Developers poised for approval on 500 Manchester flats

Manchester City Council’s July planning committee will meet next week, with the regeneration of the former Manchester Metropolitan University Hollings campus in Fallowfield and Balfour Beatty’s first foray into the build-to-rent sector set to feature on the agenda.

In Fallowfield, the council will consider a planning application for 210 homes to be built in and around the Toast Rack building.

Generation acquired the Toast Rack from MMU on behalf of international investors Home Property Group, via subsidiary company Estrela Properties in October 2014.

The flats will be a mix of between one and four-bedrooms, targeted at the private rented sector.

Alongside the apartments, the scheme includes a 20,000 sq ft of gym and leisure facilities, and 7,000 sq ft of retail including an independent coffee shop with associated co-working spaces for use by residents and the public.

Ollier Smurthwaite Architects designed the new-build elements within the development, referred to as the Stitching block and the Gateway building. SixTwo Architects redesigned the existing listed buildings made up of the Toast Rack, the Horseshoe and the Drum. Paul Butler Associates acted as planning adviser while Joule Consulting Engineers gave structural advice.

In New Cross, Balfour Beatty Investments is planning a build-to-rent project on Oldham Road.

The Hodder & Partners design consists of 274 one, two and three bedroom apartments within two buildings positioned around a landscaped courtyard.

Balfour Beatty Investments acquired the site in January 2016 and pending a successful planning application it is anticipated that construction will start late 2016 with the first residents moving in in late 2018.

Manchester City Council’s planning committee will meet on Thursday 28 July. Other schemes to be discussed include the development of 54 apartments on Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, and 60 flats in Bentinck Street.