July start for Forshaw’s Cornbrook tower
With Gateway 2 approval now in the bag, main contractor DOMIS can next month start constructing VIVERE Residences, a 24-storey building comprising 237 apartments and an 88-key VIVERE aparthotel.
VIVERE Residences will sit on a site adjacent to the Cornbrook Metrolink station, at the entrance of Peel Waters’ Manchester Waters neighbourhood.
Developed by Forshaw Land and Property Group, the project will scale 24-storeys with ground floor commercial space and various residential amenities. These include a coworking lounge, meeting rooms, private dining area, cinema, and a gym.
Regarding the residential element of the building, it will contain 74 one-bedroom apartments, and 158 two-bedroom ones. There are five penthouses included in the proposals drawn up by Leach Rhodes Walker.
VIVERE Residences is supported by Maslow Capital, which contributed a £64.2m development finance facility for the project.
Gateway 2 approval has been some time in the making. The scheme had secured a positive vote from Manchester City Council in 2024 thanks to efforts from planner Lichfields. However, it had to undergo some design changes last year to add a second staircase to the four-floor hotel portion of the project – a second staircase was already included in the residential comment.
“Securing Gateway 2 approval is a hugely significant milestone for this development and for our team,” said Lyndon Forshaw, chief executive of Forshaw Land and Property Group.
“While the process has been rigorous, it ensures that the highest standards of building safety are embedded from the outset, which is something we fully support,” he continued.
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Peel Waters to bring VIVERE Residencies forward on such an important gateway site. With final approvals secured, we are looking forward to starting on site and delivering a scheme that reflects the quality and ambition of Manchester Waters.”
Forshaw concluded: “This is our largest residential development to date and also marks the launch of our VIVERE aparthotel brand in Manchester. We’re excited to play our part in shaping this fast-growing neighbourhood.”
Peel Waters development director Leigh Thomas described the securing of Gateway 2 approval as a “major milestone” for the project.
Thomas said: “Cornbrook is an important gateway into Pomona Island, which will be transformed by our wider plans to create a new waterside neighbourhood, with over 10 acres of green spaces and public realm.
“Unlocking this site has been a key priority for us and through careful land assembly and long-term planning, we’ve created the opportunity for high-quality developments like VIVERE Cornbrook to come forward.”
To review the application for VIVERE Residences, search reference 139133/FO/2024 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
A high impact development for sure, as needed here, but it would benefit from some place making efforts in the general vicinity.
By WayFay
Is that plot to the left of this reserved for the expansion/redevelopment of Cornbrook station, to improve it and also as a crossover for tram-trains?
I hope it is. Very silly if that isnt being factored in at this stage.
By Anonymous
Overall it looks like a great and much needed scheme, although the excessively large illuminated signage on an otherwise blank piece of elevation might be better considered. Hopefully the scheme might trigger some attention of the frankly abysmal state of the public realm to access Cornbrook Tram Stop. The mind still boggles how the access to one of the city region’s busiest tram interchanges and stations was ever allowed to be so badly designed and poorly looked after.
By Anonymous
Looks good. Hoping that somewhere, someone has thought of re-aligning/dualing the entrance into Cornbrook Metrolink stop so that it opens into the currently vacant plot of land on the opposite side to where it is currently. This could be much more of a place made entrance into the stop rather than having to go through the horrid dingey bridge and double-back on yourself.
By D
Sadly, I forsee this going the same way as X1 last week and will stall. The margins are thin, the contractors weakening and the demand limited. Sadly unless this was a certain forward funded deal with a sound institution I wouldn’t see it being completed. Note this is another Peel site like the X1 one, and these will sit stalled until the next cycle picks things up and they are made viable again.
By Funding challenges
Is that Temo New York in the background
By Anonymous
“Funding Challenges”, I disagree and can categorically confirm that VIVERE will be delivered and complete
in 2028. The project is fully funded, demand is strong with excess 200 sold. The hotel is not being sold.
By Lyndon
Manchester needs more of this kind of building in the city centre. I like the height 10/11 floors) and is reminiscent of buildings in many European cities and gives a certain elegance to the building. This kind of design would increase density in the city centre. it is my belief that architects should start reconsidering more elegant Art Deco designs with motifs and beautiful portland stone cladding. Architects need to pay more attention to detail. I like the design but it could be even better in my view. Frankly, we’ve had enough of the glass skyscrapers that only damage the architectural heritage of the city. We need more brick and stone structures. Skyscrapers in Manchester should be a thing of the past.
By the parisian
You can’t really get anymore bland than this design.
By Big Des