Consent for £8m conversion of former Job Centre to 53 homes

Manchester City Council has granted planning permission to transform a former job centre into 53 new homes in Longsight.

The £8m scheme, spearheaded by Manchester-based Placefirst, will boast a rooftop extension to the former 32,000 sq ft job centre situated on Clarence Road, which has been closed since August 2018.

It has been designed by Altrincham-based Project 3 Architects who have worked on a number of schemes around Greater Manchester.

Work on the development will begin in 2021, transforming the offices into a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroomed apartments.

These include dual-aspect ground floor level access apartments, to provide enhanced accessibility.

The rooftop extension will accommodate eight stylish apartments with views across the city.

The proposed development offers great commuter links to Manchester city centre. Situated in close proximity to the main university campus, it is also just a 15-minute walk to Manchester Royal Infirmary, making it an ideal residential location for key healthcare workers.

All apartments will be available for long-term let on completion of the scheme, as part of Placefirst’s commitment to offering a viable alternative to outright home ownership. The developer designs, builds, maintains and rents the apartments.

David Mawson, Placefirst chief executive, said: “Being a Manchester-based developer, the regeneration of this site in Longsight is very important to us.

“Being able to transform this former job centre into a thriving residential community will be hugely satisfying and will, no doubt, have a positive knock-on effect to the local area.

“Discussions during the planning process with Manchester City Council helped the scheme evolve and we would like to thank them for their positive contribution to this development.”

Craig Smith, architect director for Project 3 Architects, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside Placefirst to reinvigorate an existing building which has stood vacant for some time.

“The adaptive re-use of the building provides a sustainable approach to development, with a sensitive rooftop extension to complement the existing residential surroundings.”