Re-start on site for Axis
Property Alliance Group has resumed construction on its Axis site in Manchester city centre. Work on a 27-storey residential building begins almost a decade after plans for a tower on the Deansgate Locks plot were first approved.
Contractor Russells Construction has confirmed that it has started enabling works. Concrete drilling equipment and site cabins are now visible on the site.
PAG and joint venture partner U+I, formerly known as Development Securities, initially began work on an 18-storey Axis office in 2007, with completion scheduled for 2009 before activity stalled.
The partnership were then granted planning permission for a reworked scheme in November 2014, replacing the office with a 27-storey residential building totalling 172 apartments.
At the time that consent was granted, completion was scheduled for autumn 2016.
However, the project suffered from persistent delays, which Property Alliance Group has said were due to negotiations with the Canal & River Trust, changing market pressures and construction material costs.
The development is now due to complete by the end of 2018.
JLL is the residential agent. 5plus is the architect.
Can’t wait for the end of this saga.27 storeys over a twelve year period.Don’t think it took them that long to build Manhattan.
By Elephant
Can it be true? Finally? I’m sure Ena Sharples had just been crushed under a viaduct when this was first announced. Be good to see this rise. The logistics alone on that miniscule site will be worth a watch
By Intercity
Hurrah! Looking forward to seeing it finished….an exciting bit of architecture (for a change) in Manchester!
By David
I hope the residents learn quickly to sleep to the beat of Deansgate Locks
By Observer
Is this the one that will have the massive advertising screen on the side of it?
By Gregg
A fair few cynical people in a certain skyscraper forum site now have quite a bit of back peddling to do!!
By BC
Finally! This’ll give the Beetham a more appropriate setting. Great news.
By Urbanitymcr
It’s not a bad scheme this.
Actually, heard that 10 floors have been block booked by the Beetham Tower owner, for when the mass decanting project occurs as part of the Beetham total re-fenestration.
By Jeff Suster
Dreadful dull grey / brown cladding, terrible proportions, awful and intrusive video screen.
People have been seduced by that render, mark my words, this will be an enormous, and hideous blot on the landscape and all those people who have been pining for this scheme to begin for so many years will suddenly feel very foolish when this completes.
By I hoped this had died a death
It has taken longer to start work on the Axis then it took to defeat the Axis.
By Lin
That garish screen on the other side will be hilarious. Will probably get dropped sadly
By Gregg
An amended scheme was recently submitted to planning, it is far more dull that the image above. Just a good old square box. Very poor and very disappointing.
By Loganberry
Loganberry – No recent planning application registered on planning portal, and PAG has said that no new applications have been made. Can you specify please?
By Jessica Middleton-Pugh