First Step brings forward Ancoats project
Work will begin in the coming weeks on the latest residential development in Ancoats, a 23-unit townhouse and apartment scheme incorporating a restored pub, designed by Buttress.
The Edinburgh Castle last served punters in the early 2000s and has been derelict since. First Step is in advanced discussions with a local pub operator to take on the 200-year-old premises when they reopen next year.
See gallery below
Cotton Square will feature 11 apartments, 11 townhouses and one penthouse. All units will have either two or three bedrooms. Construction is due to start late 2016 and take around 12 months.
The site is on Blossom Street along the block between Henry and Cotton Streets, off Cutting Room Square. Harbur Construction is the main contractor. Planning consent was secured in July 2015.
Sales opened last week and the first reservations have been taken, a spokesman for First Step said.
Residents will have access to a newly created private street to the rear of the development. All townhouses will include roof terraces.
Harinder Dhaliwal, founder of First Step, said: “I am excited to be launching Cotton Square, one of our finest developments to date, in Manchester’s very own urban village of Ancoats. I look forward to presenting this to potential buyers over the next few months.
“Importantly, we have celebrated Cotton Square’s heritage, with many of the original industrial features retained and fused this with contemporary urban design. New homes will be spacious and family friendly.
“I am proud to confirm that we will be restoring the Edinburgh Castle pub back to its former glory. Derelict for 15 years, many thought this was another lost Manchester pub. Therefore, it makes a refreshing change to announce that we will be re-opening an old pub as part of our new development.”
Residents and heritage campaigners have complained elsewhere about pubs being demolished in Ancoats and other parts of Manchester. Last month, the Smiths Arms, the oldest pub in Ancoats, built in 1775, was demolished to make way for nearly 200 flats built by Manchester Life, the development joint venture between the city council and Abu Dhabi United Group.
Flats at Cotton Square start at £155,000.
Click image to launch gallery
Great stuff.
NB: the school is already open
By Jonty
I don’t mind the design however as a resident of the neighboring Ice Plant, I’d like to ask the council how much disruption can the community endure from the huge amount of construction in the same period? Within a 200m radius of Cutting Room Square I count three Manchester Life projects (150-300 units each) the Halle Extension, Residenza Townhouses, Alumini Buildings and not to mention the monstrosity replacing the Ancoats’ Bird!! Crazy Town Planning??
By Will
Huge amount of growth in Ancoats! Will… once these buildings are all complete a new neighbourhood will be born increasing the vitality of the area. The free school and Lovell Homes scheme in Miles Platting are really reinvigorating this area. Positive change!
By Ancoats Annie
Will, go live in the suburbs if you don’t want anything to be built around you. It’s not crazy town planning at all. Do you honestly think planners can tell private developers that they can’t build until other constructions projects have finished? When you moved in did you really think all those empty, fenced-off plots would just stay like that forever. You should be grateful for all the development happening in your area.
By Mo
Well done Harry – looks like its going to be a superb project.
By P.H.