Hello, I bought a Studio Apartment off plan in Spectrum, Blackfriars Road two years ago. I will be completing the purchase shortly and will let it out.

Although I have been to Manchester many times I don't really know it that well. The marketing material says it is 5 mins walk to Harvey Nichols.

Any comments on the location of the Spectrum Development?
How are the transport links?
Is it a reasonably safe area?
Would it be easy enough to let out?

Thanks

Brikky

I think its a tidy development, it certainly cuts above a lot of tripe going up in Manchester at the moment. Your 5 mintues from Manchester City Centre and yes, Harvey nicks. Transport shouldn't be a problem. Your not far from a bus stop, met line, or train station. It's that close to the city centre personal safety shouldn't be an issue either.

i'm jealous!

Hello, I bought a Studio Apartment off plan in Spectrum, Blackfriars Road two years ago. I will be completing the purchase shortly and will let it out.

Although I have been to Manchester many times I don't really know it that well. The marketing material says it is 5 mins walk to Harvey Nichols.

Any comments on the location of the Spectrum Development?
How are the transport links?
Is it a reasonably safe area?
Would it be easy enough to let out?

Thanks

Brikky

I am shocked that you didn't check this out before you bought it Brikky. Always do these kinds of checks first and if possible, find a few shops in the area and ask a couple of the workers how they find it too. As far as crime or whether it is safe, give the local Police a call and find out who patrols that area and see what they think.

Any comments on the location of the Spectrum Development?
Great location, really... just at the bottom end of Deansgate and indeed, about 5 minutes walk to Harvey Nicks.

How are the transport links?
Great again, 5 minutes walk to Victoria train station where you can also jump on the Metrolink.

Is it a reasonably safe area?
I don't see why not, for all intents and purposes you're in the city centre, right over the road is the Lowry Hotel, and you're surrounded by other property developments and warehouses.

Would it be easy enough to let out?
Seems to be a popular development, maybe enquire with Dandara about this.

Oops , soory for putting something so shocking on the Internet.

Seriously though you are right I am visiting the Spectrum site for the first time next week and should have done a bit more homework. I did some research online and weighed it up against others. Also I have another one with Dandara in Jersey so I know how they operate.

The latest phase is selling for 25K more than I am spending so my judgement and timing seems to have been OK (despite many commentators at the time saying the UK Property market was going to plunge).

But the real proof will be when renting it out. I have to get that sorted next.

And thanks to each of you for the feedback.

Oops , soory for putting something so shocking on the Internet.

Seriously though you are right I am visiting the Spectrum site for the first time next week and should have done a bit more homework. I did some research online and weighed it up against others. Also I have another one with Dandara in Jersey so I know how they operate.

The latest phase is selling for 25K more than I am spending so my judgement and timing seems to have been OK (despite many commentators at the time saying the UK Property market was going to plunge).

But the real proof will be when renting it out. I have to get that sorted next.

Brikky a few things.

Aerial map of Greengate below.(Spectrum bottom rightish corner/cranes) At the moment the area to the left of Spectrum is rundown.(train tracks/car parks/garages/wasteland/litter/poor buildings)However you have Abito, Tempus and a huge hole(canopus tower proposal) near by. Victoria Station and the Ramada hotel are also being totally redeveloped close by.

It may take you a while to let because there are many empty apartments in the city centre at the moment. Be prepared to be flexible with your rent if you can afford to be? Don't worry though. Hold tight (5 years) and that area of the city centre will look great. Greengate link below picture.(start from the last page for latest information on the proposals)

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/6164-1/aa02265b.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=243681

Full details of the Greengate proposal are located somewhere in the thread.(plans/proposal/renders/images/etc)

Thanks JRB. Some good up to-date Spectrum photos on the thread. There really is massive development going on in that area.

You are right. I will be flexible with the Rent for the first year. The key is to get it let ASAP and not to have it lying there not covering itself. It should help that it is a first letting, but I expect to be behind a bit in the first year.

god the arndale is ugly

oi oi mr brikman... u wana let it out to me?

i promise i wont trash it

This might be of some interest Brik. Obviously won't affect you.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.com/property/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNw86Jw7pNwB6IaqiNwA&realname=It’s_a_breeze

Guys, you know the site on Blackfriars Road in Salford where the Smart Car dealership used to be, what is or has been built there since the site was flattened?

I haven't been down there since it was flat ground and i cannot for the life of me work out what was being built there.

The Spectrum flats.

Nowt special really.

http://www.************/spectrum_manchester/


EDIT

I take it that dan-dara is a dirty word! lol

The Spectrum flats.

Nowt special really.

http://www.************/spectrum_manchester/


EDIT

I take it that dan-dara is a dirty word! lol

Cheers for that. Several blocks of flats i see.

is there/ can we have a spectrum thread in the construction forum?
went there yesterday and realised how little i know of it.
am i right that it's 5 towers. 2 complete, 3 u/c? then some tiny 2 or 3 storey little office blocks. we will be updating it on skyscrapernews when we've figured the development out lol.
so far we have:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2561
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2562
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2563
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2564

think the names might need changing now. plus think we dont have 2 of them. there is info on dandara website but has anyone seen the plans? any help in figuring this out would be great. take me ages otherwise :)

oh btw got a load of pics of it today.

is there/ can we have a spectrum thread in the construction forum?
went there yesterday and realised how little i know of it.
am i right that it's 5 towers. 2 complete, 3 u/c? then some tiny 2 or 3 storey little office blocks. we will be updating it on skyscrapernews when we've figured the development out lol.
so far we have:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2561
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2562
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2563
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2564

think the names might need changing now. plus think we dont have 2 of them. there is info on dandara website but has anyone seen the plans? any help in figuring this out would be great. take me ages otherwise :)

oh btw got a load of pics of it today.

yup.

got 30 photos of the whole project btw from the other to upload once ive figured it out. if only chris was around!

is there/ can we have a spectrum thread in the construction forum?
went there yesterday and realised how little i know of it.
am i right that it's 5 towers. 2 complete, 3 u/c? then some tiny 2 or 3 storey little office blocks. we will be updating it on skyscrapernews when we've figured the development out lol.
so far we have:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2561
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2562
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2563
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2564

think the names might need changing now. plus think we dont have 2 of them. there is info on dandara website but has anyone seen the plans? any help in figuring this out would be great. take me ages otherwise :)

oh btw got a load of pics of it today.

phase 2 is two 13 storey towers. 2 no 2 storey commercial units and 2 further 6/7 storey residential units

like this project or not?!

the build looks exactly like the renders. in otherwords it has done exactly what it said on the tin.
some other projects and their renders do tend to pull the wool over our eyes a little

The marketing material says it is 5 mins walk to Harvey Nichols.

Yeah, about a five/ten minute walk.

How are the transport links?

Outside the address isn't brilliant, but in ten/fiftenn minutes walk you can reach Manchester City centre with its train stations, bus stations etc.

Is it a reasonably safe area?

Technically, Spectrum is not in Manchester, it is in the city of Salford, which does not have the best reputation as far as crime is concerned. Expect high insurance premiums and a (reasonably undeserved) "negative" view of the area. However, the Spectrum location isn't deepest, darkest Salford. The only crime you are likely to come accross is petty crime (parked cars getting screwed). Blackfriars Street can be a bit dodgy after 2300hours, with drunken people walking back into Salford after a night out in Manchester.


Would it be easy enough to let out? There are a lot of transient people living in the area like students. It is right on the fringe of the city centre. Shouldn't be a problem letting it out

just in regards to transport - its about 2 minutes walk from salford central isn't it? if that?

phase 2 is two 13 storey towers. 2 no 2 storey commercial units and 2 further 6/7 storey residential units

like this project or not?!

the build looks exactly like the renders. in otherwords it has done exactly what it said on the tin.
some other projects and their renders do tend to pull the wool over our eyes a little

thanks chompo!

not really thought about if i like it or not. was in photography mode so not really mulling over the design of it per se. not thought about it in an age.

just in regards to transport - its about 2 minutes walk from salford central isn't it? if that?

it's 400 metres, i just measured it on google earth. whether you can traverse this in 2 mins i'll leave up to you. :)

just in regards to transport - its about 2 minutes walk from salford central isn't it? if that?

It's about a five minute walk, not much closer than Victoria. Salford Central is really a commuters stop for people coming in from the North and West. For someone living on Blackfriars who works/shops/plays in town, you wouldn't really use the station to get into town, its easier to walk.

Aye sorry I was thinking of the black and white building, 'fresh' is it called?

yes

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/24506-1/blackfriars-rd-ba25875.jpg
(and canopus site top right)

Howdy, its good to see this thread alive again. That's a very nice Arial Photo but I would say it was last from Summer.

I visited the site last September when I closed on the Apartment. Was impressed with the quality of the product and pleased to see how near the walk was to the shopping district. It really is 5 mins walk to Harvey Nicks.

It took 7 weeks to Let out which wasn't too bad and is let until June 08. It is covering itself, but just barely.

At current prices and in the latest Property Climate, I don't think a new investment there now stacks up (but does anywhere else either?).

Anyway , would anyone have any more recent photos of Spectrum as I haven't been back to lovely Manchester since that visit in Sept 07.

G'Luck

Brikky

yeah got a few (25) just wondering which block is which before i upload them all. i'll work it out eventually.

here's a few recent ones of the development overall (as opposed to individual blocks). the date is january for these.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/gallery.php?id=2562&idi=Spectrum+Block+10&images=all

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2562SpectrumBlock10_pic7.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2562SpectrumBlock10_pic2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2562SpectrumBlock10_pic8.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2562SpectrumBlock10_pic5.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2562SpectrumBlock10_pic9.jpg

That last one is taken from very close to my flat.

Wow, things really have moved along. Thanks a lot Comdot.

good view from up there mvita?

good view from up there mvita?

Yeah i get an alright view of Town from my flat, i am not in the high risers though, just 2 floors.

significant update... looks like all buildings in spectrum have their floors now.
pics from today:

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0188%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0190%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0189%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0193%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0192%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0194%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0197%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0196%20copy.jpg

^^those pics show view from king street and queen street.

from blackfriars road:

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0199%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/spectrum%20construction%20dandara/SP_A0200%20copy.jpg

The cladding looks similar to that used on the GN Tower does it not? just a different colour? These look nice, how much are they? with views over the car park?

am sure ************ can tell you the price and from what i hear there's units left. most of your view will be of other buildings in this development, as they face oneanother and there are few side windows. top apartments appear to have more windows on the side.
yes to the north is carparks and industrial units, to the south is commercial and residential buildings and railway.

^^why is that asteriskerised?

I'm not buying one comdot, but they do look nice

have lost my perspective, don't know if i like em or not. i think i like them. my favourite bit would be the concrete Y-shaped supporting structure.
i know what you mean about the GN tower tiles, they seem very similar.
so what's the lifespan of a building like this? was wondering today, seeing all those tiles hung off galvanised steel tracks.

they're not very photogenic, however.. the last time I was in manchester, I was in a car (as opposed to usually using the train) and we drove around the back of all these and I was really impressed, they had a really good city vibe about them and made the city seem so much more bustling and dense when they are in the foreground, so I like them..a bit, :|

I really like this development too. What are the small 2/3 storey blocks that are placed between the main blocks? Are these apartments too?

i don't know what they are but they look like they spoil the view for some people in the flats. whatever they are, why weren't they just added to the main towers? i presume they're offices.

they are commercial space, a planning requirement for sustainability. so they will remain empty for a long time before a tennant is found. I think they look like builders portacabins to be honest

One from afar...
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/carlf/Manchester/IMG_5888.jpg

today
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2561SpectrumBlock10_pic17.jpg

today. 2 pics.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2561SpectrumBlock10_pic19.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2561SpectrumBlock10_pic18.jpg

awful.

worst high profile scheme in manchester?

awful.

worst high profile scheme in manchester?

monkey rat, may i suggest you take a look at "the bridge" - http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=1162

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1162TheBridge_pic9.jpg

Dandara have bettered St Georges Island with those beauts. :ohno: Roll on Chapel Wharf. :nuts:

tough call between the bridge and spectrum.. spectrum does look alright from its broader elevations mind, just the shitty sides.. the bridge however.. :|

See the bridge is unremarkable, if they filled those units at the bottom with a restaurant it would be okay. (in fact, are ANY of dandara's bottom units filled??) Spectrum looks like a row of tower blocks and faces blackfriars road diagonally, it pisses me off everytime I see it.

I like Spectrum. Adds a nice bit of density to the area. Dare i say it has a continental/international flavour to it ie uniform residential blocks. I think the area's better for it. That said, i wouldn't buy one!

The Bridge is truly awful. What's with the boarded up first floor units?

I like Spectrum. Adds a nice bit of density to the area. Dare i say it has a continental/international flavour to it ie uniform residential blocks. I think the area's better for it. That said, i wouldn't buy one!

The Bridge is truly awful. What's with the boarded up first floor units?
Probably slated for commercial use.

The slums of tomorrow

i think that's a bit over the top. even i can't afford to live there and i live in what i consider a nice flat. and the number of mercedes slk's in the car park at mine suggests other people think so too.

Probably slated for commercial use.

I worked on the sale of the site a few years ago. They had an approach from the Gaylord indian restaurant (RIP) but blew them out because they wanted to hold out for something a bit more pitcher and piano / est est est-ish. Good work lads.

This would have been a whole lot better if they'd stacked the blocks on top of each other, without the terracotta, and with a double height penthouse to cap it off.

As it stands it's too dense, with a cramped dark sixties-council-flats look to it, that then makes the balconies look like deck access. Rather unfortunate.

hopefully it doesn't look like it did yesterday :dunno:

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/spectrum%20dandara%20salford/IMG_6602%20copy.jpg

Comdot

Thanks for the regular updates and photos of Spectrum. I started this Thread a Year ago so I probably should say how I got on so far.

My first Tenant was there for 6 Months and I got another shortly after. The Rent on the Studio is not quite covering the Interest and when you take into account all of the other charges it simply doesn’t stack up as an Investment. It wouldn’t be so bad in a Rising Market, but that too is going in the wrong direction(not so when I bought off plan in early 05).

To be honest Renting in Spectrum is the way to go if you want to live in the City Centre. It is cheap, safe,the apartments are actually very nice and the location is ideal. Don’t waste money buying one.

I will probably (try to) sell up in Mid 2009. Thankfully Dandara haven’t progressed with their 800 Apt development nearby, so there might not be such an oversupply then. I might get out even.

Dandara are still trying to sell Final Phase Studios of Spectrum for 25K more than I paid . They will need to cut their prices to shift them.

Brikky

I see Spectrum won The Best Apartment at the MEN Property Awards last week.

Probably means nothing as I think those awards are a Merrigoround of Backslapping among the Property Developing circle of friends.

Still, someone must have liked them.

Probably means nothing as I think those awards are a Merrigoround of Backslapping among the Property Developing circle of friends.

dandara win it again, eh.

ugh.

Apologies to anyone who's bought one but I'd like to see these pulled down, soon. How did they ever get approved? I'm sure they're very fancy inside but from a distance they make the Pendleton skyline look glamorous.

These are sadly typical of much of the shit built at the end of the boom. Shoved up quickly to make easy money for developers. It's a pity for the people at the bottom who got sucked into the property ponzi scheme but I agree with a comment further up, 'the slums of tomorrow'.

I agree with a comment further up, 'the slums of tomorrow'.

i don't. i think the slums of tomorrow will be those crappy out-of-town estates that aren't anywhere near urban centres or public rapid transport infrastructure.

Looks like some kind of echo to the council estates of the 70s. It's bad, very bad.

This scheme is actually pretty good.

to look at from a distance?

The hoardings are starting to come down and reveal the promised link road from Blackfriars rd, through the development into the heart of the Greengate site. Good work.

Gotta admit that those blocks look too crowded on Blackfriars Road. It does sort of feel like Benidorm when i walk past them. And shame the redevelopment on Adelphi Street isn't going ahead, if ever a street in Salford was worthy of a makeover with a river view, it's that one. Coz its bleedin depressing as it is. :)

I see one of the Smaller Blocks in Spectrum is now a Hotel/Serviced Apartments.


http://www.padhotels.co.uk/?gclid=CJSIgNbdtpcCFUse3godB3CMiw#Scene_2

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii16/Goldie_78/PC100020.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii16/Goldie_78/PC100021.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii16/Goldie_78/PC100022.jpg

I kind of like these - they're a lot better for the road between the blocks, the dinky little blue brick blocks between the main blocks and the big v-shaped concrete supports...

Mm it helps a little, but nothing at street level, its still very offensive on most conceivable levels.

Is this finished now then?

I lived in one of the studio apartments here on the fifth floor of one of the blocks for 6 months. Was a nice 6 months, excellent quality apartments :)

I lived in one of the studio apartments here on the fifth floor of one of the blocks for 6 months. Was a nice 6 months, excellent quality apartments :)

What was the sound proofing like, Andy, from traffic and neighbours? We went looking in a couple of flats in Leftbank last summer and they seemed pretty solid as well with corking views

Hardly ever saw the neighbours, only even saw them once or twice and could barely hear them, except the one time across the floor, there was an almighty argument between a gay couple, heh. The sound proofing was good, as soon as you close the balcony door, you could hardly hear anything really. Will be even better now it seems to be finished. I'd personally recommend it, but get a parking space underground if you can, I was parked outside and had my car broken into :(

Hello!
Some advice for a possible investor within this development? Any comment would be more than welcome.:soon:

I've walked round this development a few times. Seems to be of a really high quality - not something that could be said of all Dandara's developments it must be said. Kudos to OMI.

Hello!
Some advice for a possible investor within this development? Any comment would be more than welcome.:soon:

a quick comment then.

i get the impression that the surrounding area isn't going to be revitalised as fast as everyone thought, even if you add two or three years for the housing collapse.

so i think you'll end up with a nice property in an area that isn't going to regenerate for say, 10 years. dandar won't have figured that into their original equations but you should, and use this info in choosing the right price.

i lived in a flat in salford, next to castlefield, and i didn't really like it. it was an oasis in an area of abandonment, factories, and nearby council estate. these areas always have great plans... for the future.

for greengate, your best hopes (in my opinion) are that the abandoned stuff gets turned into surface carparks, and those industrial units sell up and also get flattened.

…and therefore...what about the surrounding area?
I had a pleasant stroll from the development to the city center (less than 800m) and the development itself it is of a good quality indeed but I’m just doubtful about the forthcoming Greengate area redevelopment project from Salford Municipality in terms of the time which will be needed (I have read within this thread that Carillion plc has been appointed by Salford Municipality) to complete this massive refurbishment and uplift.

the walk into manchester from spectrum is fine. the surrounding area i am referring to is the dozen or so plots of land adjacent to the north. if you have a chance, walk from tempus tower (mirabel street) over the bridge to spectrum. anything you see abandoned or generally cruddy will remain so, for as i said perhaps 10 years now, despite what a chirpy estate agent may have told you.

salford council's public realm works?

i have to say, i don't know the latest. are the council going ahead with it soon? if so i would still expect empty plots of land where the buildings are supposed to go for many years. maybe you should contact salford council.

aerial view of the area- http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=sxf2zjgtc8bz&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=42614961&where1=greengate%2C%20salford&encType=1
tempus tower, top right

Spectrum is alright. As has been said above, the building feels like it's well built. Usual problem with apartments built recently though, very cramped rooms. I've not actually spent a night there but you might want to find someone who has to give you an idea of soundproofing. The area behind Spectrum (where Abito is) is not somewhere I would want my girlfriend walking late at night.

I personally dislike Spectrum, the apartments are small and bad value for money IMO

Would anyone have a photo or two of the finished Spectrum Development?
Haven't been back to Wonderful Manchester in 2009. Cheers