Parthena Reys unveils plans to reinvent One Hardman Boulevard
Having acquired the 350,000 sq ft former NatWest office in Manchester’s Spinningfields last year, the investor is pressing ahead with plans to transform and reposition the building.
Parthena Reys has submitted an application with Manchester City Council to overhaul the mammoth One Hardman Boulevard in a bid to make it more attractive to occupiers and “set a new standard for the city”.
The proposals, designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, will see the central core widened to create a series of juxtaposed terraces.
The building will be re-launched as The Metropolitan and provide floorplates of 39,000 sq ft, as well as a roof terrace.
From an ESG perspective, The Metropolitan will perform “exceptionally well”, due to the repurposing of the existing structure and the subsequent locking in of embodied carbon, according to the developer.
“Our proposals will ensure a building brimming with personality and activity,” said Jonas Mallard director at Parthena Reys.
“The ground and first floors will be fully adaptable to meet tenant’s need of hospitality, wellness, meeting rooms, collaboration areas, events and workspace.
The link between terraces and the lower floors will create a “village community”, aimed to fostering the perfect working environment for today’s professionals. Our building amenity and service will set a new standard for the city”.
To learn more about the scheme, search for reference number 141199/FO/2024 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
Subject to planning approval, construction work is expected to start mid-2025 and will complete in 2026.
The project team includes Simpson Haugh Architects, Gardiner Theobald, Cundalls, OFR, Renaissance, Ashton Hale, Project 4 Safety and Hann Tucker. The appointed leasing advisors are OBI and CBRE.
NatWest sold One Hardman Boulevard to Parthena Reys late last year for around £70m. The bank vacated the building in autumn as part of its decision to consolidate into 150,000 sq ft One Spinningfields Square.
This level of investment in 350k of offices must finally put the debate to bed…………wfh has definitely killed off the office .market!¡
By Anonymous
Anonymous: you’re completely wrong. This is exactly what modern businesses want and will demonstrably pay higher rents for. Offices is the wrong word to use, office buildings are now mixed use workplace buildings, and that can many things to different businesses. The office market is shrinking, with a the best quality prospering and the weakest fading away by conversion to the other uses, but you suggesting that the investment into this building shows that hybrid working (not so much working from home) has killed the office market is complete nonsense. It is clear you don’t understand the market.
By Office Expert
Another hotel identifying as an office
By Anonymous