FORGING AHEAD WITH DEANSGATE RENAISSANCE

We were delighted to have received planning consent for a stunning new office building, which will form part of our £210m (GDV) redevelopment of the Renaissance site on Deansgate, Manchester with JV partner Starwood Capital.

Manchester City Council approved plans for a 50,000 sq ft, five-storey Grade A office. Designed by Jon Matthews Architects, the new office, which will be called Renaissance, fronts Deansgate and will dramatically transform the streetscape, which links to the Cathedral, AO Arena, and Manchester’s main shopping area. Providing four floors of contemporary office suites, each circa 8,000 to 9,000 sq ft, the communal amenities will include a roof terrace, wellbeing studio, bicycle store, shower and changing facilities.

Works on the commercial element are due to commence Q1 2023 and property agents, OBI have been appointed on the design, with OBI and JLL instructed to bring the commercial space to market.

The wider masterplan that we are bringing forward will complete the redevelopment of the city district affected by the 1996 IRA bomb attack. Plans include a 224 room Treehouse hotel with panoramic restaurant and rooftop bar and 300 luxury residential apartments encompassing comprehensive amenity space and riverside gardens.

Our CEO, Alex Russell, commented on the planning application and decision. He said: “Collaboration and a lot of hard work has got us to this important stage of the masterplan for this prominent part of the city. This project is so important to us and the city, which demands best-in-class for design and amenities to maximise its riverside location. We cannot wait to relaunch this vibrant and engaging destination for the city’s residents and visitors.”

Will Lewis Founder of OBI said “Renaissance is an exciting new product for the Manchester office market. New build office development of this nature is unique, as it enables both large corporates seeking a self-contained HQ and SMEs to take space on a floor-by-floor basis. The building will boast an array of high-quality amenities including a vibrant ground floor coffee offering, wellbeing space and a stunning roof terrace and pavilion.”

James Devany Director at JLL said “With Manchester continuing to see strong levels of take up and increased levels of inward investment, its important the city has a strong pipeline of market leading office space. The office space at Renaissance will cater for that demand and has been designed with sustainability and health and wellbeing at its core. It is going to be a transformational project for the city, with the office element being intrinsically linked to both the hotel and residential elements of the scheme.”