Completion for £120m Podium in Trafford

Domis Construction has handed over the 440-home build-to-rent complex to owners Moorfield and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

Podium comprises four buildings around a central podium. It offers prospective residents a mix of one- to three-bedroom apartments and three- to four-bedroom townhouses to choose from.

On site amenities include lounges, coworking spaces, a gym and fitness studio, and a roof terrace. There is also space for cycles to be stored, as well as a 200-bay car park. The project itself is a few minutes’ walk from the Old Trafford Metrolink tram stop.

Due to be net zero in operation, Podium includes solar panels and EV charging points.

Built on part of the 12-acre former Kellogg’s headquarters site off Chester Road, Podium was designed by Sheppard Robson. Glenbrook was the developer behind the project and Allsop has been appointed to manage it.

Moorfield head of operational asset management Matthew Smith said: “Podium builds on our strong track record of funding and managing market-leading build-to-rent developments that prove highly attractive to both consumers and institutional investors.

“The high-quality homes delivered will help meet a pressing housing need while also contributing to a wider regeneration of the area, and we are pleased to celebrate its completion.”

GMPF adviser and head of UK investment properties at CBRE Colin Thomasson said: “Having advised on GMPF’s investment into Podium, we are pleased to see the asset come to life and make a meaningful contribution to local housing supply in Greater Manchester.”

Podium is the market build-to-rent element of the wider Lumina Village development being delivered by Glenbrook. Credit: via Montfort

Podium has a gross development value of £120m. It was funded through a 50:50 venture between GMPF and Moorfield, with debt financing from CBRE Lending on behalf of Trafford Council.

During construction, there were 1,170 jobs created, according to Moorfield. These included 19 apprenticeship, trainee, and work experience positions.

In keeping with the project’s sustainability aims, main contractor Domis sent zero waste to landfill during construction.

Domis project director and Podium lead, Karl Dobson, said: “Completing Podium is a huge achievement and a moment of real pride for everyone who has worked on the scheme over the last two years and three months.

“As one of Trafford’s most ambitious developments to date, it has demanded a huge amount from the Domis site team, our wider group businesses and our supply chain partners, all of whom have played an important role in getting us to this point,” he continued.

“There were challenges along the way, as there always are on a project of this scale, but the commitment shown throughout has been exceptional. We are proud to have delivered this scheme alongside Glenbrook and to have helped bring forward a development that will leave a lasting mark on Trafford.”

Podium is the fourth collaboration between Moorfield and Glenbrook.

The duo also worked together on the 240-apartment Keel in Liverpool, the 232-apartment Trilogy in Manchester’s Castlefield district, and the 270-apartment Duet in MediaCity.

Stuart McCrone, projects director at Glenbrook, said: “Podium marks another successful BTR development in partnership with Moorfield and is recognition of our ability to deliver institutional-quality living sector schemes within the UK’s most high-demand urban markets.”

Podium is one portion of the 639-home Lumina Village being delivered by Glenbrook. The wider project includes a primary school, 200 sq ft of offices, a 100-bed hotel, and 199 affordable homes – which are currently being built by Caddick Construction for Clarion Housing Group.