Gateway 2 sign-off for Manchester PBSA
HG Construction can commence building Far East Orchard’s 239-studio Apex scheme off Plymouth Grove.
The developer and contractor have secured Gateway 2 approval – a mandatory step in the pre-construction phase of development under the Building Safety Act – paving the way for a start on site.
Far East Orchard is hopeful the scheme, its first in Manchester, could complete by 2028 in time for the September student intake.
Far East Orchard group chief executive Alan Tang said: “Securing Gateway 2 approval for Plymouth Grove reflects the strength of our development and technical capabilities amid the UK’s more rigorous building safety regime.
“As a development undertaken through FESAD, this milestone supports the execution of the fund’s value creation strategy while reinforcing our ability to originate, develop, and manage high-quality PBSA assets in attractive university cities across the UK.”
WUKPG secured planning permission for the eight-storey Manchester student project before selling the site to Far East Orchard for £11.5m last year.
Designed by DAY Architectural, the scheme was the second acquired through the investor’s FESAD fund, which Far East Orchard holds a 50% stake in, following the purchase of land in Glasgow last year for a 273-bed project.
Aurum Investments – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woh Hup Holdings – and an unrelated third-party own 21.4% and 28.6% respectively.
The project team for Apex also includes e3p, XO Square, Kings, Jensen Hughes, Eddisons, Paul Butler Associates, and Element Sustainability.
To learn more about the proposals, search for reference number 138294/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
