Renaker’s Crown Street school moves forward 

Manchester City Council has opened a consultation on proposals for a single-form entry primary school to be located between phases one and two of the developer’s Manchester masterplan. 

The school would have 210 spaces and 26 nursery spaces. 

Renaker is on site delivering three towers across two phases of the Crown Street masterplan. Phase one comprises the completed Victoria Residence, as well as Elizabeth Tower, which is due to complete early next year. 

Phase two is made up of two 51-storey skyscrapers known as Blade and Three60. 

The primary school would be located on a plot between Elizabeth Tower and Blade, and would be the first to open in the city centre since New Islington Free School in 2014. 

Intended to serve families living within Renaker developments in the area, the school would be three storeys with play facilities located on the roof. 

Construction of Blade and Three60 is underway. Credit: via planning documents

Advice from Places Matter encourages Renaker to “seek something extraordinary” in terms of the school’s design and pointed to Antonio Gaudi’s Casa Mila in Barcelona “with its amazing sculptural roofscape” as an exemplar. 

It was originally proposed that the school would be located within the podium connecting Blade and Three60 but this was revised after further consideration of factors including noise and air quality. 

The relocation of the school site also allows for a larger public park as part of Crown Street phase two. 

The project team for Crown Street includes Deloitte as planning consultant and SimpsonHaugh as architect. 

The consultation runs until 15 November.