A public exhibition is being held next month on reworked plans for the regeneration of the site at the corner of Princess Street and Whitworth Street in Manchester’s city centre.
Urban&Civic purchased the one-acre site with planning consent for offices, a hotel and apartments in three buildings arranged around a public space with a four-level basement car park at the end of last year.
Although the consented scheme could still be developed, the economy and property market, as well as thinking on design and use, have changed since planning permission was granted in 2007.
Andrew Lavin, development manager for Urban&Civic explained: “We have been working with our project team on plans for a vibrant new development that complements the area’s historic context and sensitively reconnects the site to its surrounding, including the Gay Village.
“To make the scheme commercially viable we need to work to the general massing and height of the existing planning consent and use the foundations and four-level basement car park that have already been constructed.
“We believe our revised plans for the uses at ground floor level will help reinvigorate this part of the city. A landscaped public square will provide an informal space for people to meet and relax while the new retail and restaurant units will provide an eclectic and high quality environment for new and existing residents to enjoy.”
Urban&Civic’s reworked proposals are for:
§ Two buildings with a mix of high quality one, two and three bedroom apartments
§ A 4 star + hotel
§ Retail and restaurant units on the ground floor of each building
§ A landscaped public square
§ Retention of the 300 space basement car park for use by new residents and parking opportunities for surrounding neighbours
To find out more and discuss the revised scheme with members of the project team, you can attend the public exhibition from:
§ 1.30pm to 7.30pm on Friday, 11 September
§ 10am to 4pm on Saturday, 12 September
In the Brodick/Cawdor Room of The Double Tree, Hilton Hotel in Manchester.
