Jadebricks lodges 15-storey Manchester student proposal
Designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, the project would see a long-vacant site on Charles Street transformed into a 107-bed scheme.
Jadebricks has submitted its proposals to Manchester City Council for consideration after consulting on the 15-storey development earlier this year.
The project would be built on the surface car park between the recently completed Maldron Hotel and Bracken House and aim to provide an injection of beds into Manchester’s PBSA pipeline.
A planning statement by Turley states that the scheme would “support the wider housing market in the city by reducing reliance upon the general private rented sector to meet the accommodation needs of students”.
Stephen Bell, chief executive at Turley, said: “Demand for well-managed, high-quality student accommodation in Manchester far outstrips supply so we’re delighted to have submitted the application for Charles Street, which will address a long-standing need in the city.
“Not only does dedicated student accommodation enhance the student experience, providing opportunities for community and social interaction, it also eases the pressure on local housing across Manchester.”
Jadebricks managing director, Mike Bathurst added: “Jadebricks is delighted to be able to bring forward a building of truly outstanding design quality to this vibrant and exciting part of the city centre. The location is ideally suited for student accommodation, being on the Oxford Road Corridor and within a few minutes walk of both university campuses. ”
The Charles Street frontage would feature a green glazed terracotta façade.
To learn more about the scheme, search for reference number 138808/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
In a report published this summer, CBRE described Manchester’s PBSA market as “one of the most sought-after real estate markets in the UK”.
Just 4,745 student beds have been delivered in the city since 2018. In that same time frame, demand for beds has grown by 8,100 spaces.
Manchester now has an identified shortage of 23,186 beds within the city, according to CBRE.
Jadebricks’ scheme is the latest in a growing list of purpose-built student accommodation proposals to come forward in recent months. However, despite a clear demand for an increase in student housing, the asset class is not universally popular.
A new entrant to the Manchester property scene, Manner, recently submitted plans for a 500-bed scheme on the long-derelict Hotspur Press site, while Downing has decided to deliver an element of PBSA at its First Street cluster, which was previously solely co-living.
A £400m redevelopment of the University of Manchester’s Owens Park Campus is in the works, while WUKPG recently lodged plans for 262 student studios off Plymouth Grove.
Curlew has had its plans to redevelop the site of the former Gamecock pub in Hulme into a student scheme refused four times despite scaling back the project twice.
Just last week, Manchester City Council’s planning committee deferred plans for more than 5,000 student homes across three schemes after listening to the impassioned pleas of local councillors. All three developments had been recommended for approval by Manchester’s planners.
Credit: via planning documents
Anything that obscures that utter horror neighbouring this plot is a win, regardless of its design. It should compliment the overall area well.
By Anonymous
Great to see inner Manchester densifying in a way which will boost sustainable movement. 107 new beds, a walk away from the uni, a few steps away from the super high frequency bus corridor and cycleway on Oxford Road and round the corner from Oxford Road station. More vitality, retail spend and less pressure on family homes in surrounding suburbs.
By Sustainable
100% agree Anonymous – just a shame it couldn’t take in the adjacent building too!
By Neighbour
Could the car park behind it be turned into a green space?
By Anonymous
28,000 beds required yet they are dilly dallying over the proposed Owen’s park complex. The height of those proposed should be doubled.
By Peter Chapman
Yet more housing that will be almost entirely be occupied by overseas students and not housing built for needs of people who actually from the city and are priced out city as a result.
By Barbara Little
If Bracken House accidentally gets demolished during construction there’ll be jelly and ice cream all round!
By Tom
Small potatoes this one
By Giant Skyscraper Fan
Don’t you get it Barbara…….it is precisely those people who are living in mainstream housing. This type of accommodation gives them an alternative and frees up the family housing ……..simple
By Bemused
Green terracotta…
By MrP
@Barbara perhaps you should create your own private company and develop housing for people who live in the city.
By Anonymous
Manchester city centre is dominated by students, I went out recently and felt very old at 35, I couldn’t find a decent glass of wine anywhere and pizza and burgers dominate the menus.
By Dan
Sorry should have been this site I was in New York last week and London last month and pizza and burgers dominated there Dan…….as they do in many major cities in the world
By Foodie
Dan – I guess experiences differ. I am a good bit older than 35, but never really feel old in the city. I have probably eaten out 30 times in the city centre in the last year, a few pizzas I will admit, but good ones, even the oldest Italian Restaurants in the city still have them on the menu, but I have had French, North African, Jamaican, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese in addition to Italian and good pub grub. Not a burger in sight. I don’t know what your idea of a decent glass of wine is, I can usually find something pretty decent, without breaking the bank and if you are generally spending a little more 63 Degrees, Climat and Wood have really excellent wine lists.
By Nick Barton
There may be 10s of thousands of students in Manchester Dan but it sounds as if you don’t know the city at all . Lots of food guides online especially insta….not to say maps!
By Anonymous
There is a crèche (Paintpots nursery) on the ground floor of Bracken House, the building beside the current car park. The toddlers have an outdoor playground. How will they be protected from the dust and noise during construction? Once constructed, this building will blockout most of the light their playground gets. There are very few crèches in the city centre. They are vital for working parents who live in town.
By Anonymous
Parents don’t live in town, the people who use the nursery work in town and drive in.
By Gilly
Dan strikes me as one of those people who probably feels old wherever he is. It’s a mindset thing, and he has a very negative one
By Anonymous
Funny how people keep saying there should be cheap housing for local people in the city centre – ten years ago no-one wanted to live in the city centre.
By kath