Development manager MEPC has secured planning permission from Manchester City Council to deliver c.200,000 sq. ft. of premium office space at NOMA, marking another major milestone for the 20-acre mixed-use neighbourhood in central Manchester. Once finished, NOMA will offer 2.5 million sq. ft. of office space together with new homes, public realm and retail and leisure opportunities.
Known as 4 Angel Square, the approved scheme will be developed speculatively in a sign of MEPC’s continued confidence in the Manchester market. The new 11-storey office building will sit on the corner of Corporation Street and Miller Street and is NOMA’s first speculative new-build office development, with MEPC looking to capitalise on soaring demand for workspace in Manchester thanks to the city’s ongoing growth.
According to the latest data from Colliers, there is less than 125,000 sq sq. ft. of ‘ready to occupy’ Grade A office space available in Manchester, while recent JLL research revealed record office take-up in the city last year.
4 Angel Square will bring over 2,000 new workers to NOMA who will be joining the community of businesses, residents and creatives who have already made the neighbourhood their home. Start on-site is expected in Spring 2020 with completion due Summer 2022.
Designed by Manchester-based architect SimpsonHaugh, 4 Angel Square features a hotel-style entrance lobby and reception area, a c.2,500 sq. ft. external 10th floor roof terrace as well as over 7,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space split over two units, together with a separate ground-floor office suite perfect for a start-up or small business.
The ground-floor retail will help activate the new public square that is planned, which will connect to the existing public realm surrounding One Angel Square.
Meanwhile, the colonnade and coloured façade of 4 Angel Square will help connect the building to the listed estate at NOMA, where Amazon is opening its first HQ outside of London. The global e-commerce giant announced it would be taking Hanover, a redeveloped drapery warehouse, in October last year.
Dantzic, another refurbished historic building in the listed estate, achieved practical completion in May – two months ahead of schedule – bringing another 45,000 sq. ft. of office space to the market. Redfern, a former warehouse and office building, is currently being redeveloped into 50,000 sq. ft. of office space with 7,600 sq. ft. of mixed ground-floor retail and leisure space.
In October, Angel Gardens, a 35-storey tower by build-to-rent developer and operator Moda Living, opens its doors to residents. The building, which sits close to 4 Angel Square, will offer 466 high quality apartments for rent plus a mix of on-site amenities, including 24-hour gym, residents’ lounge, rooftop sports court and co-working spaces.
Paul Pavia, head of development at MEPC, said: “Planning approval for 4 Angel Square marks the next step in the creation of a new business district within the NOMA neighbourhood. The decision will also help unlock 2 and 3 Angel Square and bring forward much needed high-quality office space.
“The decision to speculatively develop underlines our confidence in the Manchester market, where there is pent up demand for premium workspace thanks to the city’s recent growth, which we see continuing.
“NOMA already counts a number of household names as occupiers and we anticipate strong interest in 4 Angel Square.”
Nick Fleming, partner at SimpsonHaugh said: “We are thrilled that our proposals for 4 Angel Square have been approved. The scheme will make a positive contribution to the ongoing development within NOMA and will provide much needed high quality workspace in the city centre. As architects, we’re excited to be involved in this next phase of development at NOMA and look forward to seeing the scheme progress to site.”
JLL and Colliers are retained office agents for NOMA. Deloitte are planning consultants for NOMA.