The University of Manchester in the UK has reached a significant stage in the redevelopment plans for its Fallowfield Campus with the submission of a reserved matters planning application (RMPA).
This application details the proposed layout and scale of the scheme, which encompasses Owens Park, Oak House, and Woolton Hall, following the outline planning permission granted last January.
Manchester City Council’s planning department will now evaluate the application, which was informed by a five-week consultation with the local community conducted from December 2024 to early January.
The redevelopment includes the creation of 3,300 modern student bed spaces, amenity space, ancillary residential dwellings, and green spaces.
The project will feature five distinct neighbourhoods that reflect the area’s history and character, and a central hub to serve as the focal point of the campus.
The Viridis Consortium, comprising GRAHAM, Equitix, and Derwent FM, is responsible for delivering the project after being selected as the preferred bidder in July 2024.
The demolition of the Owens Park Tower and surrounding buildings is underway, with enabling works in progress for the main construction programme, which is set to begin in 2026.
Students can expect to move into their new accommodations in phases, with building handovers scheduled from 2027 to 2030.
GRAHAM, in collaboration with the university, architect Sheppard Robson, and planning consultant Deloitte, has spearheaded the planning process.
The development will focus on sustainable design and construction, aiming to achieve Passivhaus standards for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort.
Additionally, the project is targeting a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology Excellent certification and prioritises the preservation of green spaces within its plans.
GRAHAM Fallowfield Campus project director Neil McFarlane said: “The planning submission is a further important milestone for the Fallowfield Campus project. It is the culmination of months of challenging work and an intensive programme of engagement with the university, staff, students and the local community.
“We believe the submitted plans will create an exemplar sustainable campus that will enhance the experience of the university’s next generation of students.”
