McLaren Property, Property Alliance Group (Alliance), Moda Living and Kadans Science Partner are working collaboratively to deliver a masterplan vision for Upper Brook Street, Ardwick in Manchester. The parties involved are working with Manchester City Council, to transform the suite of sites and deliver an exemplary new neighbourhood for the city.

The consortium has today launched a public consultation (13 March 2023), revealing its integrated masterplan vision, by architects Hawkins Brown, Sheppard Robson and SimpsonHaugh. The plans would bring forward a new mixed-use development, providing much needed life sciences space and purpose-built student accommodation.

The masterplan proposals also include community facilities and public uses, which could include facilities such as a GP surgery, a new community centre, retail and cafes.

The plans will open up Upper Brook Street, connecting the separate sites, to create a new district with a brand new public square at its heart, providing more than two acres of new public realm and vital green amenity space, designed by Reform, for residents, workers and the local community. The plans also include improvements to key pedestrian routes and cycle connections and will ensure the new neighbourhood is connected to the wider area, and the city.

The masterplan is expected to deliver almost 6,000 new jobs to the area and economic benefits of more than £450m.

McLaren Property working alongside Kadans will deliver 740 student bedspaces and 218,556 sq ft of purpose built technical real estate respectively. The new sci tech floor space will be developed by Kadans’ in-house team whilst the student accommodation will be developed by McLaren Property. McLaren

Property has delivered £1.5bn developments to date and 6,500 beds with circa 8,000 beds in the pipeline, corresponding to a development value of £1.4bn.

Alliance and Moda Living will deliver 470,000 sq ft of life sciences and circa 1,100 student accommodation beds (200 affordable), along with complementary mixed-use space. The student beds are the first to be announced in Moda Living’s 4,000-bed student accommodation pipeline. Operated by Moda for the long term, the homes will have a focus on health, wellbeing and resident experience.

The integrated masterplan follows the key themes and design principles expressed within the Oxford Road Corridor Strategic Regeneration Framework (ORSRF), to deliver on the councils’ vision for this important strategic site. Avison Young is working alongside the parties as planning consultant on the Upper Brook Street masterplan.

David Atherton, Development Director, McLaren Property, said “We are excited to be part of a collective effort to regenerate this suite of disused sites. It is a fantastic opportunity to reimagine this area of Ardwick working with local people, to help set a new direction of positive change.

The delivery of new sci-tech led workspaces, student homes, green spaces and jobs can together transform the way in which these sites contribute to the local area and help support its future economic growth. We are excited to progress discussions with local stakeholders and the community as the plans continue to evolve.

James Sheppard, Managing Director, Kadans Science Partner said “The plans are a result of a collaborative vision to transform and create a new mixed-use neighbourhood. The Manchester science & technology market is growing significantly and desperately requires more highly technical real estate to meet the demand. To address the ever-changing sci-tech landscape, robustness and adaptability continue drive and inform our industry leading spaces to promote collaboration and innovation.

Alex Russell, Property Alliance Group (Alliance), said “This masterplan provides an exciting opportunity to unlock and breathe new life into what is a historically rich and vibrant inner-city neighbourhood.

Residents, students and employees are at the heart of our plans, bringing forward a desirable destination to live and work, with green space, fantastic and much-needed amenities and a place of study and work that attracts and retains the best talent.

We aim to create a space that is not only recognised internationally for its advanced Life Science facilities and talent pool, but in doing so, creates a safe, thriving community for everyone that lives, works and passes through it

“We look forward to sharing detailed plans and further partnerships joining on this hugely anticipated collaboration.”Oscar Brooks, Co-Founder and Director at Moda Living, said “Upper Brook Street is an extremely exciting masterplan that will completely transform this key central site into a thriving new urban community in the heart of the city.

“Manchester has one of the most vibrant and exciting student scenes in the country, but as a city has been highly underserved in the delivery of secure, high-quality homes for those students. Moda’s student homes at the Upper Brook Street neighbourhood will help address that shortage with a focus on wellbeing and student experience, and with social and environmental sustainability at the core of the development.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Alliance, McLaren and Manchester City Council to create an outstanding new part of Manchester.