Plans in for Vinoly-designed flats
The application for Manchester Life’s seventh scheme in the Ancoats and New Islington area, designed by Rafael Vinoly, has gone in for consideration by the city council.
The 171-home project sits on the Vesta site between Old Mill Street and the Ashton Canal.
The site has long been earmarked for residential development, and consents have been granted previously. Since being cleared it has been used for surface car parking and a compound for works on the adjacent Islington Wharf Mews.
Manchester Life is targeting a completion date of mid-2019.
The Vinoly scheme is stepped from seven storeys on the Ashton Canal side, up to eight storeys and then nine at the Old Mill Street frontage. The whole scheme will be available for sale, a section of the market that Manchester Life believes to be currently under-served in the area, with the 155 apartments for sale among the 1,000-plus units in its first phase schemes selling rapidly.
The Vesta site project will be made up of 54 one-bedroom apartments, 98 two-bedroom apartments, eight three-bedroom apartments, five three-bedroom duplexes, three four-bedroom duplexes and three four-bedroom townhouses.
Earlier this week, Manchester Life revealed the designs for its eighth and ninth projects, at New Little Mill and the Lampwick car park, delivering a total of 281 homes.
Who wants to pay £200k for a flat with a view of a tarmac parking court or on ground level caged behind a security fence? Awful design which will result in many of the worst units being bought and promtly rented out for short term lets.
By Mcr Strife
This is as bad as the adjacent ‘Lampwick’ scheme is good.
Shame, given that they are both by Manchester Life. Architect needs to be ashamed here.
By Rooney
Awful design. It could pass as a prison.
By Danny kelly
What a let down…MCC should hang heads in shame for passing such…..Horrid design,no balconies???!!!
By Schwyz
Dreadful design, no activity at street level, no amenity space. Manchester Life is using public funds to deliver development – they should have some design threshold. The City Development Guide is still policy but is being ignored. What next, new deck access schemes in Hulme?
By Metro Mark
Awful design..looks like an office block! Why no balconies?
By Anonymous
Looks like the flats I saw recently in Berlin, do you get a trabant with it as well?
By Mac
As regards the “why no balconies?” question…there’s a belief among some developers that they offer very little to tenants…believe it or not. I can’t quite understand that myself, but it’s definitely something I’ve heard off some of them.
By John S
A decent useable balcony adds so much value to an apartment and actually allows you to think about staying there long term. If it was a choice between an apartment with a balcony and one without, I would choose the one with the balcony every single time. In a dense urban environment where public space is at a premium, a balcony can be a social space, a green space, an opportunity to get some fresh air or simply an escape from the confines of a compact living space without having to brave Piccadilly Gardens! In short, they’re crucial for sustainable urban living.
By Design for Living
More great news for the Ancoats, New Islington, Bradford Road/Miles Platting areas! The ground floor parking onto Old Mill Street is dire though! Should be an active frontage commercial unit!
By Northern Potential
I think the materiality lets this scheme down as well as the lack of active frontage and consideration of the canal asset. The canal side of the scheme invites anti-social behaviour and does not present an inviting route into the property. Manchester life is delivering some fantastic schemes however and over all making a positive impact on this previously unloved area.
By MancMan