UA92 aims for 2019 opening as plans go in for Kellogg’s building
Plans have been submitted to convert the former Kellogg’s building in Old Trafford into more than 106,000 sq ft of educational space to house UA92, the sports and media university backed by Bruntwood, Trafford Council, and Gary Neville.
UA92 first announced plans for a new university initially based at the Kellogg’s building in September last year, and has wasted no time in pressing forward with a planning application, supported by planner How and architect BDP, and submitted by its partners Bruntwood and Trafford Council.
The building, now vacant after Kellogg’s move to MediaCity, is proposed to house three floors of university space with around 25,000 sq ft per floor.
UA92 is expected to open its doors in September 2019 in time for the 2019/2020 academic intake, but will take up space in the building on a phased basis; it will initially take part of the basement, and the ground and first floors, totalling circa 50,000 sq ft.
There is also an option for the university to take the upper two floors, again totalling around 50,000 sq ft, in subsequent academic years.
However, according to planner How, this uptake will depend “on the commercial viability and success of the UA92 concept”, meaning Trafford Council and Bruntwood have retained the existing B1 office use in the planning application to retain the office option if the university does not take the space.
Microsoft, one of the partners for the university, is also proposing to take around 7,000 sq ft over the first and second floors.
While there are no major changes planned for the building’s structure and façade, a new landscaped entrance is proposed to face Brian Statham Way and the cricket ground opposite, while around 1,600 sq ft will be added to the building’s atrium at first floor level.
The Kellogg’s building is the first proposal brought forward to house UA92, following an outline masterplan which was presented in September last year.
As well as teaching space focussed at the former office, there are also proposals for a leisure centre, an 184-bed hotel, and around 154 apartments. Trafford Council bought the land for £12m, and the plans to open a university at the site have also been backed by Trafford College.
UA92 will operate as a branch of Lancaster University.
Nearby, Trafford Council has also proposed to convert Charlton House on Chester Road into student flats to support the university. This development is also due to complete by September 2019.
