Planning applications in as Lincoln Square masterplan emerges

Proposals for the redevelopment of two prominent buildings off Manchester’s Deansgate have been submitted as part of a wider plan to improve Mulberry Square and Lincoln Square.

Royal London Mutual Insurance Society has applied for the part-demolition and part-conversion of eight-storey John Dalton House, which sits on the corner of John Dalton Street and Deangsate, into a 215-bedroom hotel, to be operated by Leonardo Hotels. Designed by 5plus Architects, the project will see the installation of new facades, internal reworking, and a two-storey rooftop extension.

Mulberry Square John Dalton 5plus

Mulberry Square sits behind John Dalton House, and 123-127 Deansgate. The CGI shows the redesign by LAYER Landscape Architects.

The building backs on to Mulberry Square, which is used as outdoor seating for ground floor occupier Bill’s Restaurant, and delivery access to neighbouring properties. The application includes improvements to Mulberry, and its integration into the wider masterplan for the area, centred around nearby Lincoln Square. Landscape architect LAYER is working on the public realm from John Dalton Street to Mulberry Square, while Planit IE is advising on the masterplan for the city block.

According to planning documents submitted by Deloitte on behalf of Royal London, John Dalton House “currently ‘turns away’ from what could be one of Manchester’s most prominent and well-designed public spaces with regard to Mulberry Square, and pedestrian links through to Brazennose Street, Lincoln Square and Albert Square.

“There is clearly an opportunity to work with adjoining occupiers in order to fully realise the public realm potential of this area.”

On the opposite side of Mulberry Square, M&G Real Estate, formerly PRUPIM, has dusted off its £140m plans for the redevelopment of Brazennose House, which stretches along Brazennose Street, fronting Lincoln Square. The demolition of the block was first approved in 2011, to be replaced by 160,000 sq ft of offices designed by Squire & Partners. M&G has put in a reworked planning application to Manchester City Council, designed by 5plus.

Planit IE is advising on the masterplan

Planit IE is advising on the masterplan

These are the latest in a series of weighty proposals for the area between Deansgate and Albert Square. At the intersection of Deansgate and Brazennose Street, Worthington Properties gained planning permission last year for the demolition of two interlinked buildings at 123-127 Deangsate, to be replaced by a 125,000 sq ft office designed by Glenn Howells, to be called 125 Deansgate. Demolition work has started. On the other side of Brazennose House, the 66,200 sq ft Commercial Union House was bought by Bruntwood from Aviva in late 2015 for £20m. Bruntwood will undertake a full refurbishment of the building, which faces the town hall.

Planit IE is working with architects 5plus and Glenn Howells on the emerging Lincoln Square masterplan.

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The building on the corner in the first picture,is crying out to be a John Lewis.

By Elephant

Elephant- I thought it was just crying for help.

By Gene Walker

John Lewis? We need one for sure, in town, but this site is too small. Pray for the Renaissances plot on Deansgate? Looks cheap and nasty. A multi storey car park?

By Schwyz

of absolutely zero architectural merit in an area where this couldn’t more more important.

By unimpressed

I don’t think it is too bad.It is plain, granted,but it does look like a department store,hence my reference to John Lewis.Is it too small? I will have to accept that,because I don’t really know how big a John Lewis site needs to be? The Renaissance hotel plot is indeed perfect,but there is no sign of anything being done there and we need a John Lewis now.They even have one in Reading,so the so called ‘second city’ is lagging behind here.Even if they bulldozed the Renaissance tonight,it would be years before anything was usable there.

By Elephant

Elephant: Urban&Civic currently own the Renaissance plot, with Marriott operating the hotel until 2017 before redevelopment. A John Lewis would be nice but my guess would be apartments. Maybe John Lewis could buy out Debenhams from the Rylands Building…?

By David

Good comments.

Always nice to see a good PRU scheme (public realm unlocker).

By Keezer

I think it could look good depending on the materials. It’ll be one of those that splits opinion for sure. Leonardo Hotels are pretty good at least, only one currently operating in the UK.

By PP

Thank you David.Are Debenhams relocating?

By Elephant

Unimpressed – I’m with you. I’m no architect but this looks dreadful.

By ChesneyT

Wow! Two boxes! Such elegance, such style! Who designed these, an accountant?

By Tony Heyes

I hope it lights up.

By Rodn

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