Archive

  1. Public consultation begins for new Levenshulme development

    Mancunian property developer Views announced it has started a pre-planning application public consultation for its proposals to transform 764 – 786 Stockport Road in Levenshulme into a new mixed-use development with 9,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space on the ground floor and 30 apartments on three upper floors, all set in high quality landscaping.

    The proposed development will replace the existing unoccupied buildings on the 0.21 hectare site to create a sustainable scheme providing new amenities for the community, nine new commercial spaces for local entrepreneurs and ten, one bedroom and 20, two bedroom new homes. The final development will have a GDV in the region of £7million.

    Patrick Sheridan, senior development manager, Views said: “We are very excited about our plans for 764-786 Stockport Road and we realise it is important to share them with our local neighbours before we submit a formal planning application. The site has been empty and under used for a number of years, and our proposals will deliver much needed new homes and commercial space. We think it will be a sensitive and successful addition to the area which has an established, vibrant, diverse and welcoming community.

    “We hope people are as enthused about our proposals as we are and we welcome feedback and comments.”

    Designed by Manchester based Ollier Smurthwaite Architects the proposals are conceived as three buildings which step down from four to two storeys to tie in with the buildings either side. High quality materials, large areas of glazing and refined detailing will deliver a building of merit and provide further regeneration benefits.

    Matt Ollier, Ollier Smurthwaite Architects said: “Our proposals will completely transform the site and this part of Levenshulme by creating a sensitive bookend building that will provide a much improved and animated street scape on Stockport Road which respects the heritage and character of the wider area.”

    As well as engaging with statutory stakeholders during the design process, Views and its team which includes planning consultancy Avison Young will distribute information leaflets to circa 400 residential and commercial neighbours to the scheme to inform them of the consultation.

    Images and information about the proposed scheme are available here https://www.avisonyoung.co.uk/planning-consultations/stockport-road until the consultation period closes Friday 18 February. There is a feedback form on the website and people can submit questions and find out more information by emailing planningconsultations.uk@avisonyoung.com.

    Anyone who does not have access to the internet, should contact Rachel May at Avison Young on 0161 956 4080 and she will arrange to send the information to them in the post.

     

  2. Planning permission achieved on 32-34 Laystall Street, Manchester

    On Wednesday 2 February 2022 Manchester City Council granted planning permission for the transformation of 32-34 Laystall Street, located just off Great Ancoats Street, Manchester. Award winning Manchester based developer McCauls and Great Places Housing Group are jointly delivering the development which will see the creation eighty-nine new homes and 8,000 sq ft of work space at the site, which includes the Grade II Listed 32-34 Laystall Street Armitage Showroom building.

    McCauls will fully restore of the Listed Armitage Showroom building which dates to 1879 into high quality flexible, co-working and plug and play office space. The building will be extended to the corner of Laystall Street and Pigeon Street with a contemporary addition to provide a new vertical circulation system for the building.

    To the rear of the showroom, Great Places Housing Group will build a new nine storey residential development configured in a horse-shoe around a landscaped courtyard.  The 89 one and two bed apartments will offer a mix of shared ownership and social rent.

    Joe McCaul, director, McCauls said: “We are delighted to be working with Great Places Housing Group on Laystall Street to bring this much loved building back to life with new workspace and homes. Laystall Street is a fantastic location being a two minute walk to the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly respectively and will be a perfect location to live and work.”

    Helen Spencer, executive director of growth, Great Places Housing Group said: “Laystall Street is an excellent location and we look forward to working together with McCauls to deliver its transformation.

    The project will breathe new life into a local landmark and reinforces our continued commitment to delivery of affordable homes in this area of Manchester alongside our ongoing work close by in Ancoats and New Islington.”

  3. Susan Witterick named one of 2022’s most inspiring female founders

    Susan Witterick, founder of Manchester head-quartered acoustic consultancy dBx Acoustics has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign.

    Susan, who started dBx Acoustics in 2013, is profiled alongside one hundred female entrepreneurs from across the country, as part of a campaign to celebrate the multi-achievements of women running businesses in the UK today. Now in its fifth year, the growing campaign attracted a record number of applications for this year’s ‘#ialso100’ line-up.

    The f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ sets out to showcase trailblazing female founders who lead businesses alongside a roster of other responsibilities, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support. Susan has been selected for her work around inclusivity and diversity, and for her efforts to destigmatize neurodiversity, she is an advocate for autism awareness and sits on the Institute of Acoustics diversity and inclusivity committee.

    Susan Witterick said: “I’m thrilled to have been included in the fEntrepreneur #also100. It’s important to me that nobody should feel excluded from a career because they don’t feel like they fit the mold. I hope the success of dBx Acoustics will encourage others to create a workplace in which they can thrive.”

    dBx Acoustics provides acoustic consultancy and design services to the property and construction industry across the UK. With offices in Manchester and London, Susan leads a team of five and her live projects include the new Harlow campus for the UKHSA (formerly Public Health England), three new residential developments for Mulbury City in New Cross, Manchester, several schools in the south east with Reds10, and acoustic design of new offices in London for a national newspaper.

    Both f:Entrepreneur and Small Business Britain were founded by Michelle Ovens CBE, who is also the director of Small Business Saturday UK.

    Michelle said: “Congratulations to Susan at dBx Acoustics, and all of the brilliant female entrepreneurs featured in this year’s #ialso100,

    “It is so vital that we recognise and celebrate the phenomenal contribution that women running businesses are making across the UK, and the far-reaching, positive impact they are having, not just on the economy, but on wider communities too. The last few years have been hugely challenging for small businesses, yet despite this female entrepreneurship continues to grow and flourish in the UK, and is very much at the heart of the UK’s recovery.”

     Delivered by Small Business Britain – the leading champion of small businesses in the UK – f:Entrepreneur was launched in 2017 to highlight the stories of female business owners and help provide inspiration and role models across the wider small business community. Now in its fifth year, the campaign offers a host of events and training and networking opportunities to boost skills, capability and confidence.

    From quantum computer engineers, and vegan fruit farmers, to sustainability advocates and inclusive fashion designers, this year’s campaign celebrates inspiring and resilient female entrepreneurs that have flourished despite the challenges of the past years, with many still growing or starting new ventures.

    To see the full line-up of the 100 women featured in this year’s f:entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign visit https://f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2022/

  4. Mission Labs signs for new 11,000 sq ft HQ at Arbeta

    Cloud communications specialist Mission Labs announced it has taken 11,000 sq ft, on a ten year lease, on the second floor of Arbeta, Northampton Road, Manchester as its new headquarters.

    Mission Labs, which was acquired last year by listed technology-based communications services provider Gamma Communications Plc, will double its headcount to 200 over the next 12 months as part of its continued growth plans at Arbeta and its Rossendale office.

    Mission Labs expects Arbeta’s location, transport links and quality of facilities will appeal to a wider catchment, taking better advantage of the tech talent pool in Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas. Mission Labs co-founder, Damian Hanson said: “Arbeta is situated in a very fast-growing area of Manchester, supported by excellent infrastructure and facilities. The new space that we have secured provides us with a brand new, welcoming HQ that is right in the heart of the action. And as we continue to rapidly create new roles and accelerate our headcount, we know just how important a great working environment is for attracting and retaining talent.”

    While the relevance of the corporate office has been the source of much debate over the past 15 months, Mission Labs has engaged directly with its staff to design and validate a working model for the future, as co-founder David Hague explains: “During the pandemic we have continually reacted to the changing needs of our colleagues. We observed early on that 100% homeworking does not appeal to everybody and we safely reopened our offices as soon as we were able to do so last year, allowing a small number of colleagues to work where they feel most comfortable and productive. We have subsequently engaged directly with the entire team to define our needs for the future and the feedback was overwhelmingly in favour of a hybrid working model.”

    Mission Labs new Arbeta HQ will officially open later in the summer with a ground-up design and fit-out currently in progress.

    Arbeta is owned by Manchester City Council and is operated by the same team behind The Sharp Project, Space Studios and Screen Manchester.

    Rob Page, managing director, Arbeta said: “We are delighted to welcome Mission Labs to Arbeta and look forward to seeing the completed space. While the future of the office has been much discussed, the approach taken by Mission Labs is refreshing, they’ve been able to move quickly and react to the changing requirements and needs of their team and have still taken the same size of space in the building we have discussed with them from the start.”

    OBI is sole leasing agent for Arbeta. Andrew Cowell, transactions and asset management, OBI said: “The deal with Mission Labs is a strong indicator of the continued strength and resilience of the Manchester market and it clearly demonstrates businesses, especially in the tech, digital and creative sector, are open to using their workspaces differently. The larger floorplates at Arbeta provide the flexibility for fast-growing tech and digital businesses to create the workspaces they and their teams need.”

    Arbeta offers Grade A workspace for tech, creative and digital businesses with space available from 1,400 sq ft to 71,900 sq ft. The ground floor features several fully fitted Plug and Play spaces which range from 1,400 sq ft to 2,787 sq ft. The Plug and Play spaces are offered on short term, flexible leases and include kitchens and meeting rooms.

    The building features a 9,100 sq ft central, full height atrium which can be used for communal working and events. A striking steel staircase links the three floors of workspace together with new walkways around each level. There is ample cycle and car parking, a shower block, 24/7 access, collaboration and event space, a range of meeting rooms and onsite cafe.

  5. Preferred partner for £1.5 billion new global-leading innovation district ID Manchester announced by The University of Manchester

    Today the UK’s ambition to be a world-leading science and technology innovation hub has taken another step forward as The University of Manchester announced Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s leading property provider dedicated to the growth of the science and technology sector, as its preferred bidder to deliver the £1.5 billion innovation district – ID Manchester.

    The internationally-significant project will cement the UK’s position in the science and technology sector; providing vital specialist infrastructure to power the growth of the knowledge economy and unlock the potential to commercialise R&D innovation, supporting the UK to build back better and level up.

    The University and Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, will now form a new joint venture to enhance, develop and deliver the vision to establish ID Manchester as a new innovation district, home to a global community that will play a vital role in the future of the UK science and technology sector, with the potential to create over 10,000 new jobs in the next 10-15 years.

    Place design and placemaking will be central to the development of ID Manchester, which when complete will provide over four million square feet (370,000 square metres) including 2.6 million square feet (240,000 square metres) of new commercial workspace and a £28 million investment in the public realm that will provide a focal point for a vibrant events programme.

    The area benefits from existing green space and the unique feature of the 650,000 square feet (60,000 square metres) Grade II-listed Sackville Street Building.

    Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “The journey to find our joint venture partner to work with us on delivering ID Manchester has been hugely rewarding for everyone involved. The quality and calibre of the submissions we received was truly outstanding and I would like to extend our gratitude to those who were unsuccessful.

    “Innovation is a core theme for the University as we enter our third century. The opportunity afforded by ID Manchester will provide more chances for our research to have an impact on the real world, it will be a place where we address the challenges facing the world in the 21st century and to explore new ideas to improve the health, wealth and happiness of our fellow citizens.

    “Bruntwood SciTech shares many of the same values and principles as The University of Manchester and throughout our detailed discussions with them, their commitment and approach to sustainability, inclusivity and collaboration aligned closely with our vision for ID Manchester. We look forward to working together to create an outstanding innovation district which will play a large role in helping the UK to build back better.”

    Chris Oglesby, executive chair, Bruntwood SciTech said: “From the splitting of the atom, to the first isolation of graphene, Manchester has been at the forefront of global innovation. The ambition to create an innovation district of this size and scale will help transform the UK’s knowledge economy and cement the UK’s status as world leader in science, technology and engineering.

    “Working in partnership with The University of Manchester, we will create a global exemplar that will support national and international investment into science and technology, creating new pathways for the translation of research, and new cultures for enterprise.

    “It’s also an opportunity to build something with purpose and a social conscience at its heart from the outset. ID Manchester will champion a more progressive and sustainable model of economic success, one that works for all people and the planet.

    “To be selected to deliver a project of such scale, ambition and international significance is a privilege and we cannot wait to get started.”

    Bruntwood SciTech is a 50:50 JV between Bruntwood and Legal & General. ID Manchester is Legal & General’s 9th significant urban regeneration scheme, having invested billions of pounds in partnerships with universities such as Oxford and Newcastle and Local Authorities in areas such as Cardiff, Salford and Sunderland.

    Nigel Wilson, Group Chief Executive Legal & General said: “Universities are a key driver for the growth of cities, acting as a magnet for talent and incubator of growth and innovation. They have an integral role in shifting the dial for future success. This partnership is a unique opportunity to invest in, and develop, a significant, long-term and patient capital project that is economically viable and socially useful. Supporting the government’s “levelling up” agenda, it embodies inclusive capitalism in one of the UK’s strongest regional cities, as we build back better and help create a more inclusive post-pandemic society.”

    It is expected the joint venture agreement will be signed by the autumn. The new joint venture partnership will see Stanhope plc appointed as strategic development manager in their first project outside of the South East of England, confirming the developer’s commitment to the Life Sciences sector across the UK. The partnership will work together on the next stage of the masterplan for ID Manchester.

    Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at The University of Manchester said: “ID Manchester will be a unique new neighbourhood. Our vision draws on Manchester’s ecosystem of ideas, discovery, research and development, and ID Manchester will provide the canvas on which all those strands can come together to take urban regeneration to a whole new level. ID Manchester will be where our most valuable discoveries today, are tried, tested and developed into the technology, buildings and commerce of tomorrow. We are looking forward to working with Bruntwood SciTech to build on our vision and deliver ID Manchester.”

    The opportunity for ID Manchester follows the completion of the new £400 million Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) which will be the largest home for engineering in any UK university and provide world-class sustainable teaching and research facilities for 8,000 students, researchers, academics and professional services staff who will relocate from their existing facilities.

    The University occupies the recently opened £60 million Masdar Building, home to the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, and the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology at the south end of the site and these key research institutes and the University’s world leading strengths in Health Innovation and Digital Technology will form core pillars from which the cluster of companies located at ID Manchester will be built.

    ID Manchester is poised to become one of the final pieces of transformative urban regeneration within the city centre and an exemplar for a new approach to sustainable, inclusive development.

    ID Manchester is located to the south of the city centre adjacent to Piccadilly Railway Station, the University campus, and the existing innovation ecosystem clustered around Oxford Road, part of the largest clinical academic campus in Europe and includes Circle Square, the Citylabs campus, and Manchester Science Park – all three of which are already part of the Bruntwood SciTech network, and the £1 billion investment already being made into its main Oxford Road campus by The University of Manchester.

    Because of the unique collection of institutions and businesses based here, the local neighbourhood has become recognised as home to one of Europe’s most important innovation ecosystems. ID Manchester represents the largest remaining development opportunity adjacent to this internationally important innovation hub.