Allied London submits plans for TMT tower

Plans for a 10-storey Spinningfields office block have been submitted to Manchester City Council by developer Allied London.

The Cotton Building application firms up a proposed development first unveiled at Mipim for a seven-storey, 160,000 sq ft office block on Hardman Boulevard targeted at telecoms, media and technology tenants. The building was initially going to be named i+.

Tenants will be able to completely customise their space, from lighting and heating elements to partition walls and furniture. Allied London says it has already identified several potential TMT sector occupiers.

Cartwright Pickard is the architect.

Michael Ingall, chief executive of Allied London, said: "We have been spending valuable time designing the model since we launched the concept, and are now in a position to deliver what will be one of Manchester's and in fact our, most exciting buildings."

The building will feature a unique public environment, which includes subterranean parking for several cars along with a bike park and indoor gardens. The primary access route is by bicycle, via a ramp from street level.

The lower floors of The Cotton Building will provide communal workspace, co-location facilities, a gym with wellbeing centre, café, bar and restaurants, a bicycle park with its own entrance, climbing wall, and a series of building and service concierges, aiming to provide essential support for start-ups and small businesses to established corporates.

Deloitte Real Estate submitted the planning application to Manchester City Council on behalf of Allied London.

John Cooper, director in the planning team at Deloitte Real Estate, said: "Allied London's new building will add another type of product to the successful Spinningfields estate, further promoting the strength of the area as a prime business district. It's an exciting concept that brings work and play together and is something that no one has developed in this city."

The building will be managed by i+, Allied London's new property management service developed with Capital Properties.