Permission has been granted for the demolition of a multi storey car park in central Manchester, clearing the way for continued progress on a major regeneration scheme.
The decision allows the Charles Street car park demolition to proceed at a site bordered by Charles Street, Sackville Street, Princess Street and a Grade II listed viaduct spanning Sackville Street and Granby Row. The structure dates from the 1970s and comprises a part two, part three and part five storey car park with a basement level.
Consent has been given to ID Manchester Ltd, a joint venture between Bruntwood SciTech Ltd and the University of Manchester. The organisation is responsible for delivering Sister, a large scale redevelopment on the former UMIST Campus. Approval includes demolition of the car park alongside three associated commercial units.
The multi storey car park closed in October 2024 and has been described as no longer fit for purpose. A newsagent and coffee shop previously located within the building have also vacated the site, while The Retro Bar closed in June this year.
The building is no longer required to support parking linked to the University of Manchester. Following the Charles Street car park demolition, the cleared land will enable the next phase of development within the Sister scheme.
The site forms Plot H and sits in the north western corner of the wider development area. Once completed, Sister is expected to provide four million square feet of innovation space. This will include around two million square feet of commercial and retail floorspace alongside more than 1,500 new homes.
Separate proposals for the site are already emerging. Last month, RG Real Estate, part of the RG Group, launched a public consultation on plans to redevelop the former car park into purpose built student accommodation.
The proposed scheme has been designed by Manchester based architects Hodder + Partners. The designs draw on the surrounding architectural context, referencing nearby listed buildings and the Whitworth Street Conservation Area.
