The £130m scheme is made up of three student towers. Credit: via planning documents

Bowmer + Kirkland starts work on £130m Manchester PBSA

26 October 2023 11:46 Sophie Rennie Comments (1)

After six years in the pipeline, IQ’s Echo Street development is set to complete in July 2026 to provide 1,224 student beds across three towers.

Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland has started work this month to deliver the 142,000 sq ft project on behalf of the purpose-built student accommodation provider.

The Sheppard Robson-designed project is made up of three interlinked blocks of 27, 21, and 16 storeys, which will sit on the site of Chandos House, next to Vimto Park in Manchester.

The £130mwill provide a mix of one-bed studios, and five- and six-bed clusters.

IQ has been planning to redevelop the site for some time.

The company received planning consent for the demolition and replacement of the existing halls to provide 863 co-living beds, including 242 student beds in 2018.

However, after clearing the site, work stalled and IQ opted to rethink the plans, which were revealed earlier this year.

IQ submitted the updated plans in May, opting to deliver solely student accommodation and omit the co-living element.

This decision was “informed by prevailing market conditions, and in response to the significant need and demand for high-quality PBSA within Manchester”, according to a planning statement by Turley.

Working with Turley on the project team is Curtins, Vectos, Planit-IE, and Waterman.

Paul Sykes, regional director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “Building on a successful and collaborative pre-construction process, Bowmer + Kirkland is delighted to be partnering with IQ Developments, one of the industry’s most reputable and forward-thinking PBSA developers, to deliver the long-awaited Echo Street scheme.

“Our experiences as one of the North West’s most prominent contractors, has enabled us to work together with the project stakeholders to develop an outstanding development that achieves a holistic blend of functionality, sustainability, and architectural merit, which I’m sure students will be proud to call home”, he continued.

“Not only this, but we will also benefit local people and communities through our commitment to apprenticeships, local employment, and social mobility.”

You can find out more about the plans by searching for application number 136874/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.