Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester

Transforming Manchester’s Grade II* listed landmark

Sweco is providing Approved Inspector and building control services to a £294m development involving Manchester City Centre’s historic and much-loved Grade-II listed Great Northern Warehouse.

The complex development will see Great Northern Warehouse and its connected buildings transformed into 120,000 sq ft of quality workspace for c.1,800 people and 30,000 sq ft of commercial space, while the attached Leisure Box site will make space for three high-rise towers housing c.750 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments, with a 929-space car park beneath.

Our experts are assisting the design team in navigating a clear track to building compliance in the complex mixed-use scheme. Challenges include meeting upcoming changes to the regulatory regime, working on listed buildings, and ensuring minimal disruption to existing businesses and residents within the scheme’s footprint.

The three residential towers will reach 112m, 92m and 52m in height and will be built out of an existing building in close proximity to Deansgate Terrace and Great Northern Warehouse. While challenging, this presents a significant opportunity to introduce innovative carbon reduction and carbon capture strategies, techniques and materials, all whilst meeting building regulations.

Appointed in early 2022 to assist in the preparations for a planning application, we will consult for approximately two years before construction commences, allowing the architect to accommodate building regulations requirements into the heart of the scheme.