National regeneration specialist Oval Real Estate has launched a public consultation on its emerging plans to redevelop the Albert Bridge House site on Bridge Street and create a welcoming, sustainable new city centre destination.
The site is located between Bridge Street, the River Irwell, St Mary’s Parsonage and Trinity Bridge in Manchester city centre, and includes Albert Bridge House – the 18-storey office building currently occupied by HMRC – as well as the adjacent Bridge Street car park.
Manchester City Council listed the site as one of the most significant redevelopment opportunities within the St Mary’s Parsonage Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF), which was endorsed in 2020. Located on key access routes between Deansgate, Spinningfields and Salford, the SRF identified the opportunity for a high density commercial-led development to rejuvenate this overlooked corner of the city centre and mark an important gateway into Manchester.
Although Oval places a strong emphasis on renovating and repurposing existing buildings, the plans for the Albert Bridge House site have always envisaged the replacement of the existing buildings on the site. Albert Bridge House was purpose-built in the 1950s as a tax office and, with HMRC vacating later this year, the building has come to the end of its logical lifespan.
The complete redevelopment of the site presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine this key location, especially by opening up access to the riverside and creating high-quality new public realm.
Working with Studio Egret West, Oval has adopted a design approach which looks to sensitively position two new buildings within the site.
A new sustainable office building would provide c350,000 sq. ft. of high-quality and flexible workspace, designed to meet the needs of a range of occupiers. 19 storeys at its highest, the office building employs a radical stepped design, with a cascade of green terraces and rooftop spaces to create a truly unique façade.
A taller, landmark residential tower would be positioned at the southern end of the site. Providing 367 new Build-to-Rent homes, the hexagonally-designed building would step up from 34 to 45 storeys in height, and would help to meet the continued high demand for city centre living.
At the ground floor, there would be spaces for shops, cafés or restaurants, helping to attract footfall to this burgeoning part of the city centre and making the most of the reinvigorated riverside environment.
James Craig, Founding Partner of Oval Real Estate, said:
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to breathe new life into the Albert Bridge House site, which is bursting with potential due to its gateway location between Deansgate, Spinningfields and Salford.
“Our developments are always design-led, and we have been clear from the start about the level of ambition needed for such a prestigious site. We’re confident these architecturally leading new buildings will add something completely different to the Manchester skyline and create a welcoming and sustainable new destination for the city.”
“As a business, we specialise in bringing overlooked spaces back into the limelight and that is exactly what we aim to do here: our plans look to revitalise the site’s riverfront setting and create exceptional new public realm to be enjoyed by new and existing members of the community. As part of this consultation process, we’re excited to share our plans with the Manchester public and are looking forward to hearing their thoughts.”
The consultation will be open until Sunday 9 October. Further information about the proposals and how to have your say can be found on the consultation website at www.albertbridgehouse-mcr.com. As part of the consultation process, information will be presented at a public drop-in event at the Lowry Hotel on Tuesday 27 September(from 3pm to 7pm).
