Simpson Plans Another Manchester Tower

Simpson Plans Another Manchester Tower

Ian Simpson Architects and Allied London Properties are working together on a new 30 floor tower in the city of Manchester.

Occupying the 10 storey Manchester House redevelopment site next to the Spinningfields district, it's understood that the scheme will be a typically slender Simpson block with a mixture of residential accommodation and hotel space within totalling about 30,000 square metres. If built the tower should come in at about 90 metres in height.

Before the scheme can progress however, the developer needs to buy the land that it will occupy, something that has been complicated by the decision of the owners, the local Freemasons who have decided to sell it on the open market rather than deal exclusively with Allied London meaning that Allied London will need to be the top bidder if they wish to secure the site for construction.

The site currently includes the grade 2 listed Freemasons Hall that will have to be sensitively incorporated into any future redevelopment thanks to its heritage status.

Despite these difficulties the plot should be a valuable addition to any developer's portfolio - it backs directly on to one of the prime areas of development in Manchester. Spinningfields has already seen the under construction Civil Justice Centre, not to mention a planned skyscraper by Foster and Partners at 1 Hardman Square and a selection of top spec lower-rise office buildings.

Allied London may well be angry with the decision by the Manchester Freemasons to sell on the open market but from the perspective of the owner, it's the commercially sensible approach to take in trying to get the maximum return from a highly valuable asset.

try shakeology
bags under eyes