UK: Whitbread and Dominvs Group have formed a JV to develop a mixed-use 1,014-bed PBSA scheme at One Medlock Street in Manchester.
The scheme, located on the Deansgate Premier Inn site, close to the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University campuses, will consist of two new buildings providing PBSA space on 37 floors, as well as a 13-plus-floor commercial office building. The student tower will also feature more than 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail and leisure space.
Plans for the office building, which will adjoin the PBSA site, include around 387,500 square feet of office space and external amenity spaces.
Jay Ahluwalia, principal director at Dominvs Group, said: “We’ve worked in partnership with Whitbread to create a mixed-use scheme that will provide an attractive, sustainable and well-connected hub for work, study and living in a huge boost to Manchester’s Southern Gateway. After careful consultation with the wider community, we are pleased to submit this application to Manchester City Council to serve the needs of the community in the First Street area and the wider city at large.”
Richard Pearson, senior development manager at Whitbread, added: “Manchester is one of the most popular locations for Premier Inn customers in the UK and we want to ensure our hotels in the city provide a consistently high standard of accommodation for our guests. Working with Dominvs we now have the opportunity to realise the true potential of the Medlock Street site by creating high-quality workspace and student accommodation at an important gateway to the city centre.”
Jon Matthews Architects designed the two tall buildings, while Planit-IE created the landscape and public realm strategy. This includes a nine-storey public art piece, a pocket park, and a linear rain garden. Turley is the planning consultant for the project.
