Rooftop terrace, gym, cinema: Plans revealed for luxury student tower block in city centre

Deborah K. Vick

It’s a world away from the grotty digs most would associate with student living.

But the latest plans put forward for a luxury tower block in Manchester city centre show how much times have changed.

Developer Fusion Students is proposing a 27-storey building to join the cluster of glittering skyscrapers at Deansgate Square on a small, triangular plot of land adjacent to the Deansgate Quay development.

It includes three separate roof terraces, 24/7 concierge, a gym, cinema, free bike rentals, social spaces and a calender of events.

The scheme would provide more than 500 student rooms

While such amenities are now commonplace among tower blocks in the city centre – the residents here will be students rather than working professionals.

In its proposal, Fusion insist the demand is there and that the rooms will still be affordable.

Currently, more than 20,000 students are unable to access Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Manchester, the developer claims.

Instead, they rent city centre apartments or multi-room houses in other areas creating pressure on the local housing market.

The new tower would sit alongside the cluster of Deansgate Square skyscrapers

Fusion also says Manchester has some the oldest student accommodation stock in the country, with more stock developed since 1990 in use than those built since 2015.

The average year a scheme was built or last refurbished is 1997.

Fusions describes the ‘Deansgate South’ area as already ‘extremely popular’ with students and points out that it is within a mile of the main Manchester Met University campus.

The proposal would provide more than 500 ‘high-quality and well managed student rooms’, Fusion says, including a new type of room described as a ‘social studio’.

“These rooms, unique to Fusion Students, provide all the benefits of studio and apartment living in one”, it is claimed.

Fusion says the tower would have social rooms, a gym, cinema and a rooftop terrace

Fusion says: “By providing fit-for-purpose, high-quality, modern student accommodation at an affordable price, the proposals will reduce stress on private housing and apartments by catering directly to the city’s ever-growing student population.”

A planning application is expected in due course, but a virtual exhibition for people to have their say is running from Tuesday 3rd November – Tuesday 17th November 2020.

Visit https://www.fusionstudents.consultationonline.co.uk to read about the proposals and leave feedback.

Warren Rosenberg, Co-Founder of Fusion Students, said: ” We are excited to be bringing forward our first development in Manchester for new student accommodation.

The site has seen a number of schemes fall down due to viability

“As a global University destination with a student population that will only continue to grow, our multi-million-pound scheme offers something new for Manchester students in a fantastic city centre location.

By providing high-quality, dedicated student accommodation we will be giving those looking to study in Manchester a more modern, safe and secure choice to live in.

“Local businesses, including shops, cafes, bars and leisure facilities, south of the City Centre, will also benefit from the vital support of students living, working and shopping nearby.

“The Deansgate South site has been vacant for a number of years and has been the subject of numerous planning consents which have fallen through due to viability. 

“Our ambition for dedicated student residential development is fully funded and is the only way to solve what is currently an eyesore at a prominent location on the edge of the city centre.

“We hope that everyone with an interest gets involved and gets behind what we believe is a thoughtful and well-designed contribution to Manchester’s housing mix, strengthening the area as a vibrant place to live.”

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