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.
