PAG secures Gateway 2 nod for One Cathedral Square
The path is now clear for the 27-storey residential tower, the centrepiece of Property Alliance Group’s development of the Renaissance site off Manchester’s Deansgate.
The Building Safety Regulator has now given clearance for the tower, Gateway 2 being an extra level developers must go to in order to demonstrate enhanced safety measures for tall buildings.
Contractor Domis and Project Four led PAG through the process. PAG hopes to be on site this year with the development.
Connor Robinson, projects director at PAG, posted on Linkedin: “This is a huge milestone for the project and one we’re proud to have reached.
“Anyone involved in the Gateway process will know it’s not easy, it’s been demanding, with more than its fair share of challenges, requiring close collaboration, rigorous technical review and a collective commitment to meeting the highest possible design standards.
“One Cathedral Square and the wider Renaissance development means a great deal to us. With the Treehouse Hotel now open and operating and One Cathedral Square securing full Gateway 2 approval, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our vision for this key part of the city take another positive step forward.”
Approval was given in March 2023 for a three-part development, around a year after PAG and partner Starwood Capital bought the site from Urban & Civic.
Along with the residential tower, the scheme includes the four-star Treehouse hotel – a redevelopment of the 1970s-built hotel already on-site – and a 50,000sq ft office building.
Jon Matthews Architects is the designer of the tower. As set out at the planning stage, the building will offer a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and will be stepped in height providing several rooftop terraces. Ground-floor retail units, a cinema room, a gym, and a lounge also feature.
Centrepiece?
By Rishi
Well done Dylan
By Tannoy
This is genuinely a beautiful designed tower! Will be a great addition to the Manchester skyline.
By Mr Mcr
Prior to the introduction of the Building Safety Bill I attended many sessions with the shadow regulator and joined online sessions with Dame Judith Hackett. I thought I was clear what was required for the development of a building safety case and the gateway process, however once the bill became an act of parliament the regulator changed the goal posts and previous guidelines born no resemblance to what the regulator actually required. In my view the Building Safety Act is a good piece of legislation however the way the regulator is interpreting the Act is risk averse in the extreme and creates unnecessary delays and expense. The Government needs to get a grip of the regulator to ensure that developments can progress in a timely manner.
By Anonymous
Not a fan..it’s to small. Deansgate is flatter than a pancake. It needs more height variation. This ‘tower’ will be all but invisible
By Yods
What’s happening with the office element? Is that tied in with the resi. tower?
By ALL
Alright I like this design tho and the place where it is the roads are is a bit tight but however The Height is the problem It will be too short for people to notice this building and we are trying to create density and balance in the city So u should Increase the storeys to 45 storeys atleast with on the edges can fit a restraunt and a bar with one balcony with railing like in the rylands development and should have some greenery on one of the edge views And also remove that horrible Frond that bends back aswell it resembles deansgate towers But however this is very great and another tower here can make it even better
By Giant skyscraper Fan
Yods with the proximity of this development to the cathedral i doubt there’s any chance it could go any higher.
By Anonymous
In response to ALL I doubt any city centre offices will be built until rents reach £60/sqft and yields shift.
By Anonymous
This is a fantastic development, much needed to revitalise this area
By Mike
It absolutely beautiful design perfect sensible because it very different which is very interesting. But where the office? It is first floor from ground floor? I just wondered where the office?
By G J Kitchener
Ideally this space needs to be used more usefully. Need at least 40 floors on this plot, don’t waste the space guys
By Anonymous
No need to panic about offices people because buildings are being comprehensively refurbished as we speak to create large amounts of grade A space……and the buildings are good looking too. History repeats itself as exactly the same thing happened last time we had a grade A shortage
So it is being delivered
By Noneedfornegativity
Call it what you want, it is still a soulless glass box, has nothing to do with the Renaissance.
By Kevin Davies
A very banal and predictable design. Yet another. The same old glass and checkered orange cladding. Looks like a varient of SimpsonHaugh.
By John
Look at the old Streetview and see what it’s replacing. This comment section STINKS of trolls.
By Ew
The fact remains this is a banal design. Manchester deserves far better.
By John
Banal and predictable. But we’re getting used to it unfortunately
By Mike
Oh dear the failed and less successful architects are back venting their frustration that others are managing to deliver new development in the city and not them. Even manage to tag Simpsons when it’s nothing to do with them and is a very different solution. Fortunately the silent majority seem to love Manchester so we should listen to them!!
By Anonymous
Great design especially for this end of Deansgate. The rentatrolls occasionally appear in the comments ..we all know why 😉
By Anonymous