Kamani and Capital&Centric submit £50m Ancoats Works plans
The developers are aiming to build 193 homes on the historic Manchester site, as well as a community hangout space.
Located on the corner of Carruthers Street and Pollard Street, the Ancoats Work site is currently a vacant storage depot. Kamani Property Group and Capital&Centric want to transform it into a thriving community.
If Manchester City Council approves the application, the developers said work could start on the site in early 2023.
BDP designed the scheme and Avison Young is the planning consultant. The Ancoats Works project includes apartments, duplexes and townhouses. The apartments will be one- and two-bedroom homes. The duplexes will have three bedrooms.
The historic Ancoats Work façade would be retained and, in an effort to restore the canalside, lighting and planting would be added.
“The design strikes the perfect blend between old and new – retaining parts of the historic building with the iconic ‘Ancoats Works’ signage, whilst creating design-led homes on what’s currently a pretty unloved, industrial site,” said Kamani Property chief executive Adam Kamani.
“As well as new homes, we plan to deliver stunning outdoor spaces and improve the canalside, making the space much more welcoming with real character.”
An undecided community hangout space is also included in the plans, with the developers noting it could be either a new store, café, or bar.
Adam Higgins, co-founder of Capital&Centric, said he was excited to get the project going.
“At our communities in Piccadilly East and Kampus, we’ve seen first-hand that Manchester’s diverse neighbourhoods are attracting a real mix of people wanting to put down roots in the city,” Higgins said.
“More and more, young families, retirees and downsizers are wanting to call the city home, as well as the more stereotypical young professionals. Ancoats Works responds to that, with a mix of townhouses and apartments to help foster a diverse neighbourhood, as well as spaces like the corner café bar and gardens where a genuine community can bond and grow.”
News of the planned Ancoats Works project was first covered by Place North West in September last year. A community consultation on the scheme was held in November.
It really is a disgrace that they’re looking to demolish that gorgeous old pub for something that looks like a blue-tiled, miniature version of the Arndale Tower.
The rest of the development is really quite bland too and with barely any balconies!!
By Byronic
This is lush, we live opposite, kept hoping someone would sort it out – looks better than I’d imagined !
By Clare Seymor
Gratifyingly there seems to be at least an attempt at providing balconies here, even if they don’t look big enough to put a table and chairs on. Does that mean MCC’s planning department has capitulated on its rather strange aesthetic preference and realised that they’re actually a basic amenity that people value?
Nice to see mix of apartment sizes including duplex units. This will hopefully attract a range of household types in an neighbourhood that’s traditionally played host to more family-type housing.
Agree, shame about the pub but I do like the green tiles.
By Balcony watch
Are they going to put this on hold too ? As there is a successful derelict warehouse.
By Anonymous
Get it approved. Reclaiming wasteland in this area is most welcome. Shame the pub goes, but can’t see how it reasonably can be saved.
By Tom
It’s a bit safe and bland for C&C. Not a patch on Kampus. Then again, when you go into partnership with another property developer, namely Kamani, you have to take both parties ideas and wishes onboard.
By jrb
I do like the design but not sure about the green.
Good to see rid of that pub, when I stop at the lights I always wonder how many years it has been empty for.
By RT
Disgraceful the old Bank of England PH is set to go for a similarly sized building! It’s a waste.
The new build element is pretty poor too and I hope they will save the canalside facade of The Works; it’s a really special piece of architecture.
Overall, not impressed.
By 1981
I welcome the 20% affordable homes commitment. Social impact development at its best! Well done.
By Well done
I flippin love this!
By Dave Melka
Claiming this green corner cafe will foster more “genuine community” than refurbishing the existing pub is ludicrous.
I think it looks like a solid worthwhile development – but knocking down the pub makes no sense. Even from pure financials – imagine how much more saleable flats are if you redeveloped the pub geared towards your new residents (entrances onto both the street and onto the development courtyard) and set up a trendy young landlord / microbrewer?
By W