Forshaw’s Manchester tower in line for redesign on fire safety

With planning permission and funding in place, the developer is amending plans for its Cornbrook apartment and aparthotel scheme, which requires a second staircase.

Forshaw Land & Property Group was granted planning permission for a 24-storey development in Manchester last year. The approved scheme comprises 237 apartments and an 88-key aparthotel.

Earlier this year, the developer secured a £62.4m loan to construct the project, its largest to date.

However, the make-up of the development – including height and number of units – could now change as the developer looks to redesign the project.

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Forshaw has sought to amend the description of the project with Manchester’s planners. Documents lodged with Manchester City Council by consultant Lichfields state that “it has become apparent” that “an additional fire-fighting staircase” is required in order for the scheme to comply with building safety legislation.

The requirement for a second staircase for buildings taller than 18 metres was confirmed by the government in April 2024, a few months after Forshaw lodged its plans for the project.

However, the rule’s introduction had been trailed long before that and developers in Manchester had sought to add second staircases into the designs of their schemes as far back as 2023.

Fusion’s South Deansgate student scheme and Clarion’s Great Ducie Street residential development were among those that were redesigned in anticipation of changing legislation prior to April 2024 announcement.

Forshaw “remains committed to delivering the scheme on the site at the earliest possible opportunity”, planning documents state.

The extent of the changes to the project is not yet known and will be the subject of a separate planning application.