£60m Hotspur Press redevelopment plans given green light
Developer, Elmloch Limited, a joint venture between MCR Property Group and Blue Dog Property Group, has received planning permission for its redevelopment of Manchester’s iconic Hotspur Press buildings, which has a gross development value of £60m.
A new 28-storey mixed-use tower will be built behind the 19th century warehouse, which will see the retention of the original façade, plus the restoration of part of the mill and the iconic Hotspur Press signage.
Designed by architects Hodder + Partners, the tower will comprise 171 high specification one- and two-bedroom apartments, four ground floor commercial units and a rooftop terrace for residents.
The developer will also create a new public square to bridge the site with the adjacent First Street development, provide ample outdoor space and open up access to the River Medlock and the city centre.
Plans for the redevelopment of the Hotspur Press buildings were finalised following two public consultations in February and May 2018, which shared investigations into the site’s history, current condition and restraints with the public, local businesses and council leaders.
A stipulation of the planning permission will see Elmloch Limited make a financial contribution of £400,000 towards the off-site provision of affordable housing via a commuted sum later in the development process.
The project team for the development includes planning consultant Deloitte Real Estate, architects Hodder + Partners, and Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture and Exterior Architecture.
Nick Lake, asset manager at MCR Property Group and fund manager on behalf of Elmloch Limited, said: “We are thrilled to be able to bring our plans for the Hotspur Press buildings to fruition, while retaining the key elements of this Manchester landmark so it can be enjoyed for generations to come and I look forward to seeing the scheme launched by Regency Residential soon.”
Michael Percival, senior planner at Deloitte Real Estate in the North West, said: “The proposals seek to restore and re-use as much of the existing mill buildings as possible, and conserve the most significant elements within the overall constraints of the site.
“It also offers significant environmental improvements through the restoration of a historical site, and generates future development opportunities in a move that will help the city meet its place-making objectives.”
Stephen Hodder, chairman of Hodder+Partners, said: “Hotspur Press is more than simply the building: the site is an important gateway from the south along Cambridge Street and from First Street to the city.
“It is an equally important visual moment along Whitworth Street West and our plans for the new public square were designed in response to the site’s significance.”
Hotspur Press, a Victorian landmark which was originally a cotton warehouse named Medlock Mill, sits behind Oxford Road rail station and is one of the city centre’s most distinctive reminders of Manchester’s industrial past.
