Forshaw acquires Manchester site for 24-storey tower
The developer has bought a plot in Cornbrook from Peel Waters and has tabled plans to deliver 229 apartments and an 87-bedroom aparthotel on it.
Forshaw Land & Property’s 24-storey scheme would provide 224 one- to three-bedroom apartments and five, two- three- and four-bedroom penthouse apartments with private terraces.
The four-storey aparthotel would be operated in-house under Forshaw’s Vivere Aparthotels brand.
Leach Rhodes Walker is leading on design. Credit: via Peel Waters
Bricks Group and Peel Waters had previously been delivering the project, with Marriott lined up to operate the scheme.
The earlier iteration of the scheme, approved by Manchester City Council in 2021, comprised a 154-bedroom hotel and an 88-bedroom aparthotel and across two blocks of 11 and 15 storeys.
However, Bolton-based Forshaw has now lodged revised plans for the scheme, which will be the developer’s largest to date.
“I’m really excited by our proposals for this hugely important gateway site that delivers on the ambitions of the Cornbrook Regeneration Framework,” said Lyndon Forshaw, managing director at Forshaw Group.
“The development will mark the entrance to Manchester city centre, providing much-needed new homes along with a brand-new upmarket hotel.”
Amenity spaces planned within the development include a games room, communal coworking spaces, a private dining room, a yoga studio, and a residents’ gym.
Ground floor retail space and a coffee bar are also proposed.
Leach Rhodes Walker is the architect for the scheme. Lichfields is the planning consultant.
The site is on the fringe of the Peel-owned Pomona Island, rebranded by the developer as Manchester Waters.
James Whittaker, executive director at Peel Waters, said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Forshaw Group to bring forward an opportunity to create high-quality housing, places to stay, and amenity space to the area.
“The proposed plans by Forshaw Group complement our vision for the wider Manchester Waters neighbourhood that will transform the site into a sustainable, mixed-use community, which will offer a range of inclusive living options in one of the most desirable locations in Greater Manchester.”
What a nice surprise! Love this proper gateway reworked scheme. Much grander by scale and not afraid to be imposing too. Like the brick work and bold signage, particularly over the main entrance. Topped-off with a jagged roof, a nod to Manchester’s industrial past. Very handy for Cornbrook Metrolink Stop to quickly zip into the city centre and across Greater Manchester. Very appealing, everything good, sales should do well!
By Phil
Thank god for some movement in this area! Glad to see the Cornbrook regeneration framework is not completely dead yet! And these plans have ground retail and a cafe, which is absolutely crucial in such an area!
By FB
Is this a joke? That building on a main route into the City, get a grip Manchester, absolutely not appropriate. Shame on anyone involved with this.
By Plod
Hopefully the public realm improves around there and double yellows are enforced. Too many cars appear to be just dumped there on the pavement and cycle lane
By Levelling Up Manager
Vox residents will love that. Hope Trafford Highways are consulted.
By Albert
great development, long overdue to improve cornbrook
By Toby
Imagining all the positive comments are from people involved in the scheme. No one in their right mind could suggest this is a positive. There is nothing great about this. Tidy up the site and wait until a decent scheme is presented.
By Woops
Great to see that this area hasn’t been forgotten in light of Ancoats/New Islington. Cornbrook/this part of Castlefield is crying out for more development, coffee shops, cafes and bars – bring it on! 🙂
By Anonymous
No1 Cornbrook, what an original name.
By Anonymous
Close your eyes and project forward 15 years, is this really a positive contribution to our skyline and a building of genuine gateway status, I don’t believe it is. It’s a significant downgrade on what been happening locally and looks to be budget scheme that is reminiscent of Manchester 15 years ago, not 2024!
By Cornbrooker
Same old Forshaw sadly. This area deserves better than a boring brick building
By Anon
Looks great! Really imposing, appropriate scale and nice amount of variation in the design of the elevations without being overly fussy. Get it built!
By Anonymous
I’ve seen a CGI on LinkedIn that looks like it’s built right up against VOX next door, surely you can built within a few metres of an existing residential scheme and go 10 floors higher, isn’t there some form of off set distances?
By sharing
Big improvement on the previous scheme. Get it built.
By Keith Andrew
The most awful scheme I have had the misfortune to lay my eyes on. Can’t believe the planning committee will get behind this monstrosity!
By Aki
Geez! Looks more like something to be built in Russia!
Really? Is that all they could imagine? Uuuffff!
By Anonymous
Keith should’ve gone to specsavers
By DH
Not bad at all, another one ..onwards and upwards! Time for a prescription change eh? ,,not everything can be viewed in misery vision!
By HD