GALLERY | £250m Kampus nears completion
North Block, one of the five distinctive buildings that make up HBD and Capital & Centric’s 533-home development, has completed and construction of the other elements that make up the Manchester scheme is to conclude in the coming months.
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North Block comprises 140 one- and two-bedroom apartments – including Dutch-style townhouses in lieu of penthouses – and is one of two new-build elements within Kampus, the £250m redevelopment of the former Manchester Metropolitan University site on Aytoun Street.
Apartments within North Block, which start at £1,125 a month for a one-bedroom flat, are available to view from April.
South Block, the second new-build element, will be the last to complete, while work to convert two former shipping warehouses, Minto & Turner and Minshull Warehouse, is also ongoing.
The fifth element is the conversion of The Stack, a 1960s brutalist tower that was part of Manchester Metropolitan University’s estate, into one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The five blocks, with interiors designed and fitted out by Youth Studio, sit around a public garden designed by Exterior Architecture.
“The great thing about Kampus is that the fact that there are five completely different buildings,” said Adam Higgins, co-founder of Capital & Centric.
The Minto & Turner building is one of two listed warehouses being converted into apartments
“In the future when people come to Manchester they will think Kampus has been developed over time and they won’t realise it has been done in one go.
“Things are better if they look a bit more organic and they haven’t just been plonked here in the middle of the city.”
Capital & Centric and HBD bought the 2.3-acre site for around £9m in March 2014, beating off competition from Bruntwood, Allied London and Ask, among others.
The JV then appointed Dutch architect Mecanoo to design the scheme, which won planning approval in September 2016.
London-based contractor Mount Anvil was selected as lead contractor and started work in 2017.
Liverpool-based architect ShedKM was appointed to lead on the design of the listed warehouses while fellow architect Chapman Taylor was also drafted in to oversee the delivery of the new-build elements of the project.
Work on North Block is complete
Forward funded by Ares Investment, Kampus features around 40,000 sq ft of commerical space, and the developers are in talks with several potential occupiers for the units, including bars, restaurants and coffee shops.
In addition, the Bungalow, a former security cabin, has been retained and is earmarked for use as a flexible events space and village hall. Little David Street, which runs between the warehouses, is to be refurbished to provide additional pedestrian access to the site.
Adam Brady, executive director at HBD, said: “Each building at Kampus has its own distinct character. So, whether you fancy living in a rooftop village with unbeatable views across the city or an exposed brick loft is more your thing, we’ve got something for everyone.”
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Impressive
By Monty
This looks excellent in the flesh – well done
By Observer
Hopefully this will help breathe a new life into Canal St as well, it needs it.
By Anonymous
They’ve been unlucky with covid in terms of bringing forward the bars and restaurants but I think this is one of the best developments in the city. Lots of character.
By Steve
Good views by the looks of it
By Anonymous