CIS building was once country’s tallest
Plans to revamp a 1960s grade II-listed office block in the middle of Manchester by Ian Simpson’s practice SimpsonHaugh Architects have gone in for planning.
The CIS Tower, completed in 1962, was briefly the country’s tallest building before it was overtaken a year later by the Millbank Tower in London.
It remained Manchester’s tallest tower for more than 40 years before another Ian Simpson scheme, the 47-storey Beetham Tower, built by Carillion, took the title in 2006.
The 25-storey building will be refurbished to include 620,000 sq ft of mixed-use space which includes 420,000 sq ft of office space. It will also feature retail and leisure at ground floor and basement level.
The tower has been home to the Co-op Group since it was built but three years ago the firm, and joint venture partner Hermes Investment Management, sold the building to Castlebrooke Investments for a reported £66m.
The building last underwent a refurbishment 15 years ago when it was covered in solar panels under a £5.5m renovation.
Castlebrooke director Estelle Hunt added: “No other 1960s listed building of this scale has been refurbished to this extent before in the UK.”
A decision on planning is due in April with construction set to start next year.
Meanwhile, the city council has approved plans for the first phase of a £1.4bn regeneration of Manchester’s Mayfield district.
Buildings have been designed by Studio Egret West, Morris + Co and Bennetts Associates.
Morris + Co is behind the The Republic, a 13-storey, 244,000 sq ft office development, while Bennetts has designed the Poulton, which will provide 75,900 sq ft of commercial space.
A 581-space multi-storey car park, equipped with electric vehicle charging points, will be built at the south of site which also includes a new 6.5 acre park, which will be built along the banks of the river Medlock.
The scheme is being developed by the Mayfield Partnership which comprises the city council, Transport for Greater Manchester, LCR, formerly London and Continental Railways, and regeneration specialist U+I.
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