Beech grows city portfolio with Castlefield project

Residential developer Beech Holdings has bought a prominent plot on the corner of Manchester’s Deansgate and Chester Road, with planning permission for 53 apartments, from a company led by property investor Bill Wrather.

Knott Mill Securities, of which Wrather is director, was granted consent earlier this year for a 13-storey tower, near to the Bridgewater Viaduct in Castlefield.

The building, designed by Ombler Iwanowski Architects, includes 53 apartments and a ground floor commercial unit. The flats are a mix of one and two-bedrooms.

Beech plans to implement the scheme as approved, and has started on site with clearance works. According to the company, it has also signed the contract for hoarding and civils works.

The plot lies on the edge of the Great Jackson Street regeneration area of Manchester, and is next to Owen Street, where Renaker is currently on site with its skyscraper cluster which will total 1,500 flats. Renaker recently put in a planning application for 188 flats in two buildings, also on Chester Road.

Turley advised Knott Mill Securities on the planning application.

Beech is increasingly active in Manchester city centre. Known for renovating unloved buildings in prime locations, the company delivers environmentally sustainable and efficiently designed apartments, targeted at young professional renters.

Beech Holdings owns £65m of residential housing stock in Greater Manchester, including several city centre buildings and another 120 properties in the region.