The first residents of Europe’s largest co-living development have moved in as phase one of Square Gardens completes.
The £400 million development, located within the bustling First Street neighbourhood in Manchester, offers a mix of accommodation options and fantastic amenity spaces.
This week marked the official opening of Acer Tower (phase one), which offers renters a choice of shared 3-5 bed co-living apartments, studios and one-bedroom apartments.
With community at its core, Square Gardens will offer more than 1,700 homes across Acer Tower and The Fernley (opening spring 2025). It has been designed to help bring people together, to connect and share experiences.
On-site facilities include a state-of-the-art gym and wellness centre, social lounges, co-working spaces and the largest private outdoor gardens and terraces in the city centre.
Within their rental package, residents have access to super-fast Wi-Fi, a 24/7 onsite management team and extensive shared amenities and services, while all utility bills are also included.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the development will be given BREEAM Excellent rating, an EPC Energy Rating A, plus air source heat pumps will provide hot water.
With construction having started in January 2022, Square Gardens has been created using a vertically integrated approach, with development, construction and ongoing management all being delivered by Downing.
And, following the first phase launch, Downing is looking forward to bringing the next part of Square Gardens to life early next year.
Bay Downing, investment director at Downing, said: “With Square Gardens, we wanted to bring something new to city centre living.
“We know that, when choosing where to create a home, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Residents’ needs depend on a whole range of factors, from their occupation and their daily schedule, through to how and where they like to socialise.
“This new development encompasses these needs with the offering of co-living spaces, individual studios or apartments, with the additional option of community-centred activities and amenities.
“We firmly believe that Square Gardens will fill a major gap in the rental market within the city centre, ensuring residents have a breadth of choice while, crucially, being able to tailor options to their lifestyles.
“We’re excited to be launching the first phase and looking forward to welcoming our new residents and ensuring they settle into their brand-new homes.”
