Revised Princess House refurbishment plan signed off
Investor Lapwine plans to overhaul the grade two-listed Princess Street building, which will see existing nightclubs on the ground and basement levels retained after a Covid-prompted rethink.
A previous application approved in 2019 proposed converting all six floors of Princess House into offices.
However, revised plans will see nightclubs Night People & Twisted Wheel Club and Bloom Afterhours retained “due to economic changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic”, according to a planning statement by Lambert Smith Hampton.
Lapwine’s revised application has been approved by Manchester City Council.
The clubs remain successfully trading, the statement continues.
Princess House’s upper three floors, previously used as a language school, are currently vacant. Under Lapwine’s plans, those floors will be refurbished, creating 18,000 sq ft of office accommodation.
Bowker Sadler Architecture has designed the refurbishment and Edwards & Co is the letting agent for the building.
As well as internal works, the elevations will be revamped to “restore and enhance the property’s historic vernacular”, according to LSH.
Donald Insall Associates is advising the applicant on heritage.
Be fabulous if buildings like this were being designed and developed today in Manchester city centre. Presumably it would cost too much.
By MrP
This kind of buildings are one of the perfect urban forms.
By Rich X
Stunning building. Build more of these, not the bland-o-boxes we get now.
By Bernard Fender