Downing moves forward with First Street resi

Developer and contractor Downing is set to reveal plans for a co-living and assisted living development on the southern edge of First Street, overhauling a scheme proposed by the plot’s previous owner Patrizia.

Downing bought plot 11 at First Street from Patrizia Immobilien earlier this year for around £18m. Patrizia had gained planning consent for 624 apartments in 2016, designed by CallisonRTKL. At its highest, the buildings would have totalled 24 and 26 storeys.

A public consultation event is being held next week with Downing and Deloitte, to reveal “initial concept proposals”. At this stage, the project is understood to still be a proposal of height, while the target market of the flats has shifted from the private rented sector, to also include co-living and assisted living.

Plot 11 sits on the Medlock Street roundabout and Mancunian Way, next to a Downing scheme delivered prior to the last recession, the Parkway Gate student development. Slightly further along the Mancunian Way, Downing on site building another student accommodation tower, made up of 800 student rooms.

Both projects were designed by SimpsonHaugh, which is understood to also be advising Downing on this latest scheme.

The Medlock Street roundabout is set to be one of the next major regeneration areas in Manchester, as on the opposite side to plot 11, Ask Real Estate and Whitbread have revealed details of plans for the next phase of First Street, a further 600,000 sq ft of offices, and two towers of apartments. The architect is Jon Matthews.

The consultation event for plot 11 is set to take place on Thursday 3 October from 3pm to 7pm at the Anthony Burgess Foundation.

Proposals from Ask for the Premier Inn site