Manchester approves Soller’s 18-storey workspace

Soller Group has secured approval for NXQ, a 120,000 sq ft office development on the corner of Lever Street and Great Ancoats Street.

Manchester City Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the project at its meeting this afternoon a month on from deferring a decision pending a site visit.

Designed by Howells, the scheme would provide 121,000 sq ft of office space, to be marketed by Savills and Knight Frank.

Daniel Barnes, office agency director at Savills, said: “NXQ is an exciting new development that will add a new dynamic to Manchester’s office market and deliver some much needed, high quality and sustainable space.

“Following the successful planning consent, we are excited to be involved with the scheme and have no doubt that it will appeal to a wide range of occupiers.”

• BOOK NOW: Place North West Rental Market 2025

There are a series of buildings that occupy the site currently, which are set for demolition. The exception would be 32 Great Ancoats Street – a former Bem Brasil that would be restored to its 1930s condition and incorporated into the new office building. The facades of 56 and 58 Lever Street would also be retained.

Soller is targeting a BREEAM rating of Excellent with the project.

Nick Treadaway, founding partner and chief executive of Soller, said: “We are thrilled to have secured successful planning consent for NXQ. The design has been carefully considered to offer a perfect combination of past and present with a focus on sustainability and we are excited to see this unique development come to life.

“Soller has worked closely with Manchester City Council to bring this exceptional scheme forward into a market that has a chronic undersupply of best-in-class office space.”

In addition to Howells, the project team includes planner AshtonHale, landscape architect Planit, flood risk and drainage expert AKT II, air and noise consultant BWB Consulting, and cost consultant AtkinsRéalis.

Turner and Townsend is the project manager, with Savills and Knight Frank already on board as agents for the property.

E3P, SK Transport, Design for Security, Orion Heritage, SoilTechnics, GTech Surveys, and RJK Consulting also advised on the application. Rounding out the project team are Reform, Brookdale, GIA, Sandy Brown, and Project Four Safety Solutions.