Big Red starts CERT’s £26m Manchester resi 

Peelers Yard, which is backed by Myprotein founder Oliver Cookson, will provide 81 apartments in New Cross. 

CERT Property has appointed Big Red Construction to build the Manchester scheme, located on Goulden Street. Work has now started on site. 

Designed by Tim Groom Architects, the scheme will be delivered on the site of an 1872 police and fire station. 

CERT acquired the site from Mulbury City two years ago and set about reworking the scheme. The developer teamed up with Cookson last year to progress the project. 

The centrepiece of Peelers Yard is the former police station’s 25-metre chimney stack, which has been kept and given a lantern. 

The scheme was reimagined to align with CERT’s build-to-rent expansion. Peelers Yard will follow the developer’s 45-home SONA BTR project near the Manchester Apollo, which is completing this summer.  

Both schemes will be fully operated by CERT’s property management experts with each property benefiting from its dedicated in-house residential team. 

CERT managing director, Howard Lord said: “2024 has started with us making a big step towards delivering this exciting scheme. This project is our first with Big Red, who have been fantastic to work with so far and we are looking forward to delivering this scheme with them.” 

Mike Lomas, Big Red Construction managing director, said: “We’re delighted to partner with CERT on the sensitive restoration of Peelers Yard, to bring this old structure back to modern use.”