Plans to redevelop Deansgate’s iconic Kendal Milne building and adjacent car park into world class office and retail space were submitted today, following a positive consultation with local businesses and communities.
In its recent Recovery and Investment Plan, following an unprecedented year of challenges, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the demand for high quality, sustainable workspace in the city is continuing and creating more will be essential in helping to restore economic momentum and drive the recovery.
If approved, the ‘Kendals’ development – drawn up by the site’s owner, Investec, and Manchester-based Sheppard Robson Architects – will deliver around 500,000 sq ft of much needed office space to the city centre. This will be achieved by reviving the landmark Grade II Listed building and completely replacing the multi-storey car park building behind it.
In total, the site is expected to support almost 4,000 jobs and inject over £300 million into the local economy every year.
Crucially, the scheme will still provide a generous and more sustainable amount of retail and leisure space on the ground and lower ground floors, including an active frontage along Deansgate – seen as a major positive by those who contributed to the public consultation last year.
From the feedback received, it was also apparent that any development in the area should look to create a more attractive and accessible environment in the St Mary’s Parsonage neighbourhood.
Plans would therefore see the creation of a welcoming public space that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists – directly supporting Manchester City Council’s ambitions to introduce more integrated public realm, encourage environmentally-friendly travel methods, and reduce carbon emissions in the city centre.
Mickey Nurtman, Structured Property Finance at Investec, commented:
“I am pleased that we have now submitted the planning application for this truly significant scheme.The comments we received throughout the consultation were incredibly insightful and constructive,and helped us to fine tune our plans over recent months. I would like to thank all those who took the time to provide feedback.
“We are proud to be leading on a scheme that protects and celebrates an iconic building like Kendals, ensuring it remains a focal point of Deansgate for many years to come. Our plans also contribute to the Council’s vision for a zero-carbon city centre with fewer cars and more attractive public realm.
“This is a major investment in the city of Manchester – it will create and retain jobs, and contribute to the region’s post-Covid economic recovery.”
If the plans are approved in the Spring, work is expected to get underway at the beginning of 2022.
