PAG tables plans for latest Manchester development
Property Alliance Group wants to build a 13-storey new-build office within the St Mary’s Parsonage regeneration zone, while also redeveloping a 19th century carriage works into modern workspace.
Plans for the scheme have now been validated by Manchester City Council.
Located on the corner of King Street West and St Mary’s Parsonage in Manchester city centre, Property Alliance Group’s £55m scheme will see Reedham House demolished to make way for a 64,000 sq ft office.
As well as the new-build element, the proposals also include the heritage-led renovation of a historic carriage works into a modern workspace.
While listed, Reedham House offers “very little heritage value”, according to the scheme’s architect.
“Despite appearances, Reedham House was almost completely rebuilt in 1926 and then again following bomb damage in World War Two,” said Jon Matthews, director of Jon Matthews Architects.
“During our recent public consultation, we talked to people in detail about our design approach, which includes the sensitive renovation of the carriage works and inner courtyard – as the most historically important parts of the site – alongside the proposed replacement of the existing Reedham House building which fronts King Street West.”
The scheme is located between Bruntwood’s Alberton House (left) and the Kendall Milne building. Credit: via PAG
He added: “It entirely makes sense to protect and enhance the most significant heritage asset, which is made possible through the redevelopment of the less historically important buildings on site, and replacement with a striking, new-build sustainable office building which we are confident will make a positive addition to the area.”
Alliance said it aims to create a “unique and inspiring new commercial destination featuring landmark design and sustainable credentials” in an area witnessing regeneration in the form of several commercial developments.
Other emerging schemes nearby are:
- Bruntwood’s 100,000 sq ft Alberton House
- Investec’s 564,000 sq ft Kendall Milne building conversion
- Oval Real Estate’s mixed-use redevelopment of Albert Bridge House
As well as the office space, Alliance’s plans also feature a collonaded ground floor with retail units, which aims to enhance and activate the adjoining motor square.
The new-build office element is also set further back than the existing Reedham House, thus expanding Motor Square.
Euan Kellie Property Solutions is the planning consultant and Planit-IE is the landscape architect.
Alex Russell, managing director at Alliance, said: “We are delighted to unveil these images to give people a better sense of the sensitive approach and elegant detailing we’re planning to take to breathe new life into the historic carriage works, alongside our sustainable, striking new building, which will complement the new developments coming forward in this burgeoning part of the city centre. We’re confident this development will provide the type of unique and characterful workspaces we know that occupiers desire.”
Click any image to launch gallery
- Credit: via PAG
- Credit: via PAG
- Credit: via PAG
- Credit: via PAG
This I like.
By Elephant
Morris & Co Kings Cross, however in green?
By Anonymous
Kills me to say it but Manchester is going to have some unbelievable skyline, hats off them
By Scouser
This whole area will look different in the 5 years looking forward to these regeneration projects moving along
By Anonymous
The top image looks like a bunch of green site cabins stacked on top of each other – hopefully some further nuance of the design can be achieved there. However, from other angles it looks like an interesting design and positive use of the historic building.
By Anon
The architect, who will make a mint from the development, says the listed building is of limited historical value. Well, they would wouldn’t they! 😂
By Bernard Fender
Manchester is moving on up at an unprecedented scale for a city in the UK outside of London. Love to see it!
By Anonymous
Not a fan on the new build. It just doesn’t work for me. @anoymous if you’re looking for Morris & Co Kings X (R7) but in green, look at their Mayfield proposal. I do like the retained carriage works however.
By Anonymous
Why would you build in this economic climate?
By Anonymous
Come now anonymous 5-12…….even if this is approved it is unlikely to come to the market before 2025 even with a fair wind. Hopefully things will have improved by then!!!!
By Thefuture
They’re just obsessed, aren’t they? See some heritage, destroy it. And for what? Another boring box.
By Anthony
Anon the economy may be bad in Leeds and Liverpool but Manchester has it’s own economy and it is booming, fastest growing in Europe and Asia
By ChorltonRed
Yet another high rise building in Manchester. How many more will the council allow to be squashed into the city centre. Obviously this application has been softened with the plan to ‘re do’ an alternative building intended no doubt to make up for another eyesore on the Manchester vista.
By Anonymous
It’s literally just a green blob lol. How are people excited about this design?
By UNESCO rep
I really don’t get this concern about the scale of development in the City Centre. It doesn’t seem overcrowded to me when I walk around it……far from it really. Even when you are around Gt Jackson St First Street and Circle Square……it doesn’t feel overly dense. It feels like a city.
By Befuddled
Why do people get indignant about the presence of tall buildings *in a city centre*? What else do you expect?
By S
Ah but UNESCO rep I don’t think anyone is excited about it , merely discussing it which is the point of any development on boards like this. It’s just a one small development in a vast sea happening in Manchester at any given time. When you get some you too will be able to do the same. It’s good to discuss these things.
By NoRomanc
Just how much more high rise in Manchester before we have a ground level blackout not to mention the massive burden on services we are already in short supply .
By Bg
It’s funny how ‘the out of towners’ always have the strongest opinions on what they perceive Manchester should have in terms of development. Methinks they protest too much. No tall buildings in a city , lol ! Maybe in certain cities where little happens this qualifies as tall but here…this is just a pipsqueak!
By Jurgan smate
Why do people whinge about tall buildings? Land is a limited resource and the population of the country is growing. Would you rather we build on farmland!?
By Anonymous
I wonder how many of the “not another tall building” whingers actually step foot in Manchester. They’re magnificent and don’t cause any of the impacts they claim they do. They are aware people live in cities with much greater density of tall buildings perfectly happily? And yes, heritage should be protected (which appropriate), but Manchester has always been a city of reinvention and dynamism. Why should we stop embracing that now?
By Tom