Vita plots tower on Manchester’s Port Street
The developer, part of Select Property Group, is readying a planning application for a residential tower in excess of 30 storeys within the Piccadilly Basin development zone, according to market sources.
It is understood Vita has agreed to acquire the site from Leeds-based developer Town Centre Securities.
A company named Manchester Port Street was incorporated last month, listing Vita Group’s Mark Stott, Giles Beswick, Mark Dawson and Michael Slater as its directors.
The plot, which is bordered by Great Ancoats Street and Port Street, is earmarked for a residential tower in excess of 30 storeys, according the Piccadilly Basin strategic regeneration framework.
The SRF also states the site could accommodate around 230 units.
Vita is understood to be working with architect SimpsonHaugh to draw up plans for the scheme. Vita has been contacted for comment, while SimpsonHaugh and TCS declined to comment.
Belgravia Living Group, a joint venture between TCS and Highgrove Group, owns several properties and sites that fall within the Piccadilly Basin framework.
The site is on the corner of Great Ancoats Street and Port Street
Belgravia completed the redevelopment of Brownsfield Mill in Manchester in partnership with Urban Splash earlier this year, as well as the 91-apartment Burlington House in 2019.
Earlier stages of Piccadilly Basin’s regeneration featured the creation of the 160,000 sq ft Urban Exchange Retail Park, a 232-space multistorey car park on Tariff Street, and the Dakota Hotel on Ducie Street.
Elsewhere in Manchester, Vita won approval for a pair of co-living towers on Water Street last September. The firm is to deliver the project alongside Manchester Quays, a joint venture between Allied London and Manchester City Council.
This site has so much potential – it’s looked like a backdrop from “Escape from New York” for long enough now.
By Raimondo
@Raimondo, well I say enough of it looking like “Escape from New York” and let’s make it look like Downtown New York! BUILD IT!
By Manchattan
Please no glass box. This area really needs a sympathetic design and I fear that SimpsonHaugh will ideologically oppose this (but prove me wrong!).
By Robert
Getting tired of SimpsonHaugh towers all over the place. That said all (two of) his towers in the north of the city and on this stretch have been clad in brick. Something similar or even a hint of corten steel would be great here. No glass/coloured glass towers please.
By Andrew
@ Robert, and please no “sympathetic” design with a glass box balanced on top, like they did with Burlington House in the background!
By Bored Engineer
I quite like Ancoats and Piccadilly basin, but its not a good spot for another residential tower. Who would live in them? It would be far better placed amongst the so called Manchattan cluster. I enjoy the Manchester experience but would never want to live there. I am always glad to be home after my visits.
By Liverpool Romance
The whole of the basin area has so much potential but none of these buildings relate or link to each other, there’s no concept of placemaking or how public space could connect. It’s not an attractive area to work or live but could be.
By CityCentre
Aside from all this aesthetic nitpicking, more important is what the affordable housing provision will be. Inequality in Manchester was bad before the pandemic and is now getting worse.
By Realist