Fresh plans for new office block in Manchester city centre next to Victoria station revealed

A new office block planned next to Victoria Station in the centre of Manchester has been redesigned.

The second phase of the New Victoria development in the city centre was set to be a predominantly glass building with eight storeys of office floorspace.

But new plans recently submitted to Manchester City Council reveal a different design with red brick, terracotta dressings and three rooftop terraces.

The 10-storey building would be taller than the previous proposal, but offer a similar amount of office floorspace with roof terraces on the top three floors.

It comes nearly nine months after Morgan Capital acquired the site off Corporation Street where 520 apartments are already under construction.

The London-based developer then appointed a new design team, led by architect Piercy & Co, to redesign Muse Developments’ previous plans.

What has been said about the new design and how far has the project got?

A spokesperson for Morgan Capital said: “[We] sought to design a new office building of exceptional quality that will provide both architectural longevity and enhancement to the immediate townscape, and also provide market leading [environmental, social and governance] credentials and tenant amenity.

“All being well, we will look to start on site by year end and complete in Q4 2024.”

The first phase of the New Victoria development is already under construction with two residential buildings featuring 520 apartments planned on the site.

Last year, Muse sold the Phase 2 site, where an eight-storey office block was planned, to Toriview Ltd – a private family office working with Morgan Capital.

Why has the design been changed?

According to documents submitted with the latest planning application, the previous proposal ‘no longer meets current market requirements’ which have ‘rapidly evolved’ through the pandemic as working models have changed.

The new proposal also promises to be more environmentally sustainable.

The 10-storey office development would feature 18,101 square metres of office space, including a mezzanine floor and three roof terraces in total.

There would also be some commercial retail floorspace at ground level.

A total of 90 cycle parking spaces would be available within the development, with all but six in a large secure store, but no car parking is planned on the site.

The scheme is set to create a number of construction-based jobs and accommodate up to 800 workers, support staff and indirect employees.

Work is set to start on site in 2023 with the office expected to open towards the end of 2024, according to the planning statement by Deloitte LLP.

It says: “The proposed development will deliver both short and long term benefits to Manchester economically, socially and environmentally.

“It will make a strategic contribution to the objectives of the City Council, Greater Manchester Region and Northern Powerhouse agenda.”