Collapsed building was earmarked for stunning new city centre landmark – but it had hit problems
The new building featuring a rooftop pool and ‘wellness centre’ was supposed to be completed this year
Work was expected to be completed on The Alberton development in 2025
The building which partially collapsed in Manchester city centre this afternoon was earmarked for a stunning 18-storey landmark office building opposite The Lowry Hotel – featuring a rooftop pool. But the plan had hit serious problems, the Manchester Evening News has learned.
The building, Alberton House off Bridge Street, had been scheduled for demolition. Part of it collapsed this afternoon (Friday) with scaffolding sent crashing into the River Irwell.
Manchester city council gave planning approval for an ambitious redevelopment in 2022 with work scheduled to start the following year. But in June planners approved an amendment to the original plan to allow it to be delivered in two phases instead of one, first to demolish the current structure before later ‘enabling works’.
“This will help to de-risk and accelerate delivery of the approved development and the intention would be for those works to commence in a 12-month period,” said the report that went to the planning committee.
The application which went to planners in June warned of unfavourable ‘market conditions’ and that the developers had only recently learned the land was subject to ‘restrictive covenants’ which would ‘preclude delivery of parts of the approved landscaping scheme at this time’.
The new scheme, called ‘The Alberton’, was proposed to replace the existing Alberton House on St Mary’s Parsonage in Manchester city centre.
Bruntwood’s plans for The Alberton scheme were approved in 2022(Image: EPR)
Commercial property giant Bruntwood is behind the development which initially was expected to be completed in 2025. The new building’s focal point was its rooftop ‘holistic wellness centre’. This would include a pool, a hydrotherapy vitality pool, hot and cold treatment rooms, fitness studio, yoga terrace, physio room, and changing and shower facilities.
The plans also included a landscaped panoramic roof terrace on the 17th floor, a gym and an additional food and beverage outlet. The building was designed by EPR Architects and was to occupy the site of the former Manchester Gas Works.
Bruntwood said at the time the development will ‘prompt considerable job creation’ across building management, hospitality provision and customer expansion, estimated to support 1,740 full-time employees and an annual contribution to the economy of an estimated £131m.
But the hoped-for 2025 completion date has proved unattainable.
Ciara Keeling, CEO of Bruntwood Works, said in 2022: “Gaining planning approval for The Alberton marks another landmark moment in our efforts to revolutionise the workspace, not just in Manchester but across the UK.
“We have always been focused on customer wellbeing and these plans launch us even further into the journey of creating workspaces that champion work/life balance. The importance of this has never been greater, as our society faces considerable challenges.
The scaffolding fell away from the building(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“The Alberton will provide an exemplary model of what workspaces can achieve, going further than we ever have in our Pioneer programme. This is particularly evident in the holistic wellness centre that will act as the heart of the development and offer our customers an unrivalled wellbeing experience.
“This level of amenity will help businesses offer staff the ultimate workspace experience, encouraging a greater return to the office whilst supporting a healthy work/life balance. This new space incorporates everything we have learned over the last few years of studying changes in how our customers interact with workspaces and listening to their ongoing feedback.
“We truly believe that we have created something that will provide a blueprint for accessible and inclusive offices.”
Bruntwood has been approached for comment.
