PAG shifts to new-build for Renaissance office
The developer will no longer retain the concrete frame of the former Premier House building in Manchester as keeping it would “severely impact the deliverability of the project”.
The redevelopment of Premier House is one part of a three-phase, £200m plan to overhaul the Renaissance complex off Deansgate, a project that is being delivered by a joint venture between Property Alliance Group and Starwood Capital.
Work to knock down part of the outdated office building and strip back the rest has already taken place and plan to create 40,000 sq ft of modern office space within the original frame were approved last October.
However, following design development, the joint venture has applied to demolish what is left of Premier House and press ahead with a new-build alternative.
A letter prepared by Avison Young and lodged with the application said retaining the existing frame as originally planned would “result in significant compromises to the quality and usability of the new office accommodation, including restricting floor to ceiling heights”.
The previously proposed office scheme. Credit: via planning documents
“Retaining the structure of the current building and integrating it into the new office building would severely impact the deliverability of the project,” the letter adds.
The hotel portion of Property Alliance Group and Starwood Capital’s Renaissance project was approved by the city council in August 2021.
SH Hotels & Resorts, an affiliate of US-based investor Starwood, is to operate the 216-bedroom hotel under its Treehouse brand.
Meanwhile, the joint venture is still awaiting approval for the residential element of the scme a 300-apartment, 27-storey tower.
All three elements of the project were designed by Jon Matthews Architects.
Wouldn’t be surprised this become a new build extension to the hotel.
By Anonymous
Why don’t the developers get off their high horse and listen to public opinion. This whole project is a disgrace and insult to the people of Manchester.
By MacDopel
the fact that they’re going ahead with refurbishing this monstrosity over building new structure really baffles me, what a missed opportunity, such a prime location, looking at the renders makes me wanna cry, it is so ugly and so tacky, words cannot express it enough. This could have been a world class project but instead we’ll continue to have an eyesore to look at in the heart of Manchester.
By Michael
MacDopel, please explain, is there a point I have missed on this development?
By Anonymous
The whole site should have been flattened, instead we are now left with an ugly building and carpark with no river frontage. This project is a mess and a huge missed opportunity.
By Jon P
Flatten it all. Introduce river access. Create a fitting building for this key area.
By Tom
The embodied energy and carbon of buildings has to be taken into account if we are to reduce climate change! It’s so much better to retain and refurbish in most cases, with this being a prime example. At least the main building is being retained.
By William
Just flatten the site. It should never have been built in the first place.
By 1981
Oh please people some reality please. The days of just flattening large concrete sites has gone…for the time being at least. Thank ESG targets for that. This site has been such a major eyesore for decades now and in a prime location. This may not be the ideal solution but it’s going to be so much better than what was there or any fanciful notion of what it could be.
By Anonymous
This is a really poor project. It’s such a prime gateway site and could have a landmark waterfront skyscraper. What a mess.
By Dr B