The planning application for St. Michael’s – a transformational development in the heart of Manchester – has now been submitted
Following two public consultations with local residents, businesses and city stakeholders, plans for St. Michael’s have now been finalised and submitted to Manchester City Council.
The final submitted plans comprise a 201-bed five-star hotel, 159 apartments, 138,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space and 49,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure space, including two new sky bars and restaurants. St. Michael’s will also feature three striking public spaces within a strategically located site, adjacent to Manchester’s Town Hall.
The most significant change to the development’s initial design is the appearance of the two main towers. Following feedback and further assessment, the team has made the decision to change the buildings from black to anodised bronze.
Gary Neville, Director of Jackson’s Row Developments Limited, said: “Having worked on this site for over ten years, it is extremely exciting to finally reach this milestone and submit the planning application for St. Michael’s. The scheme will transform an underused part of the city and will offer an incredible statement in architecture and development for Manchester.
“Ken Shuttleworth has a rich history in pushing boundaries and helping cities expand and evolve through architecture.”
“We are equally proud to have included three world class public spaces within the project.
St. Michael’s Square, The Garden and The Steps will provide a remarkable addition to the City’s ever-growing outdoor lifestyle. This development will protect the employment of the individuals that currently work within the land ownership and will also generate 1500 jobs within the proposed scheme.
“St. Michael’s has received significant coverage both locally and nationally. We have undertaken extensive public consultation and have taken on board comments wherever possible from Historic England, PlacesMatter! and the general public. The imagery we have issued today is the final proposal and our hope is to be on site by the end of Summer 2017.”
On his involvement with St. Michael’s, Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects said: “St Michael’s shows the evolution of a city at a time when it is crucial to keep ahead of the game. It is a scheme for Manchester, with people and place at its heart. We are really pleased to see it entered for planning permission, having worked so hard with the development team for a number of years.
“In response to the consultation process, the design of the building façade has evolved including lightening the colour to a softer bronzed aluminium that will change the towers’ appearance in different lights and times of the day and responds to the material tones already in the conservation area. We have also improved connectivity and accessibility between the lower and upper squares which has created more active frontage onto St Michaels Square.”
Situated in the Jackson’s Row area, St. Michael’s is surrounded by a number of key regeneration areas such as the Civic Quarter, Spinningfields and St. Johns. The 700,000 sq ft project is designed by internationally renowned Make Architects and will become a landmark scheme for the city of Manchester, generating 500 jobs during construction. In addition, it is estimated that St. Michael’s will generate in the region of 1,500 new jobs approximately 1,100 of which will be associated with the proposed offices, 200 for the hotel and 180 for the associated retail/leisure floor space;
A report issued by PlacesMatter! on 8th August 2016, following consultation with the St. Michael’s development team summarised: ‘This development has the potential to be the catalyst which would help bridge the link to a regenerated Great Northern Square and change the character of streets in the vicinity.’
‘This project can stitch the wider neighbourhood together and provide opportunities for more regeneration to occur beyond the red line boundary and to interface with the city blocks particularly to the south.’
The St. Michael’s planning application was submitted by the applicant’s Planning Consultant, Zerum Consult.
