Luxury apartments scheme next to gay village gets approval

A luxury development of 351 apartments on the corner of Whitworth Street and Princess Street on the doorstep of Manchester’s gay village has been given the go-head by the city council’s planning committee.

To be known as Manchester New Square, Urban & Civic’s scheme will comprise three residential buildings, surrounding an “attractively landscaped and tranquil square”.

At ground floor level there will be a mixture of artisan restaurants and retailers, along with a residents’ gym and 24-hour concierge.

Philip Leech, property director at Urban & Civic, said: “This is very good news. The site has been vacant for a number of years and everyone will be pleased to see our high quality development start on site this spring.

“Manchester New Square will deliver the best new apartments in the city for at least a decade.”

The scheme, which has been designed by Simpson Haugh, will be launched in Manchester at the end of April, from a show suite opposite the site in Princess  Street.

Apartments will be available to purchase off plan and the first phase will be completed by summer 2019.

The new scheme will comprise three individual buildings, ranging in height from 11 to 15 storeys.

Eve Grant, assistant director at Deloitte Real Estate, which worked on the scheme, said: “Urban & Civic’s revised scheme for Princess Street provides a real opportunity to finally deliver, after a number of years, the comprehensive and high quality regeneration of this important site within the city centre. 

“The proposals will provide 351 high quality new homes in a location adjacent to a range of employment, retail and leisure opportunities, contributing to the city’s overall housing requirements and, alongside the active ground floor uses proposed, will enhance this part of the city centre.”