Far East Consortium appoints contractors to £200m MeadowSide development

Developer Far East Consortium (FEC) has appointed contractors Westfields Construction, China Zhejiang Construction Group Hong Kong, and Bardsley Construction to deliver major elements of phase one of its £200m MeadowSide residential development in Manchester.

Bordering historic Angel Meadow, the city’s largest green space and part of the 20-acre NOMA neighbourhood north of Manchester city centre, MeadowSide will ultimately provide 756 apartments and penthouses.

In a joint venture, Hertfordshire-based Westfields Construction and China Zhejiang Construction Group Hong Kong will commence construction this month on the 22-storey The Gate, and The Stile, a 17-storey building, offering 286 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses situated on Aspin Lane, with concierge, gym, private residents lounge and terrace.

The Gate and The Stile will feature glass facades and include new public realm and commercial units to ground floors, with completion expected in spring 2021.

Also starting on site this month is Greater Manchester-based Bardsley Construction following its appointment to deliver Mount Yard, a 12-storey building, offering one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses.

Unlike the contemporary design of The Gate and The Stile, Mount Yard features traditional brick to complement surrounding mills and factory conversions.

MeadowSide spearheads the Northern Gateway, an investment partnership between FEC and Manchester City Council to deliver more than 15,000 new homes across the north side of central Manchester over the next decade.

Northern Gateway is forecast to generate more than £1bn of investment by unlocking the development potential of more than 300 acres or 13m sq ft of land from north of Victoria station through to New Cross, the Lower Irk Valley and Collyhurst.

Gavin Taylor, Manchester-based regional general manager at FEC, said: “MeadowSide is the first step towards the groundbreaking regeneration of the Northern Gateway, breathing new life into the biggest green space in central Manchester.

“Our contractors have been chosen for their ability to deliver pioneering schemes and together we will create an exciting new residential community for Manchester.”

James Varley, managing director at Westfields Construction, and Kevin Chun, UK representative of China Zhejiang Construction Group (HK), said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver The Gate and The Stile as a joint venture partnership.

“These contemporary buildings will change the skyline of Manchester forever. This is our first flagship scheme out of the South of the UK and Hong Kong, it represents the gateway to us building in the North West.”

Ged Rooney, pre-construction director at Tameside, Greater Manchester-based Bardsley Construction, said: “Our appointment by FEC to deliver Mount Yard at MeadowSide provides a local and global partnership as we work with an international property developer to create a new community around Angel Meadow, extending the city centre northwards with a landmark development that will represent a major part of the NOMA neighbourhood.”

MeadowSide has been sustainably designed using recycled and re-used materials combined with contemporary techniques with slick glass facades, red brick and steel.

The development offers an array of amenities for residents including a 24-hour concierge, reception areas inspired by boutique hotels, residents’ gym, private dining, ground floor commercial units and a private communal terrace.

The landscaped external areas feature recycled concrete and timber, new walkways, masses of new planting, a lighting scheme and landform terraces for new places to rest and enjoy the great views of the park.

MeadowSide is part of NOMA, the 20-acre neighbourhood housing the headquarters of the Co-operative Bank.