Kendals building development set for thumbs up

Plans to redevelop the Kendals building on Deansgate and the adjacent car park into a landmark office and retail space look set to be backed.If approved, the project – drawn up by the site’s owner Investec and Sheppard Robson Architects – would bring forward about 500,000 sq ft.This would be achieved by reviving the grade II-listed building and completely replacing the multi-storey car park building behind it.In total, it would be expected to support almost 4,000 jobs and inject more than £300m into the economy every year.Lined up is repurposing floors one to nine of the Kendal Milne building to create office space, while the ground level would become commercial outlets. A three-storey rooftop extension would also be built.Proposed elsewhere is demolishing the adjacent Fraser Building and replacing it with a 14-storey asset.Approval has been recommended, with Manchester City Council’s planning committee meeting on 3 June.