Historic Cotton Mill to be Incorporated into 37-Storey Manchester Tower

17/2/25

A 600-bed development will incorporate part of a historic cotton mill built in 1801.

The government has opted not to grant listed status to a historic Manchester cotton mill, allowing plans for a 595-bed student accommodation scheme to move forward.

Developer Manner revealed that an anonymous request to list the building submitted after planning approval was granted last May caused months of delays as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) reviewed the application, despite receiving more than 800 letters of support.

The project includes 595 student bedrooms within a 37-storey tower, alongside a new public square and improvements to the surrounding public realm.

Originally constructed in 1801 as a cotton mill, the Hotspur Press building later became a printing press. Architect Hodder & Partners' design for the scheme will retain much of the building's existing brick façade.

Manner initially proposed a 36-storey block with 578 student bedrooms over a year ago but revised the plans to increase the number of units and adjust the tower's height and width following public consultation.

A previous attempt by another developer to construct a 28-storey tower on the site stalled five years ago.

The project team also includes planning consultant Turley, QS Gardiner & Theobald, heritage architect Stephen Levrant, and services engineer Applied Energy.