Historic city centre building to get new lease of life

A CGI of the finished scheme

Real estate consultancy OBI has received planning and listed building consent to redevelop a listed building in the heart of Manchester.

Work is now set to start on redeveloping the building on Mosley Street.

Boultbee Brooks Real Estate (BBRE) will transform Grade II-listed 77-79 Mosley Street and 14-16 Princess Street, known collectively as 79 Mosley Street, into 26,890 sq ft of new office space and ground floor and basement retail and leisure space.

OBI, BBRE and Zerum have been working together for three years to secure the future of the building.

OBI will project manage the delivery of the scheme with architect PRP, structural engineer Tier Consult and M&E consultant, REDS and planning consultants Zerum, on behalf of building owners, UK-based real estate investor BBRE.

The scheme will see the facades onto Mosley Street, Princess Street and Back George Street retained and fully restored, while the internal floors will be completely rebuilt from the basement up to a new zinc-clad mansard roof extension.

Dominic Horridge, building consultancy, OBI said: “Gaining planning permission to transform 79 Mosley Street is a very significant step.

“The building has been vacant for many years, with several proposed projects failing at the first hurdle.

“Now, working with BBRE, PRP and Zerum, we’ve developed a robust scheme which has secured the future of the building and we look forward to delivering it.”

The completed 79 Mosley Street will comprise 19,021 sq ft of new office space over four floors; a 5,049 sq ft retail and leisure opportunity on the ground floor and part basement; and a 2,820 sq ft retail/leisure unit in the basement with bike storage, including showers and lockers.

The building will accommodate around 220 people in offices and potentially create up to 81 jobs in the retail/leisure units.

Roger James, development director at BBRE, said: “79 Mosley Street will provide flexible floor space required for modern occupiers while retaining the external aesthetics of the original building.

“We can’t wait to bring this long-vacant, but very significant building back to life and to complete the jigsaw of the transformation of St Peter’s Square.”

79 Mosley Street was built circa 1870 as a speculative office, warehouse and retail building.

It has been vacant for nine years and previous owners have failed to bring any schemes to fruition.

BBRE is a privately-owned property company with a development and investment portfolio valued at around £350m.

The company, which is a major landlord in the Shoreditch and Clerkenwell areas of London where many of its tenants are fast growing digital and creative firms, also owns 75 Mosley Street and 30 Brown Street in Manchester.

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