Far East Consortium International has acquired 20 acres from Network Rail to accommodate 1,000 homes in North Manchester.
The purchase forms part of the FEC’s wider residential scheme, known as the Northern Gateway, which seeks to deliver 15,000 homes over the next 20 years in partnership with Manchester City Council.
Located north east of Victoria rail and Metrolink station, the 20 acres feature former railway sidings and the former Red Bank viaduct connection into Victoria, including 17 commercial arches and warehouse units that are home to several entrepreneurial businesses.
Tom Fenton of FEC said: “This is a significant acquisition for the company and for the Northern Gateway joint venture. It enables FEC to deliver the next key phase of this major new residential destination and the beginning of the transformation of this forgotten part of the city into a successful, fully functioning place.
“We will work towards retaining and enhancing the Red Bank viaduct, encouraging the independent and entrepreneurial tenants to remain in the arches and to flourish as the area evolves.”
FEC has also promoted Hilary Brett to project director at FEC with specific responsibilities for the delivery of the first phase of Northern Gateway and also the provision of 80 new homes at Addington Street, New Cross, Manchester.
The Network Rail deal follows the approval by MCC of the Strategic Regeneration Framework for the Northern Gateway in February 2019 and represents FEC’s fourth off-market land transaction in and around the Red Bank area.
Brett joined FEC as development manager in 2017 from planning consultancy HOW Planning LLP where she led the environmental planning team and previously worked at The Environment Partnership. She has more than a decade of experience in the delivery and project management of large-scale planning applications, environment impact assessments and masterplans.
FEC has also doubled headcount at its Manchester office with 10 new arrivals including Anthony Payne as procurement director; Aoibhinn McGinty and Rachel Wong as HR manager.
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