Starting gun fired for 1,000-bed Manchester PBSA
Greystar and contractor HG Construction are targeting a 2028 opening for the 37-storey One Medlock Street that will overlook Mancunian Way.
Last year, Student Roost, an arm of Greystar, acquired the former Premier Inn site from Whitbread and inherited the hospitality company’s planning consent for a 1,014-bed PBSA scheme.
In 2023, Whitbread, working with developer Dominus, was given the green light from Manchester City Council to develop the Jon Matthews Architects-designed scheme, which will feature two roof terraces, on the 11th and 37th floors respectively.
Student residents will have access to 13,000 sq ft of amenity space, with a gym, yoga studio, quiet study areas, meeting rooms, screening rooms, games rooms, and shared lounges all included.
Adam Quinn, chief executive of HG Construction, said: “This is an exciting scheme which will make a significant contribution to the transformation of this area and help to meet the high and growing demand for first-class student accommodation in the Manchester area.
“With solid expertise in delivering high-quality PBSA projects across the UK, we are delighted to partner with Greystar on this landmark project.
“We are looking forward to getting to know the local area and to maximising opportunities for local employment and positive community engagement throughout the construction of this project.”
The block has been designed to reach a BREEAM Excellent rating and has done so with solar panels, the use of sustainable materials, and a living green roof to offset carbon.
Under Whitbread’s 2023 application, a 13-storey office block was also approved, but Student Roost’s acquisition did not include the office building.
The scheme will be Student Roost’s first asset in Manchester, and the firm will take on the full operation of the block.
Greystar and HG Construction received final regulatory approval to start work last week and are now on site, hoping to be ready to welcome students in September 2028.
This should be a mixed and vibrant area of the city centre, full of owner occupiers, successful businesses, as well as but not exclusively for students. Instead the council has allowed it to become saturated with PBSA for international students. It’s wall to wall Deliveroo half the year and a ghost town the rest. A real wasted opportunity.
By Mancunian
There is a very respectable cluster of skyscrapers in the Deansgate area now even before this, Viadux and the two Contour towers are finished off! Manchester’s skyline is maturing right before our eyes! Some may hate them, nobody is a fan of everything, but who are we (people of today) to hold back a cities next incarnation and prevent it from remaining a successful one for the next generations! Manchester like London and all the worlds successful cities has never stood still, change encourages longevity.
By Cristoforo
Excellent, students need more and better accommodation and has been said there is a real mix and a lot of towers here now and more to come. Well done MCC
By Anonymous
Im happy the skyline is getting even better and a better view I like The one medlock tower too,However i think that we should be building more commercial buildings maybe more resis and office skyscrapers not more PBSA projects Because this IS MANCHESTER not a student paradise!
By Anonymous