Approval has been granted for a 28-storey student accommodation development on Echo Street in the heart of Manchester.
The Sheppard Robson-designed development will provide 1,224 student rooms, 196 of which will be designated ‘affordable’, all set across three multi storey towers of 16, 22 and 28 storeys. Individual rooms will be arranged in clusters of five or six, with shared amenity areas provided for socialising, games and wellness space. In keeping with the character of the surrounding Whitworth conservation area, the external façade features red brick punctuated by anodised bronze aluminium metalwork, while two separate courtyards, a communal garden and a study garden give residents direct access to external green spaces.
Our building services specialists provided the MEP design for this all-electric scheme, which is one of the first student residential developments to be designed in accordance with the Net Zero-focused Building Regulations update. With sustainability a key priority, our design incorporates air-source heat pumps and solar panels, and the project is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
Commenting on the planning approval, Waterman’s Managing Director of Building Services – North, Jonathan Purcell, said: “I’m delighted to see this exciting scheme secure planning permission. Sheppard Robson’s stunning design will unlock the site’s potential and the facility will become a key asset to Manchester’s thriving student community as part of the city’s vision to become a world-class education hub. We worked closely with the architect to design the fabric and facade to meet the latest Part L and Part O regulations, ensuring exemplary energy efficiency and climate resilience.”
Images courtesy of iQ
