In early 2024, approval was given by Manchester City Council for a major scheme on Upper Brook Street in Ardwick, bringing forward a large-scale redevelopment led jointly by McLaren Property and Kadans Science Partner. The proposals include around 490,000 square feet of development delivered through two student accommodation towers rising to nine and 23 storeys, providing a total of 737 bed spaces. Alongside student housing, the scheme introduces flexible spaces for community use, retail units, a café, and a series of new publicly accessible outdoor areas featuring landscaping and play facilities.
At the same time, planning consent was secured for an adjoining phase of the Upper Brook Street masterplan by Property Alliance Group and Moda Living. This element will deliver approximately 550,000 square feet of accommodation tailored to the life sciences sector, together with 983 additional student rooms and new facilities intended for local use. Developed as a cohesive masterplan by Hawkins Brown, Sheppard Robson and SimpsonHaugh, the combined proposals seek to establish a distinctive and well-connected urban quarter.
Together, these projects mark a new chapter for Upper Brook Street, combining contemporary development with the area’s existing character while prioritising student living, research activity and shared amenities. The student buildings are located alongside a 22,000 square metre specialist research facility for Kadans Science Partner, with both components linked by newly created landscaped routes and open spaces that encourage movement through the site and strengthen connections with the surrounding Ardwick neighbourhood and the University of Manchester opposite.
The student accommodation is set within two buildings of eight and 23 storeys addressing Upper Brook Street and Kincardine Road, offering a range of studio apartments and shared living units above animated ground floors containing communal facilities. Brick façades in warm tones have been used to reflect the local setting, with their composition designed to improve environmental performance through integrated shading. Across the wider development, active ground-level uses help draw the public in, including a café within the science building, while a central linear park between the buildings provides a civic focus with spaces for recreation and relaxation.
