Topping out at £26.7m scheme
Residential developer Mulbury has officially marked the ‘topping out’ of the £26.7m Port Street private rented sector development of 135 apartments in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The scheme, which is funded by M&G Real Estate, reached its highest point at 15 storeys with VIP guests helping contractors to pour the last section of the building’s concrete frame.
Staff from Mulbury were joined by representatives from M&G Real Estate, main contractor Bardsley Construction, frame contractor Cidon Construction, and other members of the project team for the event.
A time-capsule, featuring Manchester-themed items and the day’s newspapers, was buried within the building as part of the ceremony.
A selection of 200-year-old artefacts that were found during Mulbury’s excavation of the site were also included in the time-capsule.
To mark the occasion a donation was made to Mulbury’s adopted charity for the development, Ancoats-based homeless charity Mustard Tree.
Designed by Tim Groom Architects, the development is Mulbury’s first PRS development in Manchester and is due for completion in summer 2018.
Mulbury reached a funding agreement in September 2016 with M&G Real Estate, which will own and manage the building.
Martin Bury, a director of Mulbury, said: “When we first identified this site, we knew we could deliver a spectacular scheme, offering a building that reflects the true values of the private rented sector. We’re incredibly thankful to M&G Real Estate to buying into this vision.
“The exceptional quality of the design is reflected already in the quality of the build. When finished, this development will provide a landmark building for this part of the city centre. It will play a key role in keeping young professionals in the city.”
Alex Greaves, head of residential investment at M&G Real Estate, added: “This is our first entry into the North West market and is a signal of our intent to invest further in the strong regional markets of Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.”
Roly Bardsley, chairman of Bardsley Construction, said: “As a Greater Manchester-based contractor, we’re pleased to be playing a key role in the ongoing transformation of the Northern Quarter as we celebrate this key stage in the delivery of what will be a statement scheme by Mulbury.”
The eight to 15-storey development features a large communal roof garden. The one and two-bedroom apartments all have balconies and access to a concierge reception service. There is also 6,000sq ft of commercial space at ground level.
Other members of the project team for the development include: Tim Groom Architects, Scott Hughes Design as structural/civil engineers; Futureserv as building services engineers, Rider Levett Bucknall as quantity surveyor and employer’s agent; Deloitte as planning consultants; SK Transport Planning as transport planners; Gray Scanlan Hill as Right to Light and party wall consultants; Omega Fire Engineering as fire consultants; Rawlings Consultancy Services as principal designer; and Building Consents as the approved inspector. Fieldfisher and Primas Law acted as legal advisers.
