Ice Plant reaches completion

Northern Group has finished its £12m apartment scheme off Greet Ancoats Street on the edge of Manchester city centre.

The Ice Plant contains 82 one, two and three-bedroom apartments for rent. The façade of the ice-making warehouse was retained and three new-build blocks built, including an eight-storey tower, around a central glass atrium.

The scheme includes a 2,000 sq ft penthouse with three bedrooms and panoramic views of the city. Northern Group is retaining ownership of all 82 apartments for rent through its in-house property managers. Ice Plant also has five ground floor retail or commercial units fronting on to the square ranging from 2,000 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft.

The development, partly funded by the Homes & Communities Agency, overlooks Cutting Room Square and St Peter's Church, recently confirmed as a rehearsal base for the city's Halle orchestra.

Nathan Ezair, director of Northern Group, said: "We believe we have created some of the highest specification – if not the highest specification – apartments in the city centre and are bringing a fresh approach to the rental market. The current economic climate means demand for rentals is higher than ever but that does not mean that communities have to be transient. We are catering for long-term tenants who want to make the property their home and not just a stop-gap – replicating the rental model of mainland Europe and cities like New York.

"We've put a lot of effort into observing and researching Manchester's property market and listening to what tenants want. People don't want to live in carbon copy boxes so we have sought to change and improve upon existing models and created a scheme which offers desirable, generously-sized apartments, with premium fixtures and fittings and great attention to detail.

"We are very grateful for the HCA Kickstart funding that has helped us to complete this scheme during very testing economic conditions and believe we have a development which we and Manchester can be rightly proud of."

All apartments are available furnished or unfurnished. Prices start from £650/month.