Bluefig Investments (UK) has secured planning permission to redevelop and expand Manchester city centre's 55 Mosley Street. The approved proposals for the £6m scheme will see two floors added to the office building, meaning that it will provide 13,000 sq ft of grade A office accommodation. A comprehensive refurbishment of the existing interior will also be carried out. Bluefig acquired the building in December 2017 and employed Hawkins\Brown to design the project, with the contract about to go out to tender. Faris Mousa, managing director of Bluefig Investments, said: "This strategically located prime office building not only benefits from the extensive investment that has been ploughed in to St Peter's Square over the last few years but as it is situated close to one of the key gateway entrances to the city and with the new tram stop on its doorstep, it seems obvious that this building is overdue a revamp.
"The Manchester office market remains one of the most stable and buoyant sectors in the country and while many developers are continuing to hedge their bets on speculative developments pre-Brexit, I am confident that 55 Mosley Street will appeal to a number of occupiers currently looking for exceptional new office space in the city." Tom Dobson of Hawkins\Brown added: "The redevelopment of 55 Mosley Street has presented an exciting opportunity to regenerate a prominent city centre building to provide new contemporary workspace. The distinction between the original fabric and new interventions has been designed to create a clear legibility and definition that celebrates a new period in the building's history and encourage tenants to adopt new ways of working, while recognising its former use as an industrial warehouse."
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A new housing development which won the RIBA Stirling Prize for 2019 has been making headlines not only in industry magazines and websites but in mainstream news. The Goldsmith Street housing estate in Norwich was a popular nomination and most experts predicted well in advance that it would be a clear winner. I have written in the past about what makes a great family home (Faris Mousa: The Most Important Piece Of Furniture In Any Home) so let’s look at what makes this an award winning development Energy efficiency
Climate change is something which is affecting us all, and for which we all have a responsibility to address. Modern day architects must not only employ sustainable working practices, but also create buildings which are themselves energy efficient. Goldsmith Street was built to Passivhaus environmental standards, which is considered the ultimate goal. This covered even the tiniest of details, from the angle of the roof designed so that it didn’t cast shade on a neighbour, to external letterboxes which won’t create draughts through the front door. Not only is this great for the planet, but it will save residents an estimated 70 on their energy bills. Social harmony The development contains 105 homes, and they have been laid out in a way that encourages social interaction. Isolation can lead to poor mental and physical health, but in this neighbourhood it’s easy for residents to get to know their neighbours. Plenty of green space and childrens’ play areas have been located away from roads, too, which means they’re safe from traffic. Innovation There will be many social housing projects built this year and next year, across a great number of councils, by a variety of architects. And the easy choice is to build something exactly like everything else that has gone before. But Norwich’s council members had the bravery and ambition to try something new, and Mikhail Riches Architects and Cathy Hawley had the ability and expertise to create something completely truly original. So by breaking from the norm, the two have created something which benefits the residents, shines a positive light on Norwich, and hopefully will inspire others to be a little bolder. The property investor has secured consent to add two floors to 55 Mosley Street in Manchester to provide 13,000 sq ft of offices.
Bluefig Investments acquired the building in December 2017 and instructed architect Hawkins\Brown to draw up plans to extend the plot by two floors. Sandwiched between The Bank pub and the Citygate building, 53-55 Mosley Street dates from the 1850s and is occupied by Berlitz Language School; the school’s lease expired in June this year and it has now moved out of the building. The plans will see the interior of 53-55 Mosley Street refurbished with the addition of a two-storey glass-clad rooftop extension. Refurbishment works will also include a new entrance and reception area, while the existing circulation will be rationalised to make the building operate from a single core. Bluefig’s £6m investment was given the go-ahead by Manchester City Council under delegated powers earlier this month. Faris Mousa of Bluefig Investments said: “The Manchester office market remains one of the most stable and buoyant sectors in the country and whilst many developers are continuing to hedge their bets on speculative developments pre-Brexit, I am confident that 55 Mosley Street will appeal to a number of occupiers currently looking for exceptional new office space in the city. “We have a fantastic team supporting this project and are excited to be delivering a very special scheme that embraces the future ways in which we operate by creating an inspiring and productive working environment.” Tom Dobson of Hawkins\Brown added: “The redevelopment of 55 Mosley Street has presented an exciting opportunity to regenerate a prominent city centre building to provide new contemporary workspace. “Working in close collaboration with the client and consultant team, we established a clear narrative and vision for the project that was crucial in developing the design. The distinction between the original fabric and new interventions has been designed to create a clear legibility and definition that celebrates a new period in the building’s history and encourage tenants to adopt new ways of working, whilst recognising its former use as an industrial warehouse.” The professional team on the project also includes Paul Butler Associates; GIA; Hulley & Kirkwood; CINNS; and Hann Tucker Associates. Edwards & Co are the sole letting agent for the property. Calico, the latest boutique office scheme to hit the Manchester market was launched to Manchester’s office agents this week and is now available for occupation. The 13,000 sq ft beautifully crafted workspace, developed by Bluefig Investments, has suites over seven floors in the heart of Manchester’s business district.
The ground floor concierge reception features exposed brick walls, a communal area to greet guests and modern artwork, including a custom designed welcome desk designed by local artist Liam Hopkins of Lazerian fame. Spaces available at Calico range from 1,200 sq ft to 12,500 sq ft. A breakout area also features on the fourth floor, leading out onto a communal roof top terrace with stunning views across the city centre. Faris Mousa, director at Bluefig Investments, said: “We are very excited to launch Calico, it’s a real gem, a much more authentic workplace in what is considered to be a more traditional and commercial area of the city, so it really stands out. “Our new reception desk proved to be a real talking point at the launch, and I’m not surprised, it was built by robots using 3D printing techniques and it’s a work of art! Like the building, which in the 18th Century was a printing company for the growing textile trade in Manchester, it’s inspired by the past but completely state-of-the-art.” Andrew Timms, director and head of office agency at Edwards & Co, said: “This is exactly the sort of workspace that businesses are looking for at the moment. As working habits have changed considerably during the pandemic, businesses have been assessing how much space they really need. Occupiers will be able to move straight in to a fully fitted workspace at Calico, as all of the suites will be furnished throughout, and Wi-Fi enabled to ensure they can just plug and play. “Each of the floors would be perfect for SMEs looking to take their own self-contained spaces, or equally, the whole building would be suitable for single occupancy by a larger organisation that is looking for a stylish, modern space in a highly central location.” Calico is in an excellent location for commuters and for getting around the city region for meetings, with the Manchester Metrolink on its doorstep and it’s just a short walk to and from Oxford Road and Piccadilly stations. Edwards and Co are sole agents on the Calico scheme. The latest boutique office scheme to hit the Manchester market has been launched to agents and is now available for occupation.
The 13,000 sq ft Calico workspace on Mosley Street, developed by Bluefiq Investments, has suites over seven floors in the heart of Manchester's business district. Spaces available at Calico range from 1,200 sq ft to 12,500 sq ft. A breakout area also features on the fourth floor, leading out onto a communal roof top terrace with stunning views across the city centre. Faris Mousa, director at Bluefig Investments, said: "We are very excited to launch Calico, it's a real gem, a much more authentic workplace in what is considered to be a more traditional and commercial area of the city, so it really stands out." Andrew Timms, director and head of office agency at Edwards & Co, added: "This is exactly the sort of workspace that businesses are looking for at the moment. As working habits have changed considerably during the pandemic, businesses have been assessing how much space they really need. "Occupiers will be able to move straight in to a fully fitted workspace at Calico, as all of the suites will be furnished throughout, and Wi-Fi enabled to ensure they can just plug and play. "Each of the floors would be perfect for SMEs looking to take their own self-contained spaces, or equally, the whole building would be suitable for single occupancy by a larger organisation that is looking for a stylish, modern space in a highly central location." Edwards and Co are sole agents on the Calico scheme. |
AuthorFaris Mousa is an entrepreneur based in Manchester who has worked on many residential and commercial projects. Faris Mousa is Director of Bluefig Investments (UK) Limited. It is a property investment and urban regeneration company. The company was incorporated on 2nd December 2014 and has registered offices located at 260 – 268 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester, M3 5JZ Archives
July 2023
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