Watch This Space plots Shudehill apartment block
Working with Snook Architects, developer Watch This Space has submitted a planning application for a seven-storey building on Shudehill, Manchester, on a narrow site between an existing apartment block and a restaurant.
The developer, set up by Michelle Rothwell in 2016, is aiming to build 10 studio apartments and a ground-floor commercial unit on the site, sandwiched between Premier Suites and the Spice Lounge, which is currently used as a bin store. The developer acquired the site off-market last year for £850,000.
Alongside planner Iceni, Watch This Space has outlined its plans for the development, with a 425 sq ft unit proposed for the ground floor, while each of the 10 apartments will be approximately 450 sq ft in size.
A shared residential access for the building will be via Salmon Street while the retail unit will front Shudehill, and there will also be a roof terrace for residents.
Iceni said the current vacant site “disrupts the existing visual streetscene by creating an unnatural gap in an otherwise continuous development line” and the proposals would add “a high-quality city centre scheme on a brownfield plot”.
The façade facing Shudehill is intended to be of dark brick while to Salmon Street the building will feature full-width glazing panels. Some of the studios are intended to have bronze-clad balcony space fronting Shudehill.
Rothwell said: “Our proposed design has been created on the back of speaking to younger people to understand how they are living and working in the city and what they are looking for.
“Health and well-being is integral to the scheme. Facilities such as bike storage and the proposed large roof terrace are major attributes, but we believe it’s also what you do with the space that matters. We’re going to be using the terrace to help make the most of residents’ leisure time by putting on outdoor spin classes, having areas for residents to grow their own herbs for cooking and screening movies outdoors.
“It’s a real community-led approach to living and one that we are keen to promote in our city.”
Subject to planning, Watch This Space is aiming to start the project by the end of the year.
Alongside Iceni and Snook Architects, the professional team on the project also includes REC, Donald Insall Associates, EGG Consultants, and Lighthouse Acoustics.
A CGI of the development’s roof terrace
Why the hell would you want a balcony on the first floor over looking Shudehill?!! Ridiculous design
By Steve
I quite like Shudehill and the design is great
By postive person
Great use of a very tight site
By Bradford
PP – Shudehill is a horrible little area and the design is typically uninspiring – stop being facetious. However, I would say there’s no harm in having a first floor balcony, even if there isn’t much to look at.
By The Real Person
Great design. Love what you’re doing Watch This Space.
By Tim
The design is good but not right for this location. The pollution and noise from traffic here is horrendous.
By Steve
Very very cool development. Reminds me of something in Amsterdam.
By Dan
If you ever visit Japan, its cities are littered with little gems like this that make innovative and imaginative use of lost and small spaces. Have a look at how Croydon Council started their ‘Brick by Brick’ development company…. from very small sites, using very good architects. Study trip to Tokyo Watch This Space!
By Pete Swift
Another innovative and leading property design from Watch This Space, who are clearly keen to progress Manchester and what is has to offer to people. Would love to have an activated roof garden and live in such a well connected central location. The design makes then most of a tricky plot and it will contribute in uplifting the area. Keep going Watch This Space!
By Another positive person
Really need to get rid of anonymous posting on this website so we can get some catty goss going across the comment sections. Hard to see which comments are actually genuine, both positive and negative!
By SalfordLad
If you’re so keen why aren’t you writing under your real name then? Pretty sure getting rid of anonymity would remove any real debate, rather than encourage it
By To SalfordLad
Dear negative people I do love the way always have nothing positive to say and anything that you do say you slag off. Helping an area with quality innovative design will help to raise the quality of design in an area that has been neglected for so many years. and dear Salford Lad you are an anonymous person.
By Positive person