IQ tables plans for 1,220 Manchester student beds
The developer has lodged revised proposals for a major PBSA development on Echo Street, a scheme that has been in the pipeline since 2017.
IQ wants to build three interlinked blocks of 27, 21 and 16 storeys on the site of Chandos House close to Manchester Piccadilly train station.
Designed by Sheppard Robson, the scheme will see the delivery of 1,220 student beds across a mixture of one-bed studios, and five- and six-bed clusters.
Turley is advising IQ on planning matters. The professional team also includes Curtins, Vectos, Planit-IE, and Waterman.
To learn more about the 412,000 sq ft project, search for application reference number 136874/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
IQ has been planning to redevelop the site for some time.
The company received planning consent for the demolition and replacement of the existing halls to provide 863 co-living beds, including 242 student beds in 2018.
However, after clearing the site, work stalled and IQ opted to rethink the plans, which were revealed earlier this year.
The decision to opt solely for student accommodation and omit the co-living element was “informed by prevailing market conditions, and in response to the significant need and demand for high-quality PBSA within Manchester”, according to a planning statement by Turley.
The scheme is located next to Bruntwood SciTech’s ID Manchester, the proposed redevelopment of the former UMIST campus into a 4m sq ft mixed-use development featuring 2.6m sq ft of offices.
Granby Row, another IQ site nearby, is also in line for an overhaul. In 2020, the company announced early-stage plans for a 55-storey tower on the site.
Nice development, good to see the site finally built on and a nice amount of rooms for the students.
By MC
Off the scale. Why even bother.
By Peter
That’s a real shame. The old campus has a great modernist character. This is lowest common denominator, developer dredge.
By Anonymous
The lack of balconies in this area is not visually appealing.
By Balcony Monitor
Balcony Monitor wishes to provide over 1200 students a high level balcony as part of their university accommodation… What could possibly go wrong with that suggestion I wonder 😐
By Anonymous
Looks dreadful and a real disappointment that they are using the same outdated design from before – but then of course they would, considering it was already approved.
By Byronic
Ha ha, Balcony monitor once suggested putting balconies on the 55 story student tower going ahead near Oxford Rd. Like you said anonymous 0908…what indeed could go wrong!
By Dohnyikes
If they are too high for balconies then they are too high and shouldn’t be allowed
By Phi
1220 students at Piccadilly, walking distance to the unis, instead of suburbs or long-term flats. Hopefully this will build up activity south and east of Piccadilly.
By Density
Fallowfield used to be good, now students are happier in Headingley and Jesmond
By Phi
Perfect location for PBSA. Get it Built!
By New Wave
This is indeed developer copy/paste dredge that e’re seeing all over Manchester. If Manchester hopes to be recogizeed as a true internation city to be compared with the likes of Milan then architects and developers will have to do far better than this. Isn’t there a commitee that oversee what is built in Manchester because this is dreadful?
By John
Headingley and Jesmond? Wow you’ve really got your finger on the student pulse…. If those students were from the 1980’s!
By Anonymous
A committee that oversees what is built? Yeah it’s called the council. Post modernism is the curse of all English cities..it’s everywhere. There’s just so much development in Manchester we have more of it than most. Some good stuff too..just not enough.
By Anonymous
Wish that developers would use brick and try and at least try and emulate the character of the area.
By MrP
Usual nonsense of course. I remember the same old contributors slagging off the Downing development at first St…….let’s hope they actually visit Manchester and look at the quality of that development. I won’t hold my breath as they probably never leave their bedrooms
By Believer