Downing swaps out co-living for student flats in Manchester
The final phase of the developer’s £400m First Street residential scheme will be delivered as PBSA rather than co-living due to a “significant increase in demand” for student beds.
Downing is to submit a revised application seeking permission from Manchester City Council to deliver a 28-storey tower comprising 555 student beds instead of 322 co-living units.
Construction of the scheme’s first phase is underway and fully funded. It will see 1,780 co-living units delivered across three blocks, including a 45-storey tower.
Phase one is due to complete in early 2025, at which point phase two, the student block, would be delivered.
The shift towards student homes in the later phases of the project comes amid a glut of proposals for PBSA across the city as developers seek to take advantage of low levels of supply and high levels of demand.
Ian Harrison, projects director at Downing, said: “In light of the significant increase in the demand for PBSA in Manchester city centre, we hope that the development will not only contribute towards meeting this need, but also diversify the residential offer at First Street and help to solidify its status as one of the city’s most successful regeneration stories.”
A public consultation has today been launched on the updated proposals.
View the consultation on the proposals
In addition to contributing to an identified need for PBSA, the revised proposal for Block C has also enabled Downing Students to make improvements to the public realm offering that will be delivered as part of the wider plans.
The new plan includes a larger public park, which has allowed for an increased number of trees to be planted, the developer said.
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