Manchester approves £213m Great Northern regen
Trilogy Real Estate and Peterson Group’s plans to deliver 150,000 sq ft of offices and 746 homes at the prominent Deansgate site have been granted planning approval.
The long-awaited development of the Great Northern site was set out in Manchester City Council’s 2017 strategic regeneration framework.
That document envisaged the site becoming a ‘cultural, business and residential’ destination.
Trilogy and Peterson’s plans for a mixed-use overhaul were submitted in December. The approval of those plans paves the way for work to start on site next year.
Robert Wolstenholme, founder and chief executive of Trilogy, said: “A huge team has worked tirelessly and with a huge passion for over eight years to listen, design and refine to arrive at a proposed scheme we hope Manchester will proud of.
“There is much still to do and we will continue to work hard to bring to life what has been in our imaginations for so many years. We greatly look forward to continuing to build a community of the best of the north at the Great Northern.”
Designed by SimpsonHaugh, the development will see the historic Great Northern Warehouse converted into 120,000 sq ft workspace with apartments delivered across 34-, 27-, and 16-storey new-build towers.
The homes would have between one and three bedrooms, with 430 being two-bedroom units. There is no on-site affordable housing proposed due to viability constraints.
The scheme also proposes the redevelopment of Deansgate Terrace into 30,000 sq ft of offices on its upper floors, with the ground floor continuing to hold retail and leisure space.
The leisure box, a 1990s extension to Great Northern, will be partially demolished under the plans to make way for the new build elements.
Night time view of the Great Northern project. Credit: SimpsonHaugh
The leisure box is currently home to the Odeon cinema, an NCP carpark, and a gym.
“We are delighted that the proposals for the Great Northern have been approved,” said Nick Owen, partner at SimpsonHaugh.
“We now look forward to delivering on our vision for this important site, creating a thriving and sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood, celebrating the site’s unique built heritage, and creating a place for everyone to enjoy.”
Having secured approval, Trilogy and Peterson plan to develop the project in phases.
Phase A would be the refurbishment and conversion of Great Northern Warehouse and the northern end of Deansgate Terrace.
Phases B and C would include the partial leisure box demolition, the building of the residential towers, and the refurbishment of the southern end of Deansgate Terrace.
The project team also includes Deloitte, WSP, Planit-IE, Curtins, Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture, Civic Engineers, Salford Archaeology, UrbanBubble, Light Bureau, Forever Consulting, Indigo Surveys, Pager Power, OFR Consultants, Aura, and Quadriga.
Lindsay Humblet, director at Planit-IE, said: “This is a fantastic result and once complete will become an exemplar of how landscape architecture will enrich the neighbourhood, its emerging community and also contribute to a greener future for Manchester city centre.”
Michael Percival, assistant director at Deloitte added: “The comprehensive approach to repurposing the whole Great Northern complex is set to be a game changer for the city, so we’re delighted to see the project secure planning permission today.
“The proposals will lovingly breathe new life into some of the city’s finest heritage assets to deliver a stellar mixed-use urban quarter that will create new homes, deliver on culture and accelerate business activity right in the heart of the city.”
The planning application reference numbers for the project are 135565/FO/2022 and 135566/LO/2022 with Manchester City Council.
The gym in the leisure box closed last month, the unit is currently empty.
By Aaron
Great to see that an external drainpipe has been designed in to the building on the left. Too many buildings are designed without drainpipes and its outrageous
By DrainPipeWatch
Excellent news!
By Steve
As a member of the External Drain Pipe Appreciation society I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments of DrainPipeWatch. Let’s make external Drain Pipes Great Again!
By External DrainPipeAppreciationSociety
It’s a shame to lose more leisure space to gated apartments
By Dan
Poor design. Looks like ‘son of red-brick’ piccadilly gardens fiasco. £213m and that’s the best Manchester can come up with.
By Darren
Never mind the drainpipes, where are the balconies?? Residents need outside space!
By Balconywatch
Years and planning and rather uninspiring design .
By Another Manc
BalconyWatch – there are lots of balconies if you look closely. The crowns of the buildings are also tiered back to reveal terrace balconies.
By Anonymous
Have to say Balconywatch I normally agree with you but this one isn’t bad for balconies.
I wouldn’t say the design is mind blowing but I think it’s good and the scheme as a whole will be genuinely transformational.
Just wish they could have kept the AMC or at least part of it.
This is also breathing life into Manchester’s bread and butter.
Some cities would die for this.
By Anonymous
looks good.
By ray von
Absolutely fantastic. This will be one of the best schemes in Manchester, really exciting.
By Simon
When St Michael’s is up and the rest of Deansgate Square. This part of town will be world class. Manchester is completely in another league to the rest of the regional cities.This is stunning.
By Elephant
Are they demolishing the cinema???
By Anonymous
This is going to be vast improvement on the existing space… Simpson Haugh architects are involved it will deliver a fabulous development for this end of town. Agreed with St John’s also with the DOMIS and RENAKER towers nearby this will make a massive difference to the area. I only hope there is more plans for other areas within the city.
By Anonymous