Manor plans second major Greater Manchester student scheme

MANOR Property Group has submitted a planning application for its second major student scheme in Greater Manchester within the past month.

The Hull-based developer has applied for permission to build an eight-storey block of 676 student apartments at Coupland St, close to Manchester University, known as Manor Point. This follows on from its application to build more than 1,000 homes at a scheme known as Manor Wharf on Adelphi Street in Salford last month.

Manor Property Group said that the proposed scheme will support more than 300 construction and supplier jobs during the build phase.

Moreover, it said that 30 full-time and 50 part-time jobs would be created at the site once work completes, while an office element of the scheme could also support a further 100 jobs.

The firm has used architects careyjones chapmantolcher to design a scheme consisting of an eight-storey block with a landscaped inner courtyard offering amenity space for residents.

Manor spokesperson Bill Addy said the plans for Manor Point would regenerate a brownfield site and bring it back into use.

“Manor recognises the strategic importance of the Coupland Street site which is within walking distance of both the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

“In addition it will create an opportunity to meet the growing demand for high quality independent student accommodation in the city. We hope to be able to start on the site later this summer and be ready for occupancy from September 2013.”

The site had been vacant wasteland for a number of years but has now been earmarked for development as part of Manchester City Council’s plans for the Corridior Manchester area.

Colin Wilson from The Planning Studio in Manchester has provided the planning and regeneration statement for the application.

He said: “This is a unique and exciting opportunity to deliver a major student accommodation development for this derelict site together with a significant number of jobs. It is in a prime University location and will regenerate an area that has been derelict for a number of years.”

Each of the en-suite study bedrooms in Manor Point will be in a range of four-to-seven cluster apartments with shared kitchen and communal facilities.

The development will provide a total of 676 bedrooms, a management office, a gym and laundry, as well as an on-site internet café.  It would also have just over 20,000 sq ft of office space, with 14 car parking spaces for offices and nine spaces for the student accommodation.