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Potato Wharf | Blocks 3 & 4 | 25m | 8 fl

106K views 342 replies 77 participants last post by  TC88 
#1 ·


Take the protruding, glazed sections with vibrant, coloured frames – a striking contemporary touch but a reference to the bold primary colours of the passing, traditional barges.

Potato Wharf: a collection of contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments set in Manchester’s hottest waterside location in its coolest quarter – Castlefield.

This landmark development is all about style, quality and creating something a little bit different. Truly sympathetic to its surroundings, Potato Wharf pays a tribute to Manchester; its design takes inspiration from the city’s thriving industrial heritage, yet has a strong injection of modernity to reflect the edgy, urban vibe for which Manchester is renowned.

Spread across two eight-storey blocks the development not only overlooks the water but centres around a pleasant, central courtyard and has underground parking with security controlled access. Potato Wharf truly provides everything the modern city dweller could ask for.





 
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#5 ·
From Manchester gossip thread

From Crains.
Crosby Lend Lease is launching its latest Manchester city centre development, Potato Wharf, on March 18. The marketing suite and show apartments of the Castlefield development will be officially opened at the event. The 10-acre development comprises around 1,000 one and two-bedroom apartments.
 
#13 ·
for boring enthusiasts:

Bachy Soletanche prepares ground works at Potato Wharf, Manchester

July 2007

Bachy Soletanche Limited (BSL), a leading geotechnical engineering firm is currently preparing ground works at one of Manchester’s landmark areas, Potato Wharf in Castlefield. BSL’s half a million pound contract will be spilt into two visits, with the first constructing a secant wall and high level bearing piles and the second to construct lower level bearing piles.

The final project will house 213 waterside apartments, in two eight storey blocks, overlooking the famous iron Cheshire Lines viaduct. The buildings due to be constructed for Crosby Lend Lease are set to be a mixture of old and new – complimenting the surrounding area with their deep grey façade, to blend with the nearby iron viaduct, and their brightly coloured features designed to foreground the passing canal boats.
Bachy Soletanche prepares ground works at Potato Wharf, Manchester
BSL’s first stage of construction began at the end of April in a six week project. Richard Mercer, Contract Engineer commented:
“We utilised the secant wall solution for the basement because the site sits only three metres away from the Bridgewater Canal basin in some places.”



“Between the two visits, the Main Contractor Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects will reduce the ground level by two metres. We will then go back to install some further bearing piles” He added.

In order to complete the first section of the project, 540 continuous flight auger (CFA) piles with a 600mm diameter were bored into the ground alongside the canal. The female piles, installed first, were drilled to a depth of six to seven metres and the male piles then drilled to a depth of seven metres. Another 135 CFA piles at 400mm were then constructed. All the piles constructed on this project were socketed into sandstone.

During the first stage of piling, BSL had to overcome some minor obstacles, as Richard Mercer explained:
“The Castlefield area has fantastic surroundings with the grade 2 listed viaduct bridge and the prominent red brick buildings on the canal edge. However, due to its conservation credentials and the close proximity of the development to the viaduct, we did have to overcome some obstacles in the very early stages of the project.”

“This included using a rig with a shorter mast so we could install 4no. bearing piles underneath the viaduct which had a clear headroom of 13.5m.” He added.

BSL will go back to the same site at the end of July to construct the low level bearing piles in the second half of the contract. 274 CFA bearing piles with a 400mm diameter will be installed to an average depth of six metres.

http://www.bacsol.co.uk/main.php?s=news&sub=Press Releases&ID=39&sCov=0
 
#15 ·
Gloomy outlook for apartments gives Crosby Potato blight

By Simon Binns

Crosby Lend Lease has put the brakes on its two mammoth residential schemes in Manchester city centre, stopping work on the construction of more than 300 apartments.

The Birmingham-based firm, which has a North West office in Altrincham, has decided to curtail work on one of the planned apartment blocks at its Potato Wharf development in Castlefield, with no indication of when it will resume. The block affected, Brindley, would have provided 102 apartments.

Construction has also been put on hold at Cypress Place, a 215-apartment block planned for Crosby's mixed-used Greenquarter scheme, in Cheetham Hill. The steel frame will be finished, but no work will be started on finish or fit-out. A public consultation will be held on July 16 to discuss the future of Potato Wharf, which Crosby said it still saw as a “sound long-term investment.”

Work on one of the other Potato Wharf apartment blocks, Saville, is still ongoing, as is Britton House and Vallea Court at Greenquarter.

David Teague, managing director at Crosby Lend Lease, said in a statement issued to Crain's: “Crosby Lend Lease will be postponing construction on Brindley at Potato Wharf in Manchester city centre. While the structural frame will be finished and secured, all other works to the block will be put on hold.'

“Construction of Saville at Potato Wharf is ongoing and when completed will provide a total of 111 designer apartments for city centre buyers.

“The decision to postpone construction is in our view, a prudent and sensible business decision taken in response to the current climate in the residential market and we are confident that these measures will help strengthen the position of Crosby Lend Lease once market conditions become more favourable.

“Whilst the residential market has slowed we are confident in the product offered at Potato Wharf and believe the high specification and the superb location of the development, together with Crosby Lend Lease's renowned reputation for build quality, still make Potato Wharf a sound long-term investment.

“On July 16 we are holding a public consultation at Potato Wharf regarding the future regeneration of the area. The proposals for Potato Wharf will see the replacement of the existing concrete works and industrial units with a new mixed use environment, together with new community and leisure uses.

'Prudent response'

“The proposals include plans to open up public space along the River Medlock creating a fully accessible waterside environment and to integrate the area with Castlefield, the city centre and the River Irwell.

“So although construction of Brindley is to be postponed for the time being, Crosby Lend Lease view Potato Wharf as a major regeneration project in the future development of Manchester.”

Crosby had tried to offer a range of incentives to stimulate interest in Potato Wharf, including the an offer by the developer to pay the buyers' five per cent deposit, a mortgage subsidy for 12 months, and “a complete range of fees”, according to advertising on a property sales website.

One agent, who asked not to be named, said that high pricing and the general market slowdown were to blame.

“It was a nice enough development, but it seems to have suffered in much the same way as a few new developments,” she said. “The pricing may have been slightly too high, especially in the current market, but both had generated good interest when they were launched.

“Schemes of this size will always find themselves exposed if the market turns on them.”

Crosby priced the apartments at Potato Wharf from £141,000 for a 470 sq ft one-bedroom flat to £257,000 for an 801 sq ft two-bedroom flat. At Greenquarter, prices started at £152,000 for a 449 sq ft one-bedroom flat up to £261,000 for an 821 sq ft two-bedroom flat.

In more fallout from the property downturn, Rok Development, part of building contractor Rok Group, has decided to dispose of its Manchester city centre office as the company seeks to cut costs.

Stuart Longbottom, managing director of Rok Development, told Crain's the decision to move was more about consolidating the division than closing it down.

“Our development office in Manchester is on the market, as we are looking to reduce our exposure to property development,” he said. “A number of people left us at the turn of the year and we already have offices in Salford Quays that are more than adequate for our current needs. When the Manchester office is sold the remainder of the team will be moved to Salford Quays. City centre offices are expensive to run and we are simply looking to reduce our costs.”

Meanwhile, Harrogate-based City Lofts has been relieved of its involvement in the Milliners Wharf residential scheme in Ancoats.

Joint venture

The development was originally a joint venture between City Lofts, which according to its 2006 annual report had a 50 per cent stake in the project, and an unnamed Australian firm. The project was funded by Abbey. However, Abbey is understood to have exercised a 50 per cent charge over City Lofts' share in the project. The Australian firm and Abbey are believed to be fully committed to completing the project.

Clive Williamson, managing director of Manchester-based Ocon Construction, which is the main contractor on the scheme, told Crain's it was “business as usual” for the development and payments originally agreed by the developer would still be made to Ocon as promised. City Lofts, whose group company is in administration while a Law of Property Act receiver sells off its unsold property portfolio, declined to comment.
http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness...ook-for-apartments-gives-crosby-potato-blight
 
#17 ·


Brindley has been mothballed, both have been under-construction, so its going to be a nice view for the residents of the Saville block with the wrong aspect.

A public consultation will be held on July 16 to discuss the future of Potato Wharf, which Crosby said it still saw as a “sound long-term investment.”
Interesting they are forging ahead with this future re-development scheme, it looks to be minor changes they have made to the previous plans looking at the statement on http://www.potatowharfconsultation.com/
 
#44 ·


Brindley has been mothballed, both have been under-construction, so its going to be a nice view for the residents of the Saville block with the wrong aspect.



Interesting they are forging ahead with this future re-development scheme, it looks to be minor changes they have made to the previous plans looking at the statement on http://www.potatowharfconsultation.com/
I'm one of the lucky, or unluckly peeps who have exchanged on the penthouse flat in saville overlooking the City. It's a mare with planning held up. I am so annoyed I can hardly contain my anger and frustration at the way Crosby has dealt with this and the lack of information, particularly on the amended planning app. Can anyone tell me whether MCC can force them to build Brindley, even if they have to go cap in hand to their multi-billion dollar parent for a loan?

thanks
 
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