Didsbury and Great Northern schemes up before planning next week

Two major commercial redevelopment schemes come before Councillors in Manchester next Thursday (16 February 2023) that could radically alter the shape of two major gateway sites.

Bruntwood is looking to build a modern office building on the Didsbury site currently known as the Siemens campus opposite Southern Cemetery on one of the main roads into the city from the south.

A Chinese backed development at the Great Northern warehouse would transform the iconic city centre site into a office space alongside two large residential towers, designed by high rise specialists Simpson Haugh Architects. 

As reported by TheBusinessDesk.com in December, the planning submission by Peterson Group and Trilogy Real Estate mean the Grade II-listed Victorian Warehouse building will be converted to office space. The 1990’s cinema and car park building behind will be repurposed to create 746 apartments above reimagined pedestrianised retail streets.

There have only been two objections lodged to the Great Northern scheme which will bring forward a viable new use for currently unused parts of the Great Northern Warehouse. The application states that the building is “currently redundant and undervalued, and is a significant part of Manchester’s illustrious history” and that as a result Historic England are supportive of the plans to bring it fuller use and “are comfortable that this moderate level of harm is necessary to secure the wider heritage benefits of bringing the building back into a viable use that secures its future.”

Bruntwood’s scheme on Didsbury Technology Park will include the £31m Ev0 Building an 82,000 sq ft of office space which Bruntwood says will lead Manchester’s workspace offering towards a net zero future. The plans also include a three storey car park.

Bruntwood Works – the workspace, retail and leisure arm of the Bruntwood Group – will design, develop and deliver the scheme, with construction scheduled to begin in summer 2023 and completion expected in autumn 2024.

Both schemes, supported by consultants from Deloitte, have been recommended for approval by council officers.

In total there are 12 projects before the committee, and all have either been recommended for approval, or minded for approval, subject to certain conditions.

Also for consideration is a 65 unit housing scheme in Chorlton Park, next to a sports club, put forward by Anwyl Homes.