Capital&Centric and Kamani Property Group submit plans for new Ancoats community

Plans to create a vibrant canalside community at Manchester’s Ancoats Works have been submitted to Manchester City Council by developers Capital&Centric and Kamani Property Group. 

New images of the £50 million project – including canalside apartments, town houses, gardens and a new café bar or store – have been revealed. They show the proposed designs for what’s currently a disused storage depot, including 193 homes, with a mix of 1 and 2-bed apartments; 3-bed duplexes; and townhouses fronting onto Carruthers Street. 

It’s the second collaboration between the two Manchester-based developers, who have teamed up to breathe new life into the historic site. If approved, work could start on site in early 2023. 

The new images show the fusion between old and new, with the retention of the iconic Ancoats Works frontage on Pollard Street and new apartments including a modern twist on the red-brick buildings that once dominated the industrial area, whilst complementing the neighbouring Hope Mill. 

A striking space for the community to hangout – either a new store or café bar – is included, alongside plans to restore the unloved canalside with lighting and generous planting as part of a lush new garden.

Adam Kamani, CEO at Kamani Property, said:

“We think this community will be a really vibrant addition to Ancoats as it grows. The design strikes the perfect blend between old and new – retaining parts of the historic building with the iconic ‘Ancoats Works’ signage, whilst creating design-led homes on what’s currently a pretty unloved, industrial site. As well as new homes, we plan to deliver stunning outdoor spaces and improve the canalside, making the space much more welcoming with real character.”

 Adam Higgins, co-founder at Capital&Centric, said:

“At our communities in Piccadilly East and Kampus, we’ve seen first-hand that Manchester’s diverse neighbourhoods are attracting a real mix of people wanting to put down roots in the city. More and more, young families, retirees and downsizers are wanting to call the city home, as well as the more stereotypical young professionals. Ancoats Works responds to that, with a mix of townhouses and apartments to help foster a diverse neighbourhood, as well as spaces like the corner café bar and gardens where a genuine community can bond and grow. We’re excited about getting going.”

Submission of the Ancoats Works application follows community consultation last year. The collaboration follows the two companies joining up on plans for a site on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter, consented by Manchester City Council in 2021.