Unite reveals plans for student tower

Student accommodation provider Unite has revealed plans for its 600-bedroom scheme at 1-5 New Wakefield Street, Manchester.

The scheme, which is intended to top out at around 35 storeys, sits close to the Hodder-designed 37-storey tower Liberty Heights at 1 Great Marlborough Street, which was developed by Student Castle during the last recession before being sold to CPPIB Liberty Living in 2015.

Unite held a public exhibition for the scheme yesterday. At this stage, the developer intends for the vast majority of the accommodation to be arranged in clusters of five to ten bedrooms, with just 10% of the space used for studio apartments. Anodised aluminium is proposed as the cladding for the building.

The architect for the project is SimpsonHaugh & Partners, with Turley providing planning advice. Although the full detail of the scheme, such as its exact height and number of floors, has not yet been finalised, Unite expressed a desire to submit a planning application and begin construction as soon as possible, subject to approval.

The site in question houses the Sound Control music venue and a derelict premises next door, both will be demolished. The site abuts the building at 7-9 New Wakefield Street, which is home to The Font bar. There will be ground floor retail at Unite’s proposed scheme. Consultation is open until the end of June.

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