Scaled-back Parsonage office plans emerge
Beaconsfield Commerical first proposed redeveloping two of its Manchester buildings in 2020, now, almost three years on, the family firm has revised its vision for the site.
The developer has updated its proposals to demolish 1 North Parade and 5 Parsonage and build a modern office block following feedback on the earlier plans.
Squire and Partners has been drafted in to draw up revised plans for the One North Parade scheme, replacing SimpsonHaugh Architects on the job.
The proposed office building, which would overlook Parsonage Gardens, would provide 74,000 sq ft across 13 storeys, a reduction of three floors and 9,000 sq ft compared to the 2020 iteration.
As well as a reduction in scale, the overall appearance of the building has undergone a rethink. While the earlier proposals sought a more contemporary aesthetic, the 2023 version is designed to be more in keeping with the St Mary’s Parsonage conservation area.
The building’s top two floors are stepped back, “making the design distinctive without being overbearing”, according to consultation materials.
The earlier proposal was more contemporary in appearance. Credit: via archive
The ground floor restaurant fronting Parsonage Gardens that featured in the first proposal has survived the redesign.
Stewart Houlgrave, director at Beaconsfield Commercial, said: “Investment is crucial to realising the full potential of this important site, providing modern, sustainable office space to attract and retain occupiers.
“It will also help to unlock some of the wider improvements needed to make the Parsonage Gardens neighbourhood more vibrant and accessible. We’ve worked to address concerns raised at the previous consultation and are keen to hear feedback from the community on the revised design.”
Deloitte is advising Beaconsfield on planning. The consultation on One North Parade will run until Sunday 16 July.
The North Parade scheme is the latest to come forward in one of Manchester city centre’s regeneration hotspots.
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
- Property Alliance Group’s 64,000 sq ft Reedham House
It would be nice if they kept the pedestrianised side street
By Anonymous
That’s not surprising given the current environment
By Gilly
Still nowhere near good enough and it will be designed engineered to something which Manchester is attempting to get rid of. There’s other buildings nearby sat waiting to be destroyed, this isn’t one of them.
By Anonymous
This looks unbelievably amateurish. The current building is handsome and works well as it is. Greed trying to triumph over our heritage again.
By Byronic
A vast improvement. A heavy nod to the Mancunian Palazzo Warehouse typography but with a contemporary flavour.
By SW
Excellent redesign, much more in keeping.
By Tom
Really dated looking, everything about it is just off the mark. Looks like a 90’s office block which has had a roof extension. Not that I liked the previous iteration but at least it was clean and modern, rather than this weird pastiche of pastiche
By Bradford
This is outrageous, what is there currently should be protected. Manchester is loosing its soul.
By Michael
Great job. You’d need ugly glasses on to think the last iteration looked better, definitely more like it!
By Anonymous
This would be a nice residential development with the small park in front.
By Anonymous
But Dan previously said:
“Don’t worry it won’t happen, city centre offices have had their day. The future is in home working and out of town locations with parking
October 29, 2020 at 12:11 pm
By Dan”
By Balcony Monitor
And Dan was right, look how many companies have downsized, how many are working just 2/3 days from the office, how many are now sharing desks, major banks downsizing their HQs, I work for a town planning company in Manchester and we can;t get anybody to come into the office if they can do their workload at home.
By ChorltonRed
Yet more doom and gloom about the future of the City Centre. Not obvious when you walk round the place at anytime. And chorlton red must work for the wrong planning consultancy as there are loads of applications for new offices and many are currently on site. We are social beings we need to meet. We need to spark. Collaboration spaces are essential to all businesses. That just doesn’t work from your bedroom on teams!!!
By Halffull
what on earth is this blob
By Levelling Up Manager
Chorlton Red. The death of the office has been greatly over egged. 700,000 sq.ft of new office built in the City Centre last year, well over 1m sq. ft of office deals. The dynamic has changed, there is intensification of the space, which is a good thing. I’ll eat my hat if there isn’t a least an average of 500,000 sq.ft of new office a year for the next decade.
By Local Interest
@Local interest, but why would there be when there is so much empty space already and most firms downsizing at lease renewal? Not to mention the environmental problems caused by construction and travel
By ChorltonRed
Surely the existing building is more in-keeping with the conservation area? Fail to see the point of designating these areas if MCC are going to demolish everything within them. Surprised they haven’t built on the churchyard and argued that built form on the site would be ‘more in keeping’…
At least the scheme will overshadow and remove sun from another tiny green space in Manchester. Well done to all involved.
By Anonymous
So much rubbish on this site. This building is on the north side of the gardens
By Geography teacher
Can they not just keep the existing building, refurb & build on top? This proposal looks pretty lacklustre.
By Anonymous