Valad in pole position to acquire SimpsonHaugh’s former Manchester base
The investor has exchanged contracts with the architecture practice for the Commercial Street site and is working up plans for a 15-storey co-living scheme.
Valad, which is London-based and is headed up by chief executive and founder Eann Smith, has listed the scheme on its website as being “in delivery” and will acquire the site subject to planning approval.
SimpsonHaugh appointed CBRE to market its office of 25 years last year and has since relocated to King Street in Manchester’s central business district.
The firm’s former home is in the shadow of Renaker’s Great Jackson Street skyscraper cluster, which has emerged over the last 10 years and was designed by SimpsonHaugh.
According to marketing materials released last year, the Commercial Street site would accommodate something more modest than the glass towers that overlook it, with 200 units in a building of around 20 storeys the original vision.
Valad confirmed to Place North West it is working up plans for a 15-storey co-living scheme with 300 units and is aiming to submit plans to Manchester City Council before Christmas.
Lucas James, partner at Valad, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to bring forward our proposals for the site following a competitive selection process. Knott Mill is an established and distinctive part of Manchester, with a strong architectural and commercial character, and we see a clear opportunity to deliver a high-quality scheme that responds appropriately to that context.
“Our ambition is to bring a new model of co-living to Manchester, focused on delivering well-designed spaces alongside the amenity and services that increasingly underpin how people want to live in the city. We believe this is the right location to introduce that approach and create a high-quality addition to Knott Mill and the wider Manchester market.”
SimpsonHaugh were contacted for comment.
According to its website, Valad is progressing other co-living schemes in Canary Wharf and Glasgow. A 500,000 sq ft logistics scheme at Omega North in Warrington is also in the works.
