Property briefs: Muse to start on final Smithfield phase, and more
MUSE Developments has started the final phase of its Smithfield regeneration scheme in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
It has appointed Galliford Try to build 77 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and more than 6,000 sq ft of ground floor commercial space.
According to a planning document the building will have the look of a puzzle box with “interlocking forms and projecting volumes”, and it will be clad in silver and black panels with brightly coloured balconies.
In addition, Muse has also committed to an initial stage of shell restoration and refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building, known locally as the Mackie Mayor.
Wes Erlam, senior development surveyor at Muse, said: “We have worked extensively with our partners at the city council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and English Heritage, to create a viable development that will result in a high quality contemporary residential building that complements the previous phases, while sensitively transforming the ‘Mackie Mayor’ building into something that has great, future potential.”
The Smithfield scheme, which is due to be completed in September 2014, is being delivered by Ician Developments Limited – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Muse Developments – in partnership with Manchester City Council. The HCA invested £6.5m towards the scheme, as part of the Get Britain Building fund for stalled projects.
Deborah McLaughlin, HCA executive director for the North West, said: “We believe that the completion of the Smithfield scheme will have a great impact on the area, creating new homes and jobs that will help transform the community around it. We are pleased that we have been able to provide support in overcoming challenges to get to this point, and it is great for residents of the area that all that hard work has now come to fruition.”
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THE freehold of industrial premises at Enterprise House, Lyons Road in Trafford Park has been sold to a private pension fund for £300,000
The 16,000 sq ft warehouse premises with office accommodation is currently let to Architectural Steel.
Commercial agent TFC acted for the pension fund and Lambert Smith Hampton for the vendors, West Register.
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CONSTRUCTION and property services firm Strategic Team Group has been awarded places on two construction frameworks in the North West.
The first covers major capital work for Bolton Council and will include individual projects valued between £1m and £5m. Works to be carried out under this framework include school extensions and refurbishments, leisure and office facilities, parks/play grounds, and small retail/market facilities. The framework agreement runs until 2016.
The second framework runs for four years and covers works in Greater Manchester with individual project values ranging from £200,000 to £1m on behalf of JV North, a group of social landlords.
Richard Marshall, regional operations manager for the North West said: “STG currently has a stronger order book of secured work than at any time in its history. The majority of our work is being procured through strategic partnerships, frameworks and external investment support. Frameworks such as these are becoming a more and more important part of our business and we are delighted to have secured our place with both JV North and Bolton Council over the coming years.”
