CERT, Cookson family office to convert Manchester’s Shena Simon campus into hotel

MyProtein founder Oliver Cookson has acquired the historic Chorlton Street building from LTE Group, in partnership with the developer.

Apart from a brief stint as a military hospital during World War One, the grade two-listed Shena Simon campus has been used for education purposes and is currently occupied by The Manchester College.

However, as part of its ongoing estates strategy, the college’s owner LTE Group has opted to sell the asset to Cookson’s family office, which together with CERT plan to transform the 97,000 sq ft building into a hotel.

“For over a century Shena Simon has been a place of learning where people from across the city have been able to access education and gain the skills that have been so vital to Manchester’s economic success,” said John Thornhill, LTE Group chief executive.

“However, it no longer offered the cutting-edge facilities required to equip learners with the skills they’ll need in 2025 to access the economic opportunities that exist in the city, which we offer at our other campuses in Manchester.”

He added: “Given the enormous role that Shena Simon has played in the social history of Manchester we are delighted that, as we exit the site, its architectural integrity will be preserved as its purpose changes, and it will continue to play a major role at the heart of the city.”

The four-storey building is named after Shena Simon, a Liberal councillor on the Manchester Education Committee and was constructed at the start of the 20th century.

CERT’s acquisition of the asset is the company’s largest ever transaction for a client. The deal is the third time the developer has partnered with Cookson. The other two projects being brought forward by the partnership are the 81-home Peeler’s Yard and a 99-unit residential development on Cross Keys Street.

Howard Lord, CERT’s managing director, said: “The Shena Simon Campus builds on our dedication to restoring heritage properties, and matching them to serve their neighbourhoods with a new purpose; just as we did with Duke & Parr [the redevelopment of the former Bibby Line HQ into offices] in Liverpool.

“This time we’re taking our capabilities into hospitality, with an incredible hotel brand that will compliment this beautiful old building and its surroundings.”

Cookson added: “Manchester is where I grew up — it shaped my outlook and gave me the foundations to build from.

“This city has always been about reinvention, and the Shena Simon Campus is the perfect place to keep that spirit alive. With CERT, we’re not just restoring a building – we’re reimagining its role in Manchester’s future. We’re turning a landmark into a destination, blending heritage with ambition. It means a lot to give something back to the city that gave me my start.”

Plans are expected to be submitted this spring. CBRE advised CERT on the purchase.