January start for Salboy’s Shudehill offices

Contractor Domis is preparing to start construction of the developer’s 17-storey office building on Back Turner Street in Manchester after the city council approved a construction management plan.

The 47,000 sq ft development will be targeted at creative and digital tenants and comprise three adjoining blocks. 

The first to fourth floors will provide 5,200 sq ft of workspace, the fifth floor an additional 3,500 sq ft, while the remaining levels will comprise 2,000 sq ft floorplates. 

Existing buildings at 30 and 32 Shudehill, as well as 1 and 3 Nicolas Croft will be demolished under Salboy’s plans. 

In early 2018, Salboy was denied planning permission to create a 13-storey aparthotel on the site, to be operated by Zoku – the decision came after several deferrals.  

Over the course of 2018, different versions of a residential scheme were worked up by architect Jon Matthews, with a favourite picked following a public consultation.   

The chosen part-16-, part-17-storey proposal, totalling 65 apartments, was granted planning permission last summer before Salboy opted to swap to offices earlier this year.  

The design of the commercial scheme remains broadly the same externally with Jon Matthews Architects retained as the lead architect. Euan Kellie Property Solutions is the planner. 

Salboy’s project was approved by the city council’s delegated three-person planning board during lockdown.

The project team also includes agent OBI Property, transport consultant Curtins Consulting, landscape architect Re-Form, Renaissance as the structural engineer and Hann Tucker Associates as the acoustics consultant.