Alliance has announced a significant collaboration with McLaren Property, Moda Living and Kadans Science Partner, to deliver a masterplan vision for Upper Brook Street, Ardwick in Manchester. The consortium is working with Manchester City Council, to transform a suite of sites and deliver an exemplary new neighbourhood for the city.
On 13th March the consortium revealed an integrated masterplan vision, by architects Hawkins Brown, Sheppard Robson and SimpsonHaugh. The plans would bring forward a new mixed-use development, providing much needed life sciences space and purpose-built student accommodation.
The masterplan proposals also include community facilities and public uses, which could include facilities such as a GP surgery, a new community centre, retail and cafes.
The plans will open up Upper Brook Street, connecting the separate sites, to create a new district with a brand new public square at its heart, providing more than two acres of new public realm and vital green amenity space, designed by Reform, for residents, workers and the local community. The plans also include improvements to key pedestrian routes and cycle connections and will ensure the new neighbourhood is connected to the wider area, and the city.
The masterplan is expected to deliver almost 6,000 new jobs to the area and economic benefits of more than £450m.
Joining forces with Moda Living, we will deliver 470,000 sq ft of life sciences and circa 1,100 student accommodation beds (200 affordable), along with complementary mixed-use space. The student beds are the first to be announced in Moda Living’s student accommodation platform. Operated by Moda for the long term, the homes will have a focus on health, wellbeing and resident experience.
The integrated masterplan follows the key themes and design principles expressed within the Oxford Road Corridor Strategic Regeneration Framework (ORSRF), to deliver on the councils’ vision for this important strategic site. Avison Young is working alongside the parties as planning consultant on the Upper Brook Street masterplan.
Our CEO, Alex Russell, said “This masterplan provides an exciting opportunity to unlock and breathe new life into what is a historically rich and vibrant inner-city neighbourhood.
“Residents, students and employees are at the heart of our plans, bringing forward a desirable destination to live and work, with green space, fantastic and much-needed amenities and a place of study and work that attracts and retains the best talent.
“We aim to create a space that is not only recognised internationally for its advanced Life Science facilities and talent pool, but in doing so, creates a safe, thriving community for everyone that lives, works and passes through it.
“We look forward to sharing detailed plans and further partnerships joining on this hugely anticipated collaboration.”
Oscar Brooks, Co-Founder and Director at Moda Living, said “Upper Brook Street is an extremely exciting masterplan that will completely transform this key central site into a thriving new urban community in the heart of the city.
“Manchester has one of the most vibrant and exciting student scenes in the country, but as a city has been highly underserved in the delivery of secure, high-quality homes for those students. Moda's student homes at the Upper Brook Street neighbourhood will help address that shortage with a focus on wellbeing and student experience, and with social and environmental sustainability at the core of the development.
"We look forward to continuing to work with Alliance, McLaren and Manchester City Council to create an outstanding new part of Manchester.