First Street offices to double

Planned office space at the 20-acre Manchester site is set to increase from 1m sq ft to 2.1m sq ft, while proposals for a foodstore and hotel near Hulme Street have been replaced with almost 1m sq ft of residential accommodation.

Manchester City Council’s executive is due to meet on Wednesday 29 July to discuss an updated development framework for First Street, which has been amended by new owner Patrizia and local development partner Ask.

The plans build on the details of the last framework for the site, which was approved in 2012. The first phase at First Street, known as First Street North, included the HOME arts centre, the Melia INNSIDE hotel, a 279-room Vita luxury student accommodation scheme, a 700-space Q-Park multi-storey car park,

At First Street Central, the 180,000 sq ft Number One First Street office is the first of seven block due to be brought forward, while the second, the 220,000 sq ft Number Six First Street, is due to be approved next week.

According to the updated framework, First Street Central will now see a higher density of development, increasing from between six and eight storeys to seven and 11 storeys. The plot was originally due to deliver 1m sq ft of offices, which the developer has said could be increased to 2.1m sq ft due to high market demand.

The 2012 framework outlined an anchor destination at the southern end of First Street, incorporating a large foodstore, 350 student bedrooms and a 120-bed hotel, together with car parking and retail space.

The updated plans now show a shift towards residential-led development, with almost 1m sq ft of residential and student accommodation and 45,000 sq ft of retail and leisure. The homes would be a mix of low, medium and high-rise housing in a grid pattern.

The report also outlined the potential of stalled sites around the area to be incorporated into the First Street framework, with potential plans for a residential scheme on the Little Peter Street car park. The council is also in talks with the owners of the stalled River Street development and the former Salvation Army building on Hulme Street.

If endorsed by the council next week, the First Street development framework will go out to public consultation.

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