Congratulations to Manchester Life on winning the 2020 Property Awards “Placemaking Award”

Congratulations to Manchester Life Development Company, which, along with Step Places and the Hallé Concerts Society, won the 2020 Property Awards “Placemaking Award” for its role in transforming the Ancoats area of Manchester over the past five years.

Chapman Taylor is very proud to have worked on three of the Manchester Life developments, helping to regenerate the Ancoats district as it has evolved into the vibrant and successful community it is today. Our work in the area included the One Cutting Room Square, Sawmill Court and One Vesta Street residential developments, all of which we delivered as part of Eric Wright Construction's main contractor team.

One Cutting Room Square provides 28 apartments, three townhouses and a ground floor commercial unit, all facing onto the square, as well as a 115-space residential car park with access from Jersey Street. This peaceful public space sits in a prime location at the heart of the Ancoats Conservation Area, among Manchester’s highest concentration of listed buildings. Adjacent to One Cutting Room Square, providing a beautiful backdrop to the square, is St. Peter’s Church, a Grade II listed church which is home to The Hallé symphony orchestra and choir.

The Sawmill Court scheme provides 158 1,2 & 3-bed rental apartments complete with a residents’ courtyard and lobby, secure car and cycle spaces and a club room and gym for residents. It also hosts a number of commercial units, which provide an active frontage to the street and form a gateway to the residents’ courtyard, contributing towards the emergence of Ancoats as one of the city’s most vibrant and attractive neighbourhoods.

One Vesta Street provides 169 private apartments for sale, in a mix of one, two and three-bed residences – eight of which are roof-level duplexes. Facilities include secure parking, cycle storage and a residents’ clubroom. The eight and nine-storey apartment blocks enjoy the benefit of a waterfront location, adjacent to the Ashton Canal, close to the New Islington tram stop and within a ten-minute walk of Piccadilly, Manchester’s principal public transport hub. In addition, three separate townhouses of four levels each were built adjacent to the apartment blocks.

We very much enjoyed working on these much-needed residential developments for the flourishing Ancoats area with Manchester Life and look forward to collaborating with them and the whole team again in the future.