Plans unveiled for 26-storey city centre residential development
Arrowsmith Investment has unveiled proposals for a landmark residential-led scheme on the corner of Albion Street and Great Bridgewater Street in Manchester city centre.
Apex Tower will provide approximately 72 high quality residential apartments within a slender and striking 26-storey building, adding to the cluster of tall buildings in this growing part of the city centre.
Complementing the taller building, the proposals also include a new seven-storey building located between the Jurys Inn Hotel and the Briton’s Protection pub on Great Bridgewater Street. This will provide an additional four apartments and 250 sq m of commercial office space, which will become Arrowsmith’s new UK HQ.
Arrowsmith Investment is a property development company with a growing presence in the North West, with active schemes in Stockport, Salford and Trafford. The Apex Tower proposals mark Arrowsmith’s first scheme in Manchester city centre.
A pre-application consultation with local residents and businesses is getting under way today (November 17), with local people invited to view the proposals and provide feedback before the plans are finalised.
Tony Connor, head of development & projects at Arrowsmith, said: “We’re delighted to be developing proposals for this prominent site within Manchester city centre and excited to be sharing our plans with local people. Our vision is to deliver a scheme which supports the city’s growth by providing a much needed sustainable and inclusive residential offer.”
He added: “We take our responsibilities as a developer seriously. We have been working with our leading Manchester-based team to design a scheme which will complement the neighbouring buildings – including the much-loved Briton’s Protection – and enhance this part of the city for everyone.”
Christian Gilham, director at Leach Rhodes Walker, the architects designing the scheme, said: “Throughout the design process we’ve been focused on designing an ambitious, yet complementary scheme. The tower has been designed to sit comfortably within the cluster of tall buildings emerging in this part of the city centre, with a materials palette that references both the old and the new.
“We have been very careful to retain and enhance the setting of the Briton’s Protection pub and have carved out the lower floors of the building so that the presence and prominence of the pub at pedestrian level will remain. Our ambition is for potential public realm improvements at the junction of Albion Street and Great Bridgewater Street to further enhance the setting of the surrounding buildings and to connect First Street through to St Peter’s Square.”
In addition to Leach Rhodes Walker, the core project team includes Zerum as planning consultant and Turley as heritage consultant.
