GALLERY | Oval lodges plans for Albert Bridge House redevelopment
Currently the site of a vacant office block, work to deliver a 45-storey BTR tower and a distinctive 365,000 sq ft office building could begin later this year.
Oval Real Estate has submitted a planning application for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Albert Bridge House site, located in the burgeoning St Mary’s Parsonage regeneration zone.
Scroll down for the latest images of the proposed development
Designed by Studio Egret West with Deloitte as planning consultant, the scheme will see Albert Bridge House demolished and includes a 19-storey office building.
This element of the project features “a radical stepped design, with a cascade of accessible green terraces and rooftop spaces to create a truly unique façade”, according to the developer.
The residential skyscraper will provide 367 build-to-rent homes as well as ground floor shops, cafés or restaurants.
A host of amenity spaces for residents are also proposed. These include spaces for residents are proposed to include gym, bouldering wall, rooftop gardens, cinema room and private dining facilities.
In addition, more than 1.2 acres of new public realm are proposed, including pedestrian routes and connections through the site and enhanced access to the River Irwell.
“The submission of our planning application is a key milestone within our exciting vision to revitalise the Albert Bridge House site and create a thriving sustainable destination for Manchester city centre,” said James Craig, founding partner of Oval Real Estate.
“Seeing the proposals come together over the last few months, we are particularly excited about the opportunity to revitalise the site’s riverfront setting and attract people to enjoy the views from the new public square, River Walk and terraces.”
The scheme will feature enhanced access to the river. Credit: NBV Studio
Oval is targeting a host of sustainability and wellness accreditations including:
- BREEAM Outstanding
- NABERS Level 6
- WELL Building Standard Platinum Enabled
- Wired Score Platinum
- Home Quality Mark
- Cycling Score Platinum
“We have a renewed focus on environmental sustainability,” Craig added.
“Our Albert Bridge House development seeks to provide a best-in-class and future-proofed scheme to meet our own demanding ESG standards, as well as supporting Greater Manchester’s target to be net zero by 2038.”
Subject to planning approval, construction could start towards the end of 2023.
Oval acquired the Albert Bridge House site from Mapeley for more than £30m in 2021.
The site is located close to Spinningfields and falls within the St Mary’s Parsonage strategic regeneration framework.
Other developments coming forward within the regeneration zone include Bruntwood’s 219,000 sq ft replacement of the ageing Alberton House, Property Alliance Group’s 13-storey Reedam House, and Investec’s planned overhaul of the Kendal Milne building on Deansgate.
Elsewhere, Oval is delivering a 46-acre masterplan in Digbeth. The scheme features 2.2m sq ft of commercial space and 1,850 homes.
To learn more about the project, search for reference number 135834/FO/2022 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
Click any image to launch gallery
- Credit: NBV Studio
- Credit: NBV Studio
- Credit: Place North West
- The 18-storey brutalist building off Bridge Street will be demolished. Credit: NBV Studio
Love this one; something different from the usual rectangular glass box….get it built.
By Manc Man
I like that. Get it built.
By Sceptical
Looks great ,and livens up that stretch of the river. They need to sort out the square behind it. Manchester is hopeless at squares and that one is dead.
By Elephant
The current building is definitely modernist, not brutalist
By Aaron
Sorry but that looks atrocious.
If you are going to demolish a landmark building then at least make sure the replacement is fitting. The windows are awful and the ‘green lego’ building is a waste of a prominent site.
By Heritage Action
This already looks like the materials were chosen in 2005. Cheesy colourful cladding chosen on a whim looks dated before it’s even a year old.
The massing is good, except for the wall of facade facing Alberton House.
By Clue
I wonder whether the ‘strategic regeneration framework’ (or indeed anyone at the council) has anything to say about creating a totally incoherent riverscape and streetscape?
By Old-fashioned Character
Love it. Albert house is not going to be missed
By Anonymous
This is just fantastic! Well done Oval and Studio Egret West.
By Andrew
Brilliant, looks different to all the other towers in Manchester too. Really like the look of roof terraces on varying levels. Get it Built!
By New Wave
That area coming up from New Bailey and across to Spinngfields is transforming so fast I can barely keep up. Some of it I like some of it not so much. This though I rather like.
By Charles
Looks awful ! Manchester needs much better design that could become our landmark rather than more of these.
By Another Manc
Albert Bridge house a Heritage building? Yuk…needed pulling down years ago. Get rid the soon the better. There may be aspects of this cgi I’d change,but that’s all it is a cgi. Overall a great replacement!
By Truth
Finally something different to the repetitive Simpson&Haugh towers, I like the design. @heritage action Albert House is not a landmark it has to go asap
By Michael
Let’s be honest – the design isn’t the best but is better than what is already there currently and makes a change to the usual boxes/cuboids that litter the City. However, Manchester/Salford in general need more iconic buildings, such as those in London. Yes, I understand these come with bigger cost implications but in order to be come a mega city and metropolis for the North, these are mere fundamentals.
By Verticality
Is this a serious proposal though?
By CharltonRed
Looks cheap and nasty. Also… balconies?
By Balcony watch
Love the greenery and the setback on that building, should really add something different to the area.
By Tom
Fantastic design and project, get it built! Always good to see a new skyscraper, hopefully it hits the 150m mark.
@Heritage Action, I wouldn’t call the existing building a landmark, more of an eye soar that needs to go… Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it should stay, some buildings need to go to make way for the new and this is definitely one of them.
By MC
Stunning. That tower is so refreshing to see you. Finally Manchester has an exciting development, rather than the usual glass boxes. Get it built!
Lovely to see the riverside being opened up too for public access.
By Steve
Looks like student halls, cheap random cladding, flat uninteresting facade with that characteristic barcode pattern. The office block has one decent idea but is severely lacking in finesse.
By Not impressed
I’d bet £30m that this scheme never gets build, planning approved or not.
The costs of getting out of the ground aligned with the inefficient office floor plates will kill the viability!
By 2025
In all seriousness this could clash with bruntwoods Alberton House which is also green. Whoever gets it built first should get first dibs.
By Kit-kat
I like the shape of the buildings, but i would rather they would use a brick theme instead. Really had enough of the chequerboard effect too. Having said that, we’re fortunate to have so much building activity and it’s probably an upgrade on what’s currently there, but probably another missed opportunity for something better too.
I’d also like to see them more in line too rather than at odd angles. I think tall buildings in places like New York look more impressive because of the grid system, i.e. linear.
By MrP
Absolutely fantastic. One of the best proposals ever. Get it built!
By Anonymous
Too high for this small plot of land and the surrounding area.
By Johnny
Where are the balconies for this scheme? 🙁
By Balcony warrior
this looks great!
By ray von
Breath-taking
By Anonymous
Shame about the loss of Albert Bridge House.
By Monty
Cheap and tacky. Hope it doesn’t get built. Manchester desperately needs better contemporary designs. London get the best and Manchester gets the leftovers.
By Mike
I can only imagine that Mike has never been to London because the vast majority of new build outside their core is not a patch on Manchester. And if you think the middle and fat Easter Disney buildings are outstanding I disagree entirely. I think the London skyline is not good
By Londoncentric
The leftovers Mike? You really need to travel more. I look around at the ‘leftovers ‘ and it’s often better than the main course. By your reckoning that’s means other cities get the crumbs? Hang on though…you may be on to something…
By Anonymous