Allied London gets creative for new Spinningfields block

DEVELOPER Allied London has submitted plans for a Spinningfields block that will seek to cater for those working in the technology and creative sectors.

It first unveiled the idea at the international property convention MIPIM last year. Then it was called i+ and has since been renamed the Cotton Building.

The block, on Left Bank next to the Civil Justice Centre, will boast flexible space where tenants can customise space, essentially taking a shell and choosing the location of partition walls and the services they want.

The seven-storey, 160,000 sq ft building will have some communal workspace, co-location facilities, a gym, café, bar and restaurants. There will also be a climbing wall. Allied London said it had already identified “several potential occupiers” but will also aim to lure start-ups and small businesses to give the building “an ecosystem of its own”.

Chief executive Michael Ingall said: “We have been spending valuable time designing the model since we launched the concept, and are now in a position to deliver what wild be one of Manchester’s and in fact our, most exciting buildings. The workspace market has changed and evolved significantly in the last three years and we needed to develop property to reflect this.

“We knew what we wanted to achieve with this building and have worked closely with the architects and planning team to ensure that what we have is the most innovative and fit for purpose building that will help put Manchester on the map as a TMT frontrunner.

“The property world needs to adapt to the needs of fast emerging businesses and we’re not just talking about lease structures. There is a real need to evolve the commercial real estate concept in order to support both fledgling and mature businesses and provide the right environment for them to flourish. Service, amenity and environment together with sustainability needs to be considered far more carefully than any time before.”

Cartwright Pickard has been appointed as architect.

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