THIS week saw developer Allied London submit the final planning applications for its vast £1.3m St John's neighbourhood, situated in ITV's former home at Granada Studios.
XYZ will be a crucible for ideas and a melting pot for creative thinking
The ambitious development, which includes: skyscrapers ranging between 30-50 storeys; a 'Vertical Village' comprising six interconnecting residential towers; multiple bars, restaurant and cafes; three hotels; and the much publicized new £110m Factory Manchester arts venue should begin sometime next year with completion expected by 2022.
However, with all the hype surrounding St John's, it's easy to forget that Allied London are currently well underway with two hefty developments, comprising some 420,000 sq ft and 34-storeys, right around the corner from Granada Studios on their Spinningfields estate.
No.1 Spinningfields, Allied's new £73m 24-storey skyscraper on the former site of Quay House, is expected to complete by summer 2017. While Allied London have this week reaffirmed their plans for the XYZ Building (formerly known as the Cotton Building), located on the former green space between RBS and the Civil Justice Centre.
XYZ
Under construction in SpinningfieldsWith a name derived from Generations X, Y and Z (those born between the mid-1960s to early-2000s), the new ten-storey, 160,000 sq ft XYZ Building designed by Cartwright Pickard will be 'in a different league', according to Allied London chief Michael Ingall.
Launching in 2016, the developer states XYZ, featuring cutting-edge workspace, indoor gardens, a wellbeing centre, a bike park, alongside cafes and restaurants, will 'set a new standard for future work/life developments globally'.
"Allied London knows a thing or two about building innovative working environments," says Ingall.
“The culmination of more than two years’ of planning and research, XYZ is taking shape. The core of the building which connects XYZ’s ten floors can now be seen rising from the ground in the heart of Spinningfields.
"XYZ will be many things," Ingall continues, "experimental, innovative, pioneering, flexible, bold, and collaborative. It will be a crucible for ideas and a melting pot for creative thinking - much more than bricks and mortar."
Though XYZ will not be ready for a further twelve months, Allied London intend to begin building the XYZ community and set the tone for what they're calling the 'XYZ Way' by launching the XYZ Studio adjacent to the site this October.
Meanwhile, Allied London have recently unveiled designs for a second XYZ Building in Leeds. The developer intends to transform the former Alea casino site, which they acquired in 2012, as part of a rethink for the struggling Leeds Dock development (formerly known as Clarence Dock).
A schedule of XYZ Studio events in Manchester will be announced in October and listed on the Allied London website.
XYZ Spinningfields is being developed with £10m of private sector investment by Allied London and a further £10m in Evergreen funding.
XYZ Spinningfields
