Lendlease switches back to private sale at Potato Wharf

Developer and contractor Lendlease has reverted the second phase of its Potato Wharf residential project in Manchester back to private sale, ditching plans to make the apartment scheme available for private rent.

Plans for the project, which includes 191 apartments across two blocks, were first submitted in 2015, with flats available for private sale. Lendlease then lodged an amended application in February 2017, switching the development from private sale to private rent.

The developer has now reverted back to its original 2015 application, meaning the apartments are once again for private sale.

Lendlease had also submitted a series of design changes to the two blocks earlier this month, but said the amendments were “uploaded in error” to Manchester’s planning portal, and his since submitted a corrected version to city planners.

These changes include switching the inset balconies to concrete, while the bolt-on balconies will remain as metal. Red cladding has also been switched to green, and the blocks’ metal roof balustrades have been removed, leading to a drop in height of the roof slab and an increase in height of the parapet on both blocks.

Externally, the site level has been increased to allow for a foul water site drainage system, and 12 electrical charging stations, as well as seven motorcycle parking spaces, have been introduced.

The professional team on the project has also changed; structural consultant Shepherd Gilmour is no longer working on the scheme, having been replaced by Curtins, while M&E consultant Hulley & Kirkwood has been replaced by HE Simm.

Lendlease declined to comment on the reasons behind the changes to the team.

Planning consultant Deloitte and Weedon Architects are also both working on the project.

Richard Cook, head of residential at Lendlease, said: “We’re delivering 191 apartments for open market sale at Potato Wharf, which is an amendment to a former application. We have made this important change in order to create a scheme that responds to what the people of Manchester are looking for – quality new-build homes for sale, in a fantastic part of the city.”

The original two Potato Wharf blocks, which provided 102 apartments for private sale, were completed in 2014.