Oval unveils Albert Bridge House transformation
A 45-storey skyscraper featuring 367 homes and a distinctive 350,000 sq ft office block make up the developer’s proposals for the prominent Manchester site.
The 18-storey brutalist Albert Bridge House will be demolished under Oval Real Estate’s plans, which are due to be lodged with Manchester City Council later this year.
Explaining the choice to demolish the 1950s building, Oval said in its consultation documents that Albert Bridge House had reached “the end of its logical lifespan” adding that “its layout and design no longer meets modern office occupier requirements”.
Oval’s proposed development is designed by architect Studio Egret West, which led on the Mayfield masterplan.
In addition to the residential tower and the office block, the proposals include more than 1.2 acres of outdoor amenity space. Both buildings would also have retail and commercial space on their ground floor.
A closer view of the proposed office block. Credit: Studio Egret West
The office block would be 19 storeys tall with outdoor amenity space and a flexible floorplate geared towards accommodating both small start-ups and more established and larger firms.
The residential tower would be filled with apartments with between one and three bedrooms. With a height that steps up from 34 to 40 to 45 storeys, the building would have three communal sky garden terraces to provide panoramic views.
Both buildings would have sustainable features, but the office block is aiming to be net zero. This effort would include having natural ventilation, solar panels, and air source heat pumping.
The project team for Oval’s plans includes Urban Green, Avison Young, Curtins, Turley, Hoare Lea, Cumming, Hilson Moran, Deloitte, Urban Change, and Counter Context.
You can learn more about the plans on the consultation website: albertbridgehouse-mcr.com. The consultation concludes on 9 October.
CGI of the proposed office development. Credit: via consultation documents
Oval acquired the Albert Bridge House site from Mapeley for more than £30m 12 months ago.
The site is located close to Spinningfields and falls within the St Mary’s Parsonage strategic regeneration framework.
Other developments coming forward within the regeneration zone include Bruntwood’s 219,000 sq ft replacement of the ageing Alberton House, Property Alliance Group’s 13-storey Reedam House and Investec’s planned overhaul of the Kendal Milne building on Deansgate.
Elsewhere, Oval is delivering a 46-acre masterplan in Digbeth. The scheme features 2.2m sq ft of commercial space and 1,850 homes.
