said: “There is a clear appetite for affordable glamour and quality food in the region and now we’re bringing that into the heart of Liverpool.”

Liverpool’s commercial district has been praised by Sustainable Network, a multinational collection of business districts committed to reducing the environmental impact of development and management practices. In the group’s latest survey, Liverpool is praised for compiling a sustainable building manual, renovating listed buildings and recycling construction debris. Commercial District Partnership chief executive Paul Rice has been invited to an international workshop in Montreal, where he will lead the discussion on mobility, in addition to topics such as energy management and life cycle.

Johnson Service Group this morning announced that first quarter trading has been in line with expectations, despite its dry-cleaning business being hit by the “severe winter weather” at the start of the year. In a statement to the Stock Exchange, the business, which is based in Preston Brook and operates its dry-cleaning business from Prescot, said it does not anticipate an upturn in trading conditions, but it is confident of achieving a satisfactory full-year result. In March, Johnson Service Group reported a pre-tax profit of £20.6m for the year to 31 December, up from a loss of £6.8m a year earlier.

English Cities Fund’s St Paul’s Square residential building has reported 21 completed sales since June 2009, bringing in £2.2m and making it the best-selling residential development in Liverpool’s commercial district. The 11-storey apartment building offers 50 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Martyn Green, partner at King Sturge, says: “The apartments don’t hang around on the marketplace for long. We have seen an amazing upturn in the market in the last few months with increasing interest from first-time buyers.”

Where outside of the city centres will be the most active commercial property market of the next few years? It could be Manchester Airport. In his weekly Tague on Tour column, Insider property writer Neil Tague visits the airport to look over the plans for Airport City. He says: “Manchester’s opportunity is unique and the potential for development immense. And quality development here should get the rest of the market raising its game.” For more from Neil, click here.