MIPIM launch for St Peter’s Square Partnership

A new alliance of site owners and occupiers in the St Peter's Square area of Manchester city centre will be officially launched at the property expo next month.

Led by the city council, the new partnership is expected to gain widespread support from businesses based in the area and property companies with interests there. The partnership model aims to synchronise activity around public realm, building frontages, construction access and marketing among other things to spur regeneration and create a coherent sense of place.

Already on board is David Partridge, joint chief executive of Argent, joint venture delivery partner with owner Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund of One St Peter's Square (pictured), the office building that will replace the eyesore Elisabeth House.

Partridge is a past chairman and strong advocate of the Piccadilly Partnership which has grown from less than ten initial members when it was set up nearly a decade ago to around 60 today.

Partridge said: "We are starting to get other investors on board at St Peter's Square although some haven't quite got it yet."

As well as the council, Argent and GMPVF, other landlords and developers facing the prominent square include Benmore, Manchester & Metropolitan, Axa, Peninsula & Century and Walls Group. The companies have plans for more than 1m sq ft of new office space in separate projects around St Peter's Square over the next ten years.

Partridge said St Peter's Square could become a world-class civic quarter if developed well. A design competition was recently launched to find an architect to remodel the public space.

MIPIM takes place from 16 to 18 March in Cannes, France.