Submission imminent for Beaconsfield’s Manchester office plans
The developer is close to lodging a planning application for the redevelopment of an office building facing Parsonage Gardens five years after the scheme was first proposed.
Beaconsfield Commercial has lodged a request for an EIA scoping opinion with Manchester City Council in relation to the 100,000 sq ft scheme, suggesting a planning application is not far away.
The scoping request seeks advice on what should be included in an environmental impact assessment for a development.
The developer updated its proposals to demolish 1 North Parade and 5 Parsonage and build a modern office block in 2023 following feedback on a 2020 version of the project.
Squire and Partners was drafted in to draw up revised plans for the One North Parade scheme, replacing SimpsonHaugh Architects on the job.
In 2023, the plan was for a 13-storey building overlooking Parsonage Gardens and providing 74,000 sq ft of office space, 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.
Despite the five year-wait for plans for the project to be formally submitted, the Beaconsfield scheme is not too far behind other office proposals in the area that have had planning approval for several years.
Bruntwood SciTech’s 100,000 sq ft Alberton was approved in 2021 but demolition of the office building it would replace only began a matter of months ago.
Oval Real Estate has bought Albert Bridge House, secured approval for the plot’s redevelopment into a mixed-use project featuring offices, redesigned the project with less office space, and submitted a second set of plans in the years since Beaconsfield proposed One North Parade.
Investec’s workspace-led redevelopment of the Kendal Milne building on Deansgate is rumoured to be progressing behind the scenes while Property Alliance Group is waiting to pull the trigger on Reedham House.
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Far better offering than previous. Nice blend of contemporary and classical styles
By Dan
Regardless of this design, the council would be failing in their duty to the city’s historic architecture and sustainability objectives if demolition of 1 north parade and 5 parsonage is approved. It would undermine the point of the conservation area although tbh these are worthy of retention even if they were outside the conservation area…
By Peter
They’ve attempted to incroporate Manchester’s existing style into it which should be commended. However the end product will be value engineered and look nothing near as good.
Just pick another site.
By Anonymous
sad to see 1 North Parade and 5 Parsonage getting demolished. Both are handsome characterful buildings. Manchester’s historical buildings are getting completely obliterated
By Jon P
John P – if they were of any architectural or historical merit, they would be listed. They are not and therefore not of any special interest and will be subject to demolition as they are in a prime/sub-prime area of redevelopment and will not be fit for any modern purpose.
By IMHO
It looks good but it should be built somewhere else! The existing building should be renovated instead, it’s a crime if it gets demolished! It’s very unsustainable too
By Mike
Much better proposal, but they shouldn’t be knocking down whats there.
I’d like to see more buildings in classic, tried and tested styles, but the sad reality is that they’ll use cheap materials and water down all the details, leaving a very dreary outcome.
By Anonymous
Out with the old and I’m with the new! Good to see these developments ges proposed and hopefully approved. Have to keep moving forward.
By MC
An appalling scheme, proposing to demolish these beautiful buildings. I will be objecting to this.
By Byronic
Getting this scheme approved and getting it funded and built are two completely different things in the current market hence the lack of progress on the schemes referenced in the article that have office consents – Bruntwood’s consent for 220,000 sq ft at The Alberton was not referenced and even though it is being demolished it will probably not be delivered. As such will this scheme be delivered soon if it gets a permission – I think not.
By Anonymous
Stop being stuck in the past, it’s time for Manchester (and the rest of the UK for that matter) to move forward. Keep the historical or outstanding buildings of course, but things need to be reinvented every now and then. I’d hedge a bet that the oldies moaning about all the old buildings being taken down were the same ones whooping and cheering when the brutalists came to town and decimated cities up and down the country.
By Anonymous
Would be crazy to knock down two high quality victorian brick buildings with great detailing/proportions, which are so typical of the era and aren’t replicated on new buildings. The loss of this kind of unlisted building across the city wouldn’t look good. I’d be surprised if this is approved, particularly being in a conservation area.
By Urbano
An abysmal scheme that will feel the wrath of the general public. Heritage schemes can receive hundreds of objections. They really need to build this elsewhere, the loss of the existing buildings is a disgrace,
By Heritage Action