Manchester Piccadilly: Plans unveiled to build 28-storey apartment block on land behind railway station

Plans for a new apartment block that would stand up to 28-storeys tall and ‘redefine the Manchester skyline’ have been revealed.

A public consultation has been launched on proposals to build 359 homes on ‘disused’ land behind Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station at the corner of Sparkle Street and Store Street.

The development, which is being proposed by full service construction company JRL Group and development manager Central and Urban, would go up to 28-floors high, with part of the building being 10 storeys high.

Of the new homes, 354 would be apartments, ranging from one to two bedroom, and there would also be five town houses on Store Street. The town houses would be ‘integrated’ into the 10-storey element of the building, which would include rooftop terraces for future residents on the first and 10th floors.

“The 28-floor residential building will redefine the Manchester skyline whilst also blending in and complement the heritage of the surrounding area,” the consultation website states.

The developer says the proposals have been developed to respond to the aspirations set out within the Manchester Piccadilly Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF). This sets out a vision for the regeneration of the area surrounding Manchester Piccadilly train station and proposed HS2 station.

Paul Cummins, Development Director at JRL Group, said: “Once an overlooked area within the city centre, this part of Piccadilly is now at the heart of the action – linking the fast-growing Ancoats and New Islington neighbourhoods with the Northern Quarter and the rest of the city centre. This is a highly sustainable location for new homes, with exceptional public transport links and a host of amenities nearby. We’re committed to supporting the ongoing regeneration of this part of the city, contributing to the ongoing transformation of Manchester into an economic and cultural powerhouse, and providing significant improvements locally.”

The consultation will run until Sunday, July 23. As part of the consultation process, information will be presented at a public drop-in event on Thursday, July 20 at the Malmaison Hotel (1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1, 3AQ) between 4pm-7pm.

Further information about the proposals can be found on the consultation website at www.sparklestreetconsultation.co.uk.