Plans released for landmark site next to Beetham tower
FURTHER details about a 40-storey landmark residential tower at the former Bauer Millett car showroom have been released.
Sitting beside the Beetham Tower and next to Manchester Central and the Metrolink track between Deansgate-Castlefield and St Peter’s Square, the new development will provide around 350 apartments.
Speaking at MIPIM, the global property convention in Cannes, developers Ask Real Estate and architects SimpsonHaugh and Partners, said a 240,000 sq ft Grade A 14 storey office building is also planned together with new retail floorspace for bars, restaurants and shops bringing people back in to the arches and creating an active frontage along Great Bridgewater Street. A key component of the scheme is the significant improvements to the pedestrian environment along Great Bridgewater Street by removing sections of the existing bridge, allowing natural light down to street level and creating a more welcoming place.
New large areas of the public space includes a new route and vertical circulation linking Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink Stop and Deansgate Rail Station to the city centre via Watson Street.
The announcement today confirms that over 750,000 sq ft of prime new residential and commercial accommodation will be brought forward in a partnership between Ask, Manchester council, Transport for Greater Manchester and also Manchester Central.
Ask acquired the 1.74 acre Bauer Millett showrooms almost a year ago and have been working with architect Ian Simpson to develop a ‘ground-breaking, mixed-use scheme’ adjacent to Beetham Tower.
John Hughes, Ask managing director, said: “Our scheme will be a visionary development, something which only a few years ago, would have been almost impossible to imagine happening outside of London.
“The huge levels of investment we have seen into Manchester’s infrastructure coupled with efforts by the Universities to attract and retain talent has seen an upturn in graduate retention.”
“In turn this has driven demand for new hotels, retail and leisure outlets - the development of which has boosted the city’s economy.”