Ask/Carillion earmark Manchester Central plot for £300m project

Ask Real Estate and Carillion have bought a 1.74-acre site next to Beetham Tower, and is drawing up plans for a 750,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme designed by SimpsonHaugh & Partners.

The former Bauer Millett car showroom site is located next to the Beetham Hilton Tower and Manchester Central, next to the Metrolink tram line which runs between Deansgate-Castlefield and St Peter’s Square. The plot was sold by the family owners of the showroom.

A scheme on the site will be delivered in a partnership between Ask, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester Central.

Large-scale scheme by Ian Simpson was unveiled at MIPIM 2010

According to Ask and Carillion, early development proposals envisage a mix of uses comprising commercial offices, hotel, retail and leisure, residential and car parking which could total more than 750,000 sq ft to a value of around £300m.

The plans would echo a scheme first proposed for the site in 2010, also designed by SimpsonHaugh, then Ian Simpson Architects. The project included three high-rise blocks and public realm.

No images of the new proposals were available.

Earlier this year, Ask announced that it had sold a majority stake in the business to construction giant Carillion, buying out founding Ask shareholders Andy Dodd, Ken Knott, Simon Bate, and Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall.

John Hughes, managing director of Ask, said: “Our new corporate relationship with Carillion, which was only completed in January, has given us the platform to move quickly to acquire this prime piece of real estate in the city centre. I am looking forward to us working in partnership with MCC, TfGM and Manchester Central and evolving our exciting development proposals before submitting a detailed planning application later this year.”