Manner tables 36-storey Hotspur Press proposals
The 578-bedroom student scheme is the London-based developer’s first foray into Manchester and comes five years after plans for a 171-home, 28-storey residential complex on the site were put forward.
Manner revealed its plans for the site in October and held a public consultation. Now, the developer has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council.
“We’re proud to be bringing forward this proposal for The Hotspur Press,” said Richard James, managing director at Manner.
“The building is located in a prime, sustainable area of the city centre, within walking distance of Manchester’s universities, while also close to the social and cultural offer this part of the city has on its doorstep.”
Manner wants to preserve the historic façade of the former Hotspur Press off Cambridge Street and build a 36-storey PBSA tower designed by Hodder + Partners behind it.
As well as providing more than 500 student beds, which will be managed by Fresh Student Living, the scheme features a public square connecting to First Street.
James, who is the former head of co-living capital markets at JLL, added: “Working with Hodder + Partners, we have been able to bring our shared experience to preserve much of the iconic façade, recognising that The Hotspur Press is an important part of Manchester’s industrial past.
“Its regeneration will provide an opportunity to deliver a new public space for the area and our aspiration is to create an attractive and accessible space for residents and neighbours to enjoy.”
Macgregor Smith is advising on landscape design and Turley is the planning consultant.
Manner’s proposals are a departure from earlier plans for the site, put forward by Elmloch – a joint venture between MCR Property Group and Blue Dog Property.
Elmloch was granted approval for a purely residential scheme but the project did not materialise.
In 2020, two years after securing planning consent, Place North West reported that the joint venture was having difficulties delivering the scheme and was seeking to pivot from apartments to student units amid viability concerns.
To learn more about Manner’s scheme, search for reference number 138805/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
Much of the historic façade will be retained under the plans. Credit: via Social
Quite like it. Would be happy to see it pass through.
By Tom
What has happened to that Gold Bar Student tower near this? This is fine. They need to incorporate the mill underneath it.
By Elephant
It looks a darn sight better than its neighbours across the road. I like to roof detail, it is certainly a smart tower for its intended use and will add to the impressive line of talls along the railway line. Could also be a nice neighbour to the controversial ‘tombstone’ (should that ever go ahead).
By Anonymous
Good proportions, decent materials and no random cladding. Fairly basics things but the design gets a thumbs up from me.
By Andee
I like how the brickwork or cladding compliments the existing infrastructure. Who says we can’t have character.
By JAB
Great to see something happen but that tower looks really poor.
By Heritage Action
Looks like a great scheme – different to what we already have nearby. Looks at the state of the pavements though above, there really needs to be some significant investment in the public realm in the city centre.
By XY
Great to see the facade retention & some promising public realm at consultation. W/ the potential to let the Medlock breath, & proximity to HOME / Deansgate / Oxford Rd. really frustrating how long it’s taken to see movement on this. Here’s hoping MCC do something with the railway arch – at the moment dingy, dangerous and bleak
By Anonymous
Great to see this progress this time with the tower aligned within the warehouse rather than at an angle. Won’t know more until the app is validated but that looks considerably taller than 36 floors.
By Andrew
More students though. It would be nice to have the building for people who actually want to live there full time. The area is over run with so many students.
By DJ
I blame Lego.
By Phil
I think we all know that in reality, it will not look that light..
By Anonymous
Because of course the number of storeys a building has is one of its most important features….
By Manchester skyscraper geek
Thirty floors too many
By TrippyZ
This will look awful if built. Renders make it look much better. Let SHP have a pass, at least you know what you getting.
By allergic to squirrels
Always someone moaning about students. More the merrier for me and hopefully a lot of them chose to stay in Manchester beyond their studies. They are the well educated future that will drive the city forward with highly skilled and paid jobs.
By Bob
Another 20 floors would be perfect.
By Anonymous
36 storeys is ok but could have been a lot more. Also looks like a wafer
By Giant Skyscraper Fan
Bob, bricklayers earn more than most graduates nowdays, some will have highly paid jobs in the future but many will find they’ve wasted 30k.
By Gilly
Too high.
By Les
Where is that 55 story student tower around there, is that going up yet? This would give a bit more density around there.
By Anonymous
Gilly – don’t be so insecure, nobody said anything about bricklayers or tradies at all. Yes we need trades, but we need graduates too. The North won’t rise again without engineers, physicists, researchers, lawyers, programmers, designers, analysts, MBAs, etc, etc, etc. Average graduate earnings are 39k vs 27k for non-graduates, and 87% of graduates are in full-time employment vs 70% for non-graduates. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/graduate-labour-markets
By James
Overrun with Students? I guess what with the Universities being nearby that might help explain it but I’m only guessing.
By The Professor
That’s very misleading James, of course non-graduates will be lower on average, you’d have to be stupid to think that proved anything, many people work very lowly paid jobs or don’t work at all
By Gilly
James average salary is a pointless Measure, you need to find median salary, it’s different
By Dan