Square Gardens

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Square Gardens
Square Gardens Manchester February 2025.jpg
Square Gardens in Manchester, February 2025
Square Gardens
Former namesDowning Living
First Street Plot 11
First Street South
General information
StatusUnder construction
TypeResidential high-rise, commercial, leisure, retail
Location Manchester,
Greater Manchester,
England, United Kingdom
Coordinates 53°28′18″N2°14′41″W / 53.47156°N 2.24464°W / 53.47156; -2.24464
Construction started2022
CompletedPhase 1: August 2024
Phase 2: March 2025 [1]
Cost£400 million [1]
OwnerDowning
HeightBuilding D: 139 m (456 ft)
Building B: 82 m (269 ft)
Building A: 71 m (233 ft)
Building C: 52 m (172 ft) [2]
Technical details
Floor countBuilding D: 45
Building B: 26
Building A: 22
Building C: 17
Floor area90,112 m2 (969,960 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s) SimpsonHaugh [3]
Main contractorDowning
Website
squaregardens.com

Square Gardens is a co-living development in Manchester, England. The first phase of the scheme, Acer Tower, comprises 1,187 beds across 716 units which opened in 2024. [4] The Fernley, a 45-storey residential building with 525 units, is expected to open in Spring 2025. The development will also provide 17,000 sq ft (1,600 m2) of commercial, leisure and retail space. [5] If fully constructed, the development will feature around 2,200 residential units in total across four buildings, which were designed by SimpsonHaugh. [6]

Contents

Once completed, the 45-storey tower will become the ninth-tallest building in Greater Manchester.

History

Planning

The planning application for four buildings of heights varying from 10 to 45 storeys was submitted to Manchester City Council in January 2020, [7] [8] with planning approval obtained in September 2020. [6]

Construction

Enabling works on site started in January 2022, with construction commencing in March 2022. [9] Installation of the buildings' façades started in May 2023. [10] Completion of phase one is scheduled for August 2024, with phase two expected in March 2025. [1]

Facilities

The development will include a 3,000 sq ft (280 m2) café and 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) gym located within an amenity building which will be open to the public. Its landscaping proposals include the planting of 140 trees. [11]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Kilgannon, Laurence (4 May 2023). "Milestone As Co-Living Scheme Named By Developer". Insider Media. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. "Downing Living". Skyscraper Center. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. "First Street South". SimpsonHaugh. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. Valentine, Charlie (18 September 2024). "Phase one of Downing's £400m Square Gardens co-living project complete". Place North West. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. Patel, Bea (10 May 2023). "Square Gardens co-living scheme marks major milestone". BTR News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 Whelan, Dan (23 January 2023). "Downing secures £227m loan for Manchester cluster". Place North West. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  7. "Planning – Application Summary 125573/FO/2019". Manchester City Council. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. Middleton-Pugh, Jessica (28 January 2020). "Gallery: Downing submits plans for 45-storey co-living tower". Place North West. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  9. Morby, Aaron (21 January 2022). "Enabling works start at £400m Manchester First Street". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. Sell, George (5 May 2022). "Construction milestone for £400 million Manchester coliving scheme". Urban Living News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. Timan, Joseph; Davies, Ethan (1 January 2023). "New towers, a groundbreaking arena and loads of homes: The big list of what's coming to Manchester in 2023". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.