Updated Hotspur Press plans will add an extra floor and 17 apartments
London-based developer, Manner, has submitted updated plans for its Hotspur Press building scheme, in Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor, which will add an extra floor and a further 17 apartments.
Manner submitted a planning application for the regeneration of the building on Cambridge Street in December 2023.
The proposed scheme, which will preserve much of the existing brick exterior and celebrate the heritage of the building, includes 36-storeys of student accommodation, a new public square and connected public realm improvements for the wider community.
Slight changes have now been made to the scheme design and mainly relate to the internal layout of the building, including a small reduction in the height and width of the tower.
Working within this reduced massing, an additional floor of residential accommodation would be provided – achieved through a more efficient scheme design – with the development now proposed to provide 595 student bedrooms, rather than 578.
The main public square proposal remains unaffected, as does the proposal to retain and restore the main exterior of The Hotspur Press.
Following feedback from the community, the ground floor commercial space has been enlarged and remains a central part of the development. Manner is now actively looking for independent operators to occupy that space – targeted at organisations that fit with the developer’s aspirations for The Hotspur Press and that will bring something different to the neighbourhood.
In addition, Manner is in contact with nearby building operators and other partners in the city to explore how the development can act as a catalyst to further improve pedestrian links and connections across this part of the city centre.
The plans include a commitment to set up a Community Liaison Group to provide information to residents about the construction works and then the operation of the building.
Richard James, Managing Director of Manner, said: “Since we submitted the planning application in December last year, we have been working with the city council and local resident groups to further improve our plans.
“These constructive and positive conversations have helped us to better understand how we can make the best possible contribution to the local neighbourhood and ensure the construction process is carefully managed to minimise local disruption.”
He added: “These discussions have been immensely helpful, and we are pleased to be working with the local community to deliver the regeneration of The Hotspur Press.”
Manchester City Council will be notifying nearby residents during a further statutory period of consultation on the proposals in the coming days.
The proposed building has been designed by Hodder + Partners with Macgregor Smith advising on landscape design, Turley acting as planning consultant and Social advising on community engagement.
