Property round-up: X-Dock 549; Miller Homes; Blackstock Market; Legacie; CERT; S&L; Novus; Hydes Brewery; Department
Construction work is nearing completion on Mirastar’s latest speculative development, X-Dock 549, a 549,655 sq ft cross-dock warehouse and logistics facility in one of the North West’s key industrial locations.
Located in the Liverpool City Region Freeport Zone, X-Dock 549 – the largest speculative industrial and logistics building currently under construction in the North West – will be completed and ready for immediate occupation this month (April 2025).
Its location in the Freeport Zone gives occupiers a unique opportunity to benefit from the generous savings which could total up to £15m across a range of categories (subject to status).
X-Dock 549, located in Widnes, offers multimodal connectivity, and is located for both regional and national distribution with direct access to the national motorway network via the M62, M57, M6 and M56.
Liverpool Port is just 16 miles west, and is one of the UK’s most extensive and busy ports boasting the investment and expansion from Liverpool 2 Super Port.
Widnes Rail Freight is located just three miles east.
It is poised to become a major hub for regional, national, and international logistics.
The building is being built to a best-in-class specification, targeting a BREEAM Excellent certification, EPC A rating, and includes a substantial 999 KWP Solar Array.
Cushman & Wakefield and Savills are the joint leasing agents appointed to market X-Dock 549.
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CGI of Varsity development
Miller Homes is celebrating the sell-out success of Varsity Quarter, its flagship development in Northenden, Manchester, where all 226 homes have now been sold.
Since launching in June 2022, Varsity Quarter has proven to be one of Miller Homes’ most sought after developments. The popularity of the development saw all homes purchased in just over two years.
Varsity Quarter was developed on the site of The Manchester College’s former Northenden campus, with Miller Homes securing the land purchase in 2022. Since then, the homebuilder has transformed the site into a thriving residential community, bringing contemporary homes to this well connected location.
The development attracted a diverse range of buyers, with first time buyers making up the majority at 77%.
Clare Noakes, sales director for Miller Homes North West, said: “The exceptional demand for these homes reflects the ongoing need for high quality, sustainable housing in Manchester, and it’s fantastic to see so many first time buyers taking their first step on the property ladder here.”
Looking ahead, more homes are set to come to Manchester, with planning permission recently secured for Thorley Glade, a new luxury development in Timperley. With work set to begin soon, homes at Thorley Glade will be ready to reserve by summer.
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Blackstock Market roof garden
Liverpool’s Blackstock Market unveiled a new roof garden at a special launch event last weekend.
The Mediterranean-themed Blackstock Roof Garden, one of the largest roof terraces in Liverpool, has been designed to seat 220 people and has its own fully licensed bar area.
It opened on Saturday, April 12, and was officially launched on April 13.
The new space will be open several days each week all year round, with indoor areas along with outdoor heaters for the cooler months, and will host weekly events as well as DJs and entertainment each weekend.
It will also be available for hire for private and corporate events, parties, celebrations and wedding receptions, and is fully wheelchair accessible.
Blackstock Market is the brainchild of Hot Water Comedy founders Paul and Binty Blair and first opened its doors in April 2024. Over the past 12 months it has attracted more than 300,000 visitors.
Paul Blair said: “This is something we’ve wanted since day one – a proper outdoor space that brings something totally new to the city. We’ve created one of the most impressive rooftop spaces in the country, and we haven’t cut corners. It’s full-on Mediterranean vibes, right in the heart of Liverpool, and it’s an absolute suntrap.”
Binty Blair said: “This isn’t just another rooftop – it’s the next phase of Blackstock’s evolution. We’re creating a year-round destination where people can eat, drink, dance and make memories.”
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Miller Place, Heaps Mill
Legacie has announced the completion of Millers Place and One Park Lane, two distinct and major developments in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, both offering incredible views over the city’s iconic waterfront.
Millers Place was the first tower to be completed as part of the wider Heaps Mill regeneration project, an ambitious scheme which is centred around the restoration of the Grade-II listed Rice Mill, one of Liverpool’s oldest dockside buildings.
The development delivers a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments all designed for modern city living, along with a concierge, and cycle store. Externally, the building has been sensitively designed incorporating Flemish bond brick detailing and aluminium cladding to complement the surrounding heritage architecture.
The Mill will become the centrepiece of the development, blending Liverpool’s industrial past with contemporary urban living. It will feature unique, luxury apartments, a luxury spa, rooftop terraces, a bar/café and museum, a fully equipped gym, as well as commercial units, further contributing to the area’s regeneration. Importantly, a newly created public walkway will connect the development to the iconic waterfront.
Located on a prominent corner site nearby, One Park Lane is a striking, contemporary development with a curved glass elevation. The development comprises a mix of generously sized studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and all designed for modern living.
Both developments are five minutes from Liverpool’s central shopping district, cultural landmarks and transport links, with seamless access to the city’s historic waterfront.
Mike Rider, construction director at Liverpool-based Legacie, said: “The successful delivery of Millers Place and One Park Lane is testament to the dedication of our project teams, as well as our partners.
“Both developments were complex due to their respective locations and restricted site access, yet they represent a key milestone in the Heaps Mill regeneration. Once fully developed, this will be one of Liverpool’s most ambitious and transformative urban regeneration projects.”
Martyn Haymes, associate director at Liverpool architect, Falconer Chester Hall, said: “Working with Legacie on the first phase of the Heaps Mill masterplan has been a thoroughly rewarding experience. The attention to detail in the design reflects the high standards set by the client, delivering a building of real value with a high specification of finish.”
All apartments across both developments have been fully sold through Legacie’s exclusive sales partner, RWinvest. The development will be managed by Legacie’s in-house management team, which is now welcoming residents into their new homes.
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Transformative development and property manager, CERT, has reworked its Cross Keys Street proposal, taking its revised application to 104 units.
Approved last year, CERT’s proposal in the New Cross district, was given unanimous support for 99 one- and two-bedroom BTR apartments and townhouses, some with terraces, alongside a new public courtyard, communal lounge and rooftop garden for residents.
Designed by Tim Groom Architects, five additional units have been added, along with reworking the proposals in line with the latest Building Safety Act requirements, introduced in November 2024. The revised application is now under consideration from Manchester City Council.
The original application, served by two staircases, was approved by the Building Safety Regulator at Gateway 1 and was acceptable under legislation ahead of the planning submission. Featuring a split level to the top floor, fire engineers advised that the plans were suitable, with one core servicing this upper level.
As a result of updated British Standards (BS9991) introduced in November 2024, and to ensure support at Gateway 2, an adjustment to the design has been included, for both staircases to access the full top floor.
Stephen Oster, CERT’s head of acquisition and development, said: “Our proposals offer a fresh and contemporary design that fits perfectly within this emerging urban neighbourhood. This will be our second phase of development in New Cross, and we’re looking forward to delivery in 2026.”
Now a disused car park, the site was first developed in the early 19th century, becoming the Royal Lancastrian School, and is located alongside CERT’s Peelers Yard, an 81 BTR apartment development on the historic 1800s police station site on Goulden Street.
Both projects are designed by Tim Groom Associates, and are backed by MyProtein and Verve founder, Oliver Cookson.
On completion, both schemes will be operated by CERT’s fully tech-enabled in-house property management team, with all residents provided with access to the CERT Life app.
The wider project team includes: We Are Incognito for interior design, Layer.studio as the landscape architect, Enabl advising on the planning consultancy and acting as the quantity surveyor, Civic Engineers are the structural engineers, and Novo as the M&E engineer for the scheme.
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CGI of Grimsargh plans
S&L has secured planning permission for a new housing development in Grimsargh, near Preston, for residential development company Applethwaite.
The site covers 4.77 hectares and will comprise 48 new houses, with work due to start on site in summer 2025.
Applethwaite is a residential development company that builds high-specification homes across Lancashire and Cumbria.
The housebuilder was initially formed in the Lake District, but in 2008, it became part of Preston-based Eric Wright Group, which enabled expansion of its activities into Lancashire and adjoining areas of the region.
The site’s composition includes four properties with one bedroom, 22 with two bedrooms and 22 with three bedrooms, which will all be single storey. The development also incorporates a separate two-storey care home, operated by Wrightcare, Eric Wright’s care home arm.
Deborah Smith, at S&L Planning, said: “We have been working in partnership with Applethwaite for some years now and this project will add to the housing provision in the area by providing a development that enables people to downsize, which, in turn, frees up more housing stock.
“The concept created by Applethwaite is tried and trusted in delivering purpose built high specification houses that focus on later life living which is then also complemented by additional care facilities.”
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Novus hosted a week-long induction event for local new recruits
National maintenance contractor, Novus Property Solutions, has mobilised a significant contract with Anchor in the North West, closely following commencing work for another contract with Anchor in the South West.
Last year, Novus was awarded two lots on the Anchor Outsourced Responsive Repairs and Asset Investment Works programme, which features a series of deals worth a total of around £1.7bn over 15 years, as England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life pioneers the digitisation of its operations.
The contractor’s work with Anchor in the North West covers a wide geographical spread including Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria. As part of the initial five-year contract, which has the potential to be expanded for a further five plus five years, Novus’s team will be carrying out a series of responsive repairs and voids as well as planned improvements across Anchor’s portfolio in the region.
Steve Gayter, executive director at Novus Property Solutions, said: “We’re proud to have recently begun our work with Anchor in the North West, marking the next stage of our partnership with the organisation.
“The successful mobilisation of both projects with Anchor – located hundreds of miles apart – demonstrates our team’s dedication and skill, and further cements our position as a maintenance contractor of choice across Great Britain.
“We look forward to further building our relationship with Anchor’s team in the North West, as well as making a real difference to communities across the North West through local employment and social value projects.”
Anchor’s chief executive, Sarah Jones, said: “We are pleased to be working with Novus in the North West and South West. Completing repairs and planned property works on time, to a good standard, at a price that represents value for money, is central to our residents’ experience of their homes and it is vital that we get this right.”
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One of the newly refurbished rooms
Salford-based brewer and pub retailer, Hydes, has completed a £235,000 refurbishment of the boutique hotel at The Abel Heywood, located in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter.
This investment follows a multimillion-pound, seven-figure investment programme across its pub estate in 2024, which included a £200,000 refurbishment of the Abel Heywood pub 12 months ago.
The refurbishment of the Abel Heywood’s boutique onsite hotel involved a complete redecoration of all 15 rooms. Each room now features new beds, fixtures, and fittings, along with contemporary decor designed to appeal to modern city break guests.
Over the past year, Hydes has invested more than £430,000 in modernising and refurbishing The Abel Heywood.
Acquired by Hydes in 2014, The Abel Heywood’s hotel facility underwent a rolling closure in January, with no disruption to the pub, bar, and dining facilities during the refurbishment. The on-site boutique hotel, popular with visitors to Manchester, consistently maintains a 99% occupancy rate and is one of the best reviewed hotels in the city.
Alex Allan, appointed as manager of the Abel Heywood in December 2014, has played a crucial role in establishing the Hydes brewery-owned pub as a star attraction in Manchester’s famous Northern Quarter.
Hydes has transformed the premises from an almost derelict, fire-damaged former textile warehouse into the eye-catching landmark building it is today. It first opened its doors to customers in December 2014.
Alex said: “The Abel Heywood is a beloved destination for city centre drinkers and visitors seeking a unique overnight stay. After a decade at the helm, I’ve seen it become an integral part of the Northern Quarter’s identity. The recent refurbishments have been a resounding success, and I am confident that our hotel’s modernisation will have a similar impact, further enhancing our customers’ experience.”
Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes, said: “The Abel Heywood is a cornerstone of our estate, and this latest investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to refurbishing our pubs. With its adjoined boutique hotel, it remains a favourite in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and this investment will help build on the success it has achieved since we acquired it over a decade ago.”
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Department, the flexible workspace operator, has welcomed Hip Pop, the UK’s fastest growing soft drinks brand, as the newest member at its Bonded Warehouse location in St John’s, Manchester.
The innovative soft drinks brand joins Department’s community of more than 1,500 members in Manchester, benefiting from a workspace designed to support business growth with premium amenities and world class networks across St John’s and Spinningfields.
Over the past year, Department has experienced significant growth, with 2024 occupancy rates across its four locations across the North West region averaging at an impressive 97%, reflecting the increasing demand for flexible, creative workspaces.
One hundred per cent of Department’s existing leases have been renewed for 2025.
Kenny Goodman, co-founder of Hip Pop Drinks, said: “It’s great to be part of such an inspiring and dynamic space in Manchester. We needed a workspace that could support our exciting growth plans without compromising on Hip Pop’s brand personality – we’re doing things differently, and we wanted our workspace to reflect that.”
Lauren Allen-Musgrave, marketing director of Department, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Hip Pop team and support their business – not only through our workspaces and creative studios but also by stocking their drinks in our hospitality venues.”
