Manchester City Council is set to launch the sale of two key development sites, including the Church Street multi-storey car park in the Northern Quarter and a 2.8-acre plot in Hulme previously intended for UKFast offices.

The Church Street car park, a four-level facility located between Church Street and Tib Street, sits at the gateway to Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter. Its central location makes it a highly desirable plot, likely to attract strong interest from developers. Although large-scale developments are less common in the Northern Quarter due to the area’s conservation status, several projects nearby have received planning approval in recent years. Notably, Salboy’s 187-apartment Transmission House, completed in 2020, and the Glassworks development on Shudehill interchange.

However, not all planned developments have progressed. The Warp & Weft project, granted consent but yet to commence, and a stalled 37-flat scheme off Red Lion Street are examples of this.

The second site available for sale is a 2.75-acre plot in Hulme, located at the corner of Greenheys Lane West and Old Birley Street. This land was originally earmarked for the expansion of UKFast’s headquarters. The deal, agreed upon in 2019, was disrupted when Lawrence Jones, the company’s former founder, faced sexual misconduct allegations that led to his resignation and subsequent imprisonment.

Manchester City Council’s decision to sell these sites is part of its broader estate strategy, which aims to facilitate development aligned with its goals around housing, employment, and social value. The council generated £23.3m in capital receipts during the 2023/24 financial year and has a £100m disposals pipeline over the next three years.

Agents for marketing the sites are expected to be appointed in the coming weeks.

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