CAPITAL&CENTRIC / Kamani Property Group / Hawkins\Brown
CAPITAL&CENTRIC and Kamani Property Group have this week confirmed the submission of plans for the new Swan Street community.
Social impact developer CAPITAL&CENTRIC – which recently featured in the BBC2 documentary Manctopia – has submitted a planning application for a £37 million scheme to create a new community in Manchester’s New Cross district in partnership with Kamani Property Group.
Located opposite the Mackie Mayor food hall and iconic Band on the Wall venue, the scheme will transform thesite on Swan Street – which CAPITAL&CENTRIC purchased with Kamani Property last year, and is currently home to two derelict buildings, once used as a MOT garage and a storage facility – into 118 new homes, with a mix of one, two and three bed design-led apartments.
There will be ground floor workspaces and spaces for local businesses to locate, such as a café-bar or deli.
A shared roof terrace and private roof terraces for residents are also planned, as the developers look to maximise outdoor space [and] with a striking design, it will also feature a huge 270m art canvas on the front of the building – which will be one of the largest in the city and will showcase local and international artists.
Speaking on the plans for the new community, Tim Heatley – Co-Founder of CAPITAL&CENTRIC – said: “New Cross used to be a thriving location in the 18th and 19th century, and its due to have its day again. The area’s already attracting indie businesses and the same is going to happen with residents wanting to be part of the growing neighbourhood.
“As you’d probably expect from us, we’ve gone for a bold design with a huge art canvas on the building.
“We want people to stop and look and for it to become a talking point. Architecture should be interesting and draw people in – we’re not interested in building a bland boring building”.
Adam Kamani – CEO of Kamani Property – said: “Manchester runs through our veins and we’re proud to be part of the New Cross district’s resurgence.
“The city centre has been through a tough and unprecedented year tackling COVID-19, but we’re looking forwards to the comeback and recovery. As a business we’re keen to play our part in helping Manchester to thrive again [and] the submission of our plans with CAPITAL&CENTRIC to breathe new life into an under-loved part of the city with boundless potential is a great way to kick off 2021.”
Tom Dobson, Associate Director at Hawkins\Brown – the architects behind the scheme – said: “Swan Street is a fantastic opportunity to provide a new landmark destination with a layered architectural response, designed to offer a mixed use scheme of high-quality homes activated at ground level by commercial premises and enhanced public realm.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJIse2KFEwA/
The New Cross district is bound by Swan Street, Oldham Road, Rochdale Road, and Livesey Street.
In 2015, Manchester City Council approved a Neighbourhood Development Framework for New Cross to guide future development and create a vibrant new residential led neighbourhood, and the planning application submission by CAPITAL&CENTRIC and Kamani Property Group this week follows a public consultation, which was held during December.
A decision on the planning application is expected from Manchester City Council in the Spring.
Property
Sneak peak inside swanky new homes ready to rent in an up-and-coming Greater Manchester town
Emily Sergeant
Dozens of swanky new homes are now available to rent in an up-and-coming Greater Manchester town.
A collection of exciting first look images have been released of the new homes.
The reboot of the former derelict market precinct in the suburban Bolton town of Farnworth is being spearheaded by Capital&Centric, and the social impact developers behind the project are now giving prospective renters a sneak peak into the developed.
Dubbed Farnworth Green, the new community consists of 97 rental homes, made up of a super energy-efficient range of townhouses and apartments.
The development will be comprised of a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom properties, with 85 stunning apartments and 12 family homes – all of which have been designed with the same high-quality features that are usually reserved for Capital&Centric‘s city centre spaces.
Designed for renters, the dozens of new homes come with even more living space, as well private gardens to be enjoyed when the sun makes an appearance, and potting sheds for all the green-fingered people out there.
Residents will also have access to the exclusive rooftop garden, gym, lounge, co-working spaces, and dog washing stations for their four-legged friends.
The two-bed apartments are packed with Scandi-designed HAY furniture and massive floor-to-ceiling windows to flood the rooms with light, while the the top-spec kitchens are kitted-out with all the mod-comms and latest appliances you would expect.
The new townhouses, on the other hand, will be the first to be delivered under the developer’s ‘Neighbourhood’ brand.
Pioneering new homes at Farnworth Green are now available to rent / Credit: Capital&Centric (Supplied)
This includes Bolton’s first-ever operationally net zero homes, aiming to ‘slash’ energy bills for residents.
A raft of independent bars, eateries, and shops will also be taking shape on the ground floor of the community hub, giving locals and residents a place to meet up and enjoy seasonal outdoor events that will be planned once the neighbourhood is up and running.
Residents will also be able to spend time in a brand-new public square at the heart of the community, which will play host to artisan markets, art shows, and foodie pop-ups.
A collection of exciting first look images have been released of the new homes / Credit: Capital&Centric (Supplied)
“We’re buzzing to see the new homes come to life at Farnworth Green,” commented Tom Wilmot, who is the joint Managing Director of Capital&Centric.
“Farnworth Green is all about creating new and exciting spaces for businesses and the community to spend time in, as well as delivering a pioneering new town centre living experience and giving disused retail areas a new lease of life.”
Capital&Centric is encouraging people to sign-up fast to secure a viewing for the remaining apartment here, or walk-ins will be welcomed too.
Featured Image – Capital&Centric (Supplied)
Property
Manchester to get ANOTHER new city centre park as plans get green light
Emily Sergeant
You wait 100 years for a new city centre park, and then two come along one after the other.
That’s right, merely a few years after Mayfield Park finally opened to the Manchester public after more than a century without one, it’s now been revealed that another park is planned for the city centre, as the Government has given the green light to a major new ‘digital campus’ bringing 7,000 civil service jobs to the region.
The new state-of-the-art hub, which will be known as Manchester Digital Campus, will be constructed on the site of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, alongside the new park.
As mentioned, the campus will bring together a number of Civil Service departments, all with a focus around digital skills, and the Government claims it will create ‘significant employment opportunities’ and ‘economic benefits’ in the region.
Ultimately, Government ministers say these ambitious plans are set to boost Manchester’s digital and tech sector.
Our proposed plans for the Manchester Digital Campus have received the green light!
The state-of-the-art campus in Ancoats will bring together a number of Civil Service departments with a focus around digital skills.
— Government Property Agency (the GPA) (@UKGovPropAgency) February 20, 2025
Alongside the new campus, however, is the perhaps even-more-exciting addition of a new urban park, which is aiming to improve access to quality green space for city centre residents and visitors, while also creating a connection to the existing Cotton Field Park behind and through to Ancoats and New Islington.
The park space has been designed in collaboration with landscape architects Planit-IE following public consultation.
According to Manchester City Council, a central lawn and plaza will create a ‘green buffer’ to Great Ancoats Street, with various tiered gardens navigating the different level changes across the site, alongside play areas, paths, and tranquil areas to escape the noise of the city.
The park has also been designed to make sure that it’s fully accessible for all.
A new digital campus by @UKGovPropAgency bringing 7,000 quality jobs to Manchester has been approved.
The campus will transform a derelict former retail site alongside a new city centre park in Ancoats.
The site will accommodate new walking and cycling routes, helping to link to other city centre active travel investment in Ancoats, Northern Quarter, and out towards the Etihad Campus.
“The new park is a welcome addition to our city centre green spaces,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
“It’s a reimagining of the former retail site that has for many years acted only as a barrier to the community behind – and an eyesore in one of the most exciting parts of our city.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th January 2021 
