High profile Manchester firms join forces to develop Northern Quarter project

Two high profile Manchester firms are joining forces to work on a property development on a prime spot in the city’s Northern Quarter.

Socially conscious developer Capital and Centric is teaming up with Kamani Property which is run by Adam Kamani – a member of the Boohoo family dynasty.

The two firms have bought a 14,000 sq ft plot on Swan Street, opposite the popular Mackie Mayor food hall and iconic Band on the Wall venue.

The two firms are now drawing up plans to redevelop the site which is in the heart of the Northern Quarter.

Architect Hawkins\Brown is working up designs for the disused site which is currently home to two derelict buildings, once used as a MOT garage and a warehouse.

Adam Kamani, the son of Boohoo founder Mahmud Kamaini, founded Kamani Property and is chief executive of the firm.

His firm is based in the Northern Quarter along with BooHoo’s head office.

He said: “We are delighted to team up with Capital and Centric. Their great reputation and track record in the city together with our joint vision for the site made our decision to join forces that much easier.

“It’s also great to team up with a developer that has the same strategic vision and ideas for improving Manchester’s skyline.

“Watch this space, as this is going to be a fantastic development, in the heart of our home turf of the Northern Quarter.”

Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital and Centric, said: “You’d be hard pushed to find a better site in the Northern Quarter.

“It’s right next to Mackie Mayor and Band on the Wall so always buzzing with people. Whatever we end up doing it will definitely have bags of that unique character and charm.

“It’s been ace to partner with the Kamani Property Group. The family has revolutionised fashion retailing and Adam’s bringing that entrepreneurial flair to property.

“They get what we’re about and, like us, think development should be high quality, design led and anything but ordinary.

“As you would expect from our jenga inspired Adair Street and Ducie Street hotels and our owner occupier focused Phoenix development, we will do something ambitious and exciting to keep raising the bar.”

The site sits between the Northern Quarter and New Cross – an emerging new development zone in the city, with a council-led masterplan aiming to deliver up to 10,000 homes as part of the wider Northern Gateway neighbourhood.

The land has been acquired from Swan Street Developments Ltd which is backed by the Todd family.

A planning application is being prepared for submission later this year.

Capital and Centric are behind plans for the Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly East on Adair Street and recently completed Ducie Street Warehouse – the multi-million pound transformation of the former Place Aparthotel.

The developer is also delivering new owner occupier homes at Crusader Mill and Phoenix in Piccadilly East, with its largest residential scheme KAMPUS – a joint venture with HBD – due to complete later this year.

Kamani Property is working on various projects in Manchester city centre, including renovating a commercial building into apartments and the construction of a seven storey office block.

The portfolio also includes many re-developed buildings in the Northern Quarter, home to tenants such as Boohoo.com, LadBible, Timberland, PrettyLittleThing and an entire street of bars and restaurants.

Co-founded by Tim Heatley and Adam Higgins Capital and Centric currently has five projects totaling £400m under construction which employ over 650 people. It has completed over 500,000 sq ft of new developments in the past three years.

It spends on average £2 million a week on regeneration.