Ask Real Estate has unveiled plans for a 40-storey residential tower and major office scheme on the site of the former Bauer Millett showrooms in Manchester.
Designed by SimpsonHaugh and Partners, the tower will comprise 350 flats. The 14-storey office building will provide 240,000 sq ft of workspace with ground floor space for bars, restaurants and shops along Great Bridgewater Street.
Significant improvements to the pedestrian environment along Great Bridgewater Street are proposed by removing sections of the existing bridge and allowing natural light down to street level to create a more welcoming place.
Large areas of proposed high-quality public realm include a new route and vertical circulation linking Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop and Deansgate rail station to the city centre via Watson Street.
AREL acquired the 1.74-acre Bauer Millett showrooms last year and have been working with architect Ian Simpson to develop the mixed-use scheme, which is adjacent to Beetham Tower and Manchester Central.
The total scheme will comprise over 750,000 sq ft of new residential and commercial space and will be brought forward in a partnership between Ask, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester Central.
John Hughes, AREL’s managing director, said: “Our scheme will be a visionary development, something which only a few years ago would have been almost impossible to imagine happening outside of London.
“The huge levels of investment we have seen into Manchester’s infrastructure coupled with efforts by the universities to attract and retain talent has seen an upturn in graduate retention and consequently an influx of businesses looking to establish themselves in the city centre.
“In turn, this has driven demand for new hotels, retail and leisure outlets – the development of which has boosted the city’s economy.
“These factors mean it is now time for us to unlock previously hidden opportunities and the Bauer Millett showrooms is a strong example of this concept.”
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