Manchester waves through Ancoats resi, refuses 400,000 sq ft industrial 

The 256-home Phoenix Ironworks was unanimously approved on Thursday, while Aviva Investors’ plans to extend Atlas Business Park were rejected on Green Belt grounds. 

 Atlas Business Park

Hale Architecture designed the warehouses for Aviva. Credit: via Aviva Investors

Developer: Aviva Investors  

Architect: Hale Architecture  

Planner: Turley  

Aviva’s hopes of developing a five-unit extension to the existing Atlas Business Park in Wythenshawe have been dealt a blow.  

The city council refused the application in line with officers’ recommendations due to concerns about the impact it would have on Green Belt and Manchester Airport.  

Aviva Investors submitted a planning application for 411,000 sq ft of employment space close to the airport in September, almost a year after first consulting on the proposals.   

Designed by Hale Architecture, the scheme proposed the construction of five units ranging from 37,000 sq ft to 166,000 sq ft on a vacant 23-acre plot off Simonsway.   

Part of the site, close to both Heald Green train station and Peel Hall Metrolink station, was previously occupied by the Ferranti electronics factory. The company went bust in 1993.  

Around half of the site is located within the strip of Green Belt that separates Heald Green and Wythenshawe.   

To learn more about the application, search for reference number 135952/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal. 

Phoenix Ironworks 

The internal courtyard at Phoenix Ironworks. Credit: via planning documents

Developer: Manchester Life – a joint venture between Manchester City Council and Acre Real Estate Investment and Development.    

Architect: Callison RTKL  

Planner: Deloitte  

The next phase of Ancoats’ regeneration will see a former industrial site redeveloped into 256 homes, following unanimous approval by the Manchester City Council’s planning committee yesterday. 

Designed by Callison RTKL, the project would deliver a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses and up to 14,500 sq ft of commercial space, including a row of workshops geared towards creatives.   

Located off Naval Street, Poland Street, Jersey Street, and Radium Street, the proposal does not feature any affordable homes.  

A viability appraisal by Savills estimates the scheme has a gross development value of £77.1m and will cost £71.5m to develop.   

The project team features Mace, Planit, Deloitte, Curtins, Buro Happold, Sandy Brown, Hoare Lea, Turner and Townsend, and Counter Context.   

To learn more about the project, search for application reference number 137346/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.  

Phoenix Ironworks builds on Manchester Life’s extensive work in Ancoats and New Islington, which has seen the business deliver nearly 1,500 homes across the neighbourhoods.    

Earlier this year, the company succeeded in securing planning permission for 190-flat Jersey Wharf project, located close to Phoenix Ironworks.