Plans for real estate company Dominus’ One Medlock Street purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme has been approved by Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee to help solve the student housing crisis.
The scheme will provide over 1,000 beds for the city’s university students, who would otherwise have no choice but to live in privately rented houses.
Manchester City Council’s recently published PBSA Study identifies Dominvs’ One Medlock Street development as one of the key sites committed to helping ease the pressures of the current supply/demand imbalance.
One Medlock Street, which includes two new buildings with 13 and 37 storeys, replaces an existing Premier Inn hotel and is expected to support 475 jobs whilst providing a £198m productivity boost to the local area during construction.
The plans have been designed by award-winning architects Jon Matthews Architects, who have delivered numerous transformative regeneration projects in Manchester – including Axis, Oxygen and Brazennose House and Planit-IE.
“We are pleased to be working 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.
“Our aim is to provide a huge boost to Manchester’s Southern Gateway, contributing to the continued regeneration of the First Street area. Our One Medlock Street scheme will bring high-quality and flexible Grade A offices, much-needed student housing at a location supported by the City Council and a better street-level experience for all.
“Dominus Real Estate’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.
“We are delighted that Manchester City Council have resolved to grant planning permission at Planning Committee. We look forward to starting on-site and delivering this exciting project.”
Jay Ahluwalia, Principal Director, Dominus Real Estate
Current student housing demand levels are increasing at a predicted rate of 3.2% each year.
The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University attract around 45,000 and 36,000 students a year respectively, while only 26,830 professionally managed student beds in Manchester remain available.
One Medlock Street PBSA is expected to lower that number and provide much needed and trustworthy accommodation to students at the universities.
As well as student accommodation, the development – being delivered alongside Whitbread – also includes office space with room for 2,200 jobs, a landscaped pocket park and rain garden, and ‘green streets’ connecting the site to the wider First Street Regeneration Area. Planning was submitted in December 2022.
A piece of public art will also be unveiled to enhance the site.
Once completed, the One Medlock Street scheme is expected to contribute £1.6m in business rates each year.
