Major Manchester office projects to move forward

Two major office schemes, rising to 17 storeys and 14 storeys respectively, look set to take a step forward after being recommended for the green light by Manchester City Council planners, paving the way for the creation of thousands of jobs in the city.The first application, for Speakers House at 39 Deansgate, at the junction of Deansgate and St Marys Gate, was tabled by Kames Property Income Fund.It proposes the construction of a 17-storey office tower following the demolition of existing buildings at the site, which date back to the 1960s. The plans also include a roof terrace/garden, a new electricity sub station and 96 cycle parking spaces in the basement.If work goes ahead, the new building would provide a gross office floorspace of about 197,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft of flexible floorspace. The project could also create 227 gross construction jobs and 1,000 full-time equivalent operational jobs.In a document filed ahead of next week’s meeting, council planners said the Deansgate scheme “would have a positive impact on the regeneration of this part of the city centre”.The second application, for One City Road near Mancunian Way, was filed by Commercial Development Projects Ltd. The plot is bounded by City Road East, Medlock Street, River Street and Shortcroft Street.The scheme proposes two buildings of 11 and 14 storeys with amenity terraces and a ground floor commercial unit, as well as more than 500 cycle parking spaces.The £130m project could create thousands of construction jobs and will have the capacity for 2,900 workers once complete.