ISLE of Man based developer Dandara is selling some of its rental stock as it prepares to break ground on the mammoth Chapel Wharf scheme in Salford.
One of the best buildings in the city has come available
Which means that a couple apartments in what I think is one of the best buildings in the city have come available – including the former home of Coronation Street actress Cherylee Houston.
Houston, who plays the character Izzy Armstong in the soap, used to occupy a top floor apartment in 360, a discreet block in Castlefield overlooking the Roman fort and just round the corner from the original Corrie set.
Houston likes to garden and grow things and didn’t let being high up in the city centre thwart her ambitions. Despite the apartment having two fair sized balconies she turned a good portion of the living room into a garden, abundant with flowers and produce and complete with astroturfed lawn and sun lamps where she apparently used to lie and learn her lines.
There’s a BBC interview and a rather bad photo here:
But Houston and her garden have now gone to greener pastures in south Manchester and the big two bed apartment will soon be on the market with a price tag of £388,000.
Completed in 2006, 360 is a small development of just 59 apartments that has stood the test of time. Good specification, great build quality and above all the location. While much is happening round and about with the creation of St John’s Quarter and the on-going development of Spinningfields, not much can happen in the immediate neighbourhood which makes this a good long term bet and no doubt a lovely place to live.
The two penthouses on the top floor are both privately owned and must be the best apartments in Manchester.
Dandara held on to probably half the apartments as the market crashed and rented them out to happy tenants and as they come for sale now they are being snapped up. Apart from Houston’s there is a two bed on the first floor that’s a vast 955sq ft. There’s no parking and the asking price is £233,750.
A couple of smaller two beds are on at £208,500 and £209,500.
In comparison you can get a two bed with parking on the fifth floor at Spectrum in Greengate for £208,000. (Eight months ago you would have got one for £175,000)
While at Base, the Company’s scheme in not proper Castlefield, a two bed with parking is £174,950, again bigger (758sq ft) and better fitted out than most.
Nothing for sale right now in The Lock on Whitworth Street but I understand units on high floors at St George’s Island could be available next month so keep a watch out or inquire if you want to get in ahead of investors.
Dandara MD Seamus Nugent said: “There is a strong market for sales in Manchester right now so it made sense to sell some of our existing stock across all our developments and there has been a lot of interest.
“We are seeing a lot of owner occupiers, often people who have been renting in the building and are now in a position to buy. And mortgage funding has definitely improved.
“Investors are looking for a package of say 12-18 units. The split between owners and investors is much more even now, probably 50-50.
“Chapel Wharf has got planning and we will be on site by the end of the year.”
More details here.
