Plans for a new office block in an old Manchester city centre square have been scaled back. The fresh plans for the Parsonage Gardens plot would see a 13-storey office block with a restaurant replace two existing buildings on the site.
It follows feedback on previous proposals for a 16-storey tower which were put forward in late 2020. According to developer Beaconsfield, which owns the No. 1 North Parade and No. 5 Parsonage buildings, concerns were raised that the design was not in keeping with the character of the historic square.
Parsonage Gardens is considered a conservation area due to its history which dates back hundreds of years. The first recorded reference to the plot of land now known as Parsonage Gardens was in 1066, after the Norman Conquest.
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Working with architects Squire and Partners, the developer says the new design for the One North Parade scheme, which is smaller in scale, takes inspiration from the historic architecture of the surrounding area, making it 'distinctive without being overbearing'. The developer has also said that the new building has been designed to the 'highest sustainability standards'.
The family-owned real estate business based in Manchester says that it looked at reusing the existing buildings on the site, but concluded that this redevelopment is 'the only viable option'. The two buildings are still used as office space, but they are now 'largely empty', according to the developer.
Beaconsfield Commercial director Stewart Houlgrave said: "We’re delighted to unveil this elegant, unique and sympathetic design for One North Parade by Squire and Partners. Investment is crucial to realising the full potential of this important site, providing modern, sustainable office space to attract and retain occupiers.
"It will also help to unlock some of the wider improvements needed to make the Parsonage Gardens neighbourhood more vibrant and accessible. We’ve worked to address concerns raised at the previous consultation and are keen to hear feedback from the community on the revised design."
Murray Levinson from Squire and Partners said: "We are proud to be working in Manchester again, with the prospect of revitalising this historic and overlooked area of the city centre. We’ve taken feedback from the community and the conservation area guidance as our starting point to develop a design that enhances a sense of place. The façade of the building takes inspiration from the surrounding architecture, referencing a number of characteristic features, including the use of brick and stone as primary materials”.
A consultation on the new proposal will be open until July 16. As part of the consultation process, a drop-in event will be held at No.1 North Parade, on Thursday (July 6) from 4pm to 7pm, allowing people who are interested in the plans to meet the team, find out more about the proposals and ask questions.
For more information about the new proposal, visit the consultation website.
