Manchester’s iconic Hotspur Press is set to be converted into a 595-bedroom student complex | Business Live

Manchester’s Hotspur Press is set for revitalization after a new developer secured permission to redevelop the long-disused site.

Manchester’s central mill is to be converted into a 595-bedroom student accommodation complex, with a commitment to include affordable units making up ten per cent of the total. It follows earlier stalled plans at the site, which fell into disrepair after it closed as a print shop in 1996.

The building’s historic exterior and distinctive “Percy Brothers” sign will be preserved and integrated into the new structure. Development plans also include a 37-storey tower complete with retail space and a 10,000 sq m public square, which will be accessible to the local community for the first time.

Further improvements include the introduction of green spaces, tree planting and an initiative to improve the nearby River Medlock area, while the scheme could contribute £3.6 million to Manchester’s economy, the Manchester Evening News reports.

This information was shared by Richard James, head of developer Manner, during the council’s planning meeting, where the proposal was unanimously approved. He said: “I think the Hotspur Press will always be more than just a building.

“It’s a connection between (Manchester’s) industrial history and its future. Hotspur Press has all the ingredients and a rare opportunity to achieve this (economic and social progress).”

He told councilors the proposal had received public support from neighbors in MacIntosh Village and Chorlton Mill, adding that the ground floor commercial units and nearby railway arches would be made available to independent operators.

The approval follows a standard residential proposal of 171 homes, 28 storeys, which was granted planning permission in 2020 – however construction never started. This prompted Manner to take over the site, with plans for student housing first unveiled in December 2023.

In a later development, Manner revised its original plans to slightly reduce the height and width of the tower, but added another floor, increasing the number of student bedrooms from 578 to 595. Construction is expected to begin in earnest in early 2025, with scheduled completion. for the 2028 academic year.

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