Falconer Chester Hall expands into Manchester

The Liverpool-based design practice has become the latest name to enter the Manchester market, and has recruited David George from AEW Architects to establish its studio in the city.

George has been an associate director at AEW for four years, and previously worked in the Manchester office of Austin-Smith:Lord and BDP.

Established 20 years ago, and headed up by directors Paul Falconer and Adam Hall, FCH is prolific in Liverpool and specialises in the private rented sector, student, commercial, hotel and leisure sectors. FCH also has a London office.

Earlier this year, a Liverpool-based client, Elliot Group, announced that it had acquired its first site in Manchester, in Salford’s Greengate. The plot has planning permission for 200 flats, formerly known as Norton Court and renamed The Residence. FCH was appointed project architect.

Edwards & Co has been retained to acquire office space in Manchester city centre for the studio. George will lead on the recruitment of a team.

FCH joins other recent entrants to the Manchester market; Feilden Clegg Bradley, HawkinsBrown, Coda Studios, and Mecanoo.

Adam Hall, managing director of Falconer Chester Hall, said: “Since we established our London office five years ago and following the creation of the Northern Powerhouse, a Manchester office has been high on our agenda for some time but we were keen to ensure that we had the right person for the job. David is not only a talented architect with ideas and an ethos that resonates with our own but he is also a well known figure on the Manchester property scene.

“As a firm, we are already working on a number of high profile projects around Manchester including The Residence, for Elliot Group; the MediaCity residential development for X1 and the Ice Plant in Ancoats for the Northern Group.”

George added: “Falconer Chester Hall is an innovative and dynamic architectural practice. This is an exciting opportunity for me and I look forward to the challenges ahead as we work together to build on the firm’s strong existing reputation and help cement existing relationships and increase its presence in Manchester.”