Manchester fires starting gun on Hulme resi opportunity
The city council is looking to offload a 2.75-acre development site on the corner of Greenheys Lane West and Old Birley Street.
CBRE has been appointed to market the site, which was previously earmarked for an extension of UKFast’s headquarters but is now destined to be redeveloped into homes.
Lawrence Jones, UKFast’s disgraced founder, agreed a deal with Manchester City Council to acquire the plot of land opposite the firm’s Birley Fields campus in 2019.
The deal was agreed just before Jones stepped down from the company amid the sexual misconduct allegations that eventually saw him jailed for 15 years.
Kieran McLaughlin, senior director in CBRE’s UK development and residential team, said: “We are anticipating strong market interest from developers looking to capitalise on the ongoing regeneration of Hulme, an area home to many of the city’s families and young professionals.
The site’s long-leasehold is up for grabs and offers subject to planning will be accepted up until 30 July.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said the site presents a “great opportunity” for residential-led regeneration.
“The development of the site should have community at its heart, so alongside residential accommodation we want to see great public space and commercial opportunities as well,” he said.
“We look forward to seeing ambitious proposals to bring the potential of this site to reality, creating a highly sustainable development of renown that will complement and enhance the Hulme neighbourhood.”
The disposal forms part of Manchester City Council’s ongoing estate strategy, which generated £23.3m in capital receipts in the 2023/24 financial year.
Another site MCC wants to sell is the Church Street car park in the Northern Quarter. The procurement process for this opportunity is ongoing.
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Why not keep the green space as green space and knock down the ANS building instead? A company that makes internet products but demands office attendance is a company that shouldn’t be in business.
By Anthony
Who would want to live next to a petrol station
By Anonymous
Manchester Council is allergic to parks and green space
By Anonymous
Looks like Singapore in the background.
By Anonymous
@ Anthony, couldn’t agree more. The ANS site is like 90% car park as well, such a massive waste of inner city space.
By M I Grant
Anthony -They can keep it as a green space, so long as someone such as yourself is willing to but the site and pay for the upkeep. Do you want to buy it?
By Vader
Oh look more green space being lost. FANTASTIC! So liveable. I mean residents can just buy a tram ticket to Sale Water Park. Or something like that.
By Anonymous
Great news, this open space has been a blight on Hulme, a depressing hole in the street scene since the crescents were knocked down.
Here’s hoping for a very high quality scheme , maybe even a nod, in design terms, to the innovative Homes4Change complex.
By Anonymous
As owners of the land the city Council have a say in what happens unlike at all saints Park the council claim to be powerless to stop mmu social exclusion and discrimination towards the community
By Andy wigley
What the Council are not saying is that the last time development was proposed for this site, there were protests against it by local residents.
By Steve
Couldn’t agree more with Anthony re keeping the green space. What an odd thing to do. Retain the green space and increase density around it would be much more logical.
By Anonymous
You sound like a disgruntled Configuration Consultant!
Nonetheless, good luck to CBRE.
By Deja
Why not build a minimum 60 storey block and keep some green space.
Surely everyone will be happy then.
By Anonymously
Ideal for a community self build demonstration project.
Sadly MCC have no vision except class tube btr/pbsa
By House Martin
Please develop some affordable rent or rent to buy homes for local people who work but can’t afford private rent.
By Anonymous
Build affordable homes on there rather that posh apartment.
By Anonymous
This space is a short walk to both Hulme Park and Alex Park. For those of you who never leave Ancoats, these are big parks which you too can easily access with little effort. This would be much better used as homes.
By Jackle
This space is a short walk to both Hulme Park and Alex Park. For those of you who never leave Ancoats, these are big parks which you too can easily access with little effort. This would be much better used as homes.
Jackie this area is very far from Ancoats to walk to and it’s close to Moss side which is a dangerous place, and there are no independent coffee shops in that photo. No thanks!
By Anonymous
Alex Park is a big green space but not a pleasant one.
By Elephant
Hulme Park and Alex Park are really run down though
By Anonymous
The same people wanting this kept as green space are usually the same bemoaning the lack of affordable housing. Hey let’s make it net zero too. None of them have a clue around the difficulties of viability. Just exist to whine rather than contribute positively to solve issues….
By Don cheglioni
@Elephant, not sure when the last time you visited Alex park, was it before its multi-million £ restoration back in 2013?, that is if you’re referring to Alex Park (Grade II) in Moss Side/Whalley Range, if so then its probably the best inner city park in Manchester and a fine example of early Victorian municipal parks. I love the sweeping tree lined paths, grand promenades and all the other spaces. Its so vibrant and full of activity and life in the sun. Couldn’t disagree more, Alexandra Park is the most pleasant park in the the City
By Anonymous
Manchester City Council have had ample opportunity to build affordable homes but have chosen to sell all land to greedy developers for unaffordable city centre apartments. These homes will likely not be affordable and a loss of green space. Hulme has no pubs, no coffee shops, just houses and a run down area. Look at Hulme Market. Dirty shipping containers. Invest in the community, don’t sell to greedy developers.
By Anonymous
The petrol filling station really blights this birley fields site. It should have been on the Asda car park. Great planning decision..
By K