Manchester gives go-ahead for ‘probably the best office building in UK’
Dubbed the Metropolitan, Parthena Reys’ planned overhaul of the 350,000 sq ft One Hardman Boulevard has been signed off by Manchester City Council.
The investor will drastically overhaul the interior of the Spinningfields office block – previously home to NatWest – as well as adding a roof terrace. Manchester City Council approved the project last week.
The intention is to bring the building in line with the demands of modern occupiers and improve its environmental credentials.
Allied London chairman Michael Ingall, who developed One Hardman Boulevard originally, said the reinvented asset would be “probably the best commercial building in the UK”.
Designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, The Metropolitan will see its central core widened to create a series of juxtaposed internal terraces.
The building will offer 39,000 sq ft floorplates. Construction work is expected to start in mid-2025 and will complete in 2026.
To learn more about the scheme, search for reference number 141199/FO/2024 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
The project team includes Simpson Haugh Architects, Gardiner Theobald, Cundall, OFR, Renaissance, Ashton Hale, Project 4 Safety and Hann Tucker. The appointed leasing advisors are OBI and CBRE.
NatWest sold One Hardman Boulevard to Parthena Reys late last year for around £70m. The bank vacated the building in autumn as part of its decision to consolidate into 150,000 sq ft One Spinningfields Square.
Self proclaimed
By Anonymous
“best commercial building in the UK” what a ridiculous comment
By Dan G
Probably, maybe, not sure.
By CityCentre
Come on Place Northwest, try and reign in the superlative please. On what basis are you peddling the nonsense that this is the best commercial building in the UK?
By Digbuth O'Hooligan
Hi Digbuth – it’s not our words, but those of Michael Ingall and is clearly written as a quote. Take it up with him.
By Julia Hatmaker
And Carlsberg is the best lager in the world
By Anonymous
Hilarious headline.
By Simon Griffiths
Only the UK, why not the world?
By Mr Modesty
And in the meantime Merseyside continues to get nothing, wonder why.
By Anonymous
More offices…….where are the wfh ears now? The office is clearly well and truly dead!!!!!
By Anonymous
Anyone remember when Mancunians were positive?
By Peter Chapman
I think Mr Modesty is secretly Michael Ingall
By allergic to squirrels
It’s a huge building with large efficient floor plates in one of the best commercial districts outside London. I’d say that counts as one of the best office building [opportunities] in the UK. And no, I’m not Mike Ingall
By Not Mike Ingall
Zero chance this gets delivered. Architects gone wild, client never said no and the poor QS standing no chance in costing it. Will need over £60/sqft to make viable..
By KatieT
As Manchester does its best to emulate New York this building when finished will be a nice change from the boring high rise glass blocks.The difficulty in this building design is meeting the energy efficiency statutory compliance.
By Paul Griffiths
This is an embarrassing click-bait quote for PNW to use as the headline with nothing to justify why it’s the best office building in the UK. Quoting vague unsubstantiated claims and then referring us to the person that quoted it, with no critique from the author, is the type of AI produced ‘journalism’ I expect from the MEN and only serves to turn the article into an advert. PNW should be providing balanced views that challenge the industry to do better!
By James Trent
Thanks, James, for your feedback.
By Julia Hatmaker
“Will need over £60/sqft to make viable” says Katie T. I doubt that. The refurbishment of heavily discounted “old” Grade A stock is the immediate future for office development Manchester as new build requires a rent of £55 / sg ft or more (unless there is 1) a very significant pre-let or b) public sector support in some shape or form.
By Anonymous
Why can’t they ever design things in a nice neoclassical architecture whilst still being a skyscraper, instead they do the same cookie cutter lazy glass box designs EVERYWHERE and try convincing us it’s nice lol
By Anonymous
Always people who don’t actually read the article seem to be triggered so easily by a simple statement. I suggest they stick to instagram where such as their kind belong. ie the short attention spanner’s .
By Anonymous
Anonymous 2.45 – you could make a strong argument that a lot of neoclassical architecture is pretty cookie cutter. The same three types of columns, motifs and decoration ordered out of a catalogue etc. The reason we don’t build like that anymore except in exceptional circumstances comes down to cost, regulation, accessibility laws, and a myriad of other factors.
By Anonymous