Whitbread and Dominvs Group submit plans for a mixed-use, office and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme at One Medlock Street in Manchester. The proposals mark the third time that Dominvs Group has partnered with Whitbread.
Situated within Manchester City Council’s First Street Development Framework area and forming part of the City’s Southern Gateway, proposals will see the demolition of the existing five-storey Premier Inn hotel and the introduction of 36,000 sqm of flexible, Grade A office space, with access to external amenity space on each floor.
Adjoining the office building will be PBSA offering providing 1,014 professionally managed student rooms. The scheme is designed to incorporate a step back from existing residents at City South. The PBSA development is situated near the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
“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. While contributing to the continued regeneration of the First Street area through new community amenities and green spaces, One Medlock will provide much-needed student housing in a city where over 50,000 students lack access to PBSA.
“Dominvs Group’s portfolio ranges from hotels to residential and office spaces, and we are constantly expanding our £2.4bn pipeline by working with universities, local councils and other local stakeholders to meet the most pressing demands of those communities.
“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.”
Jay Ahluwalia, Principal Director, Dominvs Group
The One Medlock Street site includes a new public realm – including a landscaped pocket park and rain garden. The plans also aim to improve permeability in the area by creating green streets connecting the site to the wider First Street Regeneration.
The site has been designed by a design team including local architecture studio Jon Matthew Architects, who have led the design of several developments in Manchester – including Axis, Oxygen, and Brazennose House – and Planit-IE, a landscape architect that aims to deliver transformative regeneration projects in Manchester.
The proposals for One Medlock Street expect to support 475 jobs and produce a £198m productivity increase during construction. Once completed, the scheme will provide room for 2,200 office jobs and is expected to contribute £1.6m in business rates per annum.
“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.
“As well as generating funds to reinvest in our network, the development will meet the demand for high-quality office accommodation in the city and deliver much-needed student accommodation within Manchester city centre.
“The team has worked extremely hard to produce this proposal, having engaged with the public, and we are proud to be a part of the regeneration and continued growth of Manchester.”
Richard Pearson, Senior Development Manager, Whitbread
