Manchester’s newest apartment building is ready to welcome its first residents from 16 July, as The Castings shows off its completed interiors.
This design-led development has 352 homes, ranging from well-thought-out studios to spacious three-bedroom apartments.
And The Castings residents also have access to some of the best amenities in the city, from a panoramic rooftop terrace to private dining spaces to a work hub, plus a gym and fitness studio.
It’s right in the heart of Piccadilly East, a neighbourhood that was recently named one of the best places to live by the Sunday Times, with venues like Diecast, Ducie Street Warehouse, and even Co-op Live on the doorstep.
Residents will also be at the heart of the city’s vibrant craft beer scene – brewery taprooms like Cloudwater and Track are just across the road and it’s only a short stroll from Freight Island too.
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The Castings is a brand-new Build To Rent community for the city, owned by the same group behind the luxury 5-star Lowry Hotel.
Its apartments have been finished to the highest standards with huge bedrooms with massive built-in wardrobes, well-equipped kitchens complete with top-of-the-range appliances, and stunning living spaces that are flooded with natural light.
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A typical day for residents at The Castings could start with a workout in the building’s own gym, kitted out with Technogym equipment that includes a free weights zone, squat rack, and cardio equipment, or taking on a class in the studio where virtual instructors are available seven days a week.
Then there’s an on-site home working hub with 12 desk spaces, three private booths, and a bookable meeting room, plus a media room with a huge sofa.
Just off the working hub is one of several roof terraces which looks out over a small but green square below.
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Click or swipe through the gallery to see inside The Castings apartments in Manchester
A roof terrace at The CastingsThe studios at The CastingsThe studio kitchenA bedroom in a studio at The CastingsThe living room in a one-bedroom apartmentThe kitchen/dining room in a one-bedroom apartmentThe kitchen/dining room in a two-bedroom apartmentA bedroom in the two-bedroom apartmentA bedroom in the two-bedroom apartmentAn en suite bathroomThe kitchen/dining room in a two-bedroom apartmentThe 21st floor private dining roomViews from The CastingsThe 21st floor private dining roomThe reception area at The CastingsThe reception area at The CastingsA residents’ lounge at The CastingsThe gym at The CastingsThe gym at The CastingsThe Working Hub
A residents’ lounge is fitted with a pool table and a variety of board games, and is decorated with beautiful furnishings, pink walls, and cosy rugs, leading out to an even bigger roof terrace that includes huge double-bed-sized swinging lounge chairs.
The pièce de résistance of The Castings is its 21st-floor rooftop terrace, which has unobstructed views right across Manchester.
Unlike the now-towering skyline of the southern edge of the city, The Castings stands in the exciting Piccadilly East neighbourhood and there’s nothing to block your view.
From one side you can see across the Etihad Stadium and all the way to the Peak District, while other apartments have views of landmarks like the Town Hall, Deansgate Square, the Corn Exchange and the canals snaking past down below.
Residents can book a stylish private dining room up here for entertaining loved ones, with space for up to 10 guests plus a lounge space.
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On the imminent launch, The Castings community manager, Dave Evans, comments: “We’re really excited to welcome new residents into The Castings.
The focus for us has been to create much more than just apartments; it’s an experiential way of living and we can’t wait to host our official launch party where the community can celebrate the neighbourhood’s newest addition.”
To celebrate the opening, The Castings is hosting a free launch event for the local community and residents on Friday 19 July from 5pm till late.
With music, food and drink provided by local vendors, the party will start in The Castings’ reception area and later on in the evening make its way up to the panoramic roof terrace on the 21st floor. You can reserve your free spot here.
Prices for the new build-to-rent scheme start from £1,180 per month for a studio apartment, £1,310 for a 1-bed apartment, £1,525 per month for a 2-bed and £2,165 for a 3-bed apartment.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Property
Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
Featured Image — Publicity Pictures (supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)
Property
Inside Stockport’s stunning Grade II-listed waterside home for sale with its own private canal mooring
Emily Sergeant
Fancy a look inside a Grade II-listed property that’s currently on the market in the stunning Stockport countryside?
The only thing is, you’ll just need the small matter of £1.25 million before you can call it yours.
Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article won’t have £1.25 million just sitting in their bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
Take a look behind the grand front door of what is, by far, one of the most unique properties the Greater Manchester housing market has to offer at the moment.
This is Bleak House.
This is Bleak House / Credit: eXp UK
Although the name doesn’t do it much justice, it has to be said, this magnificent five-bedroom detached stone residence overlooks stunning views as far as the eye can see.
And can you believe it’s only in Stockport too? Well, Marple shall we say, which is very much one of the borough’s most sought-after and affluent residential areas, combining the best of semi-rural living with easy access to all the amenities in the town’s centre, as well as Manchester being not far off either, so it’s ideally placed for peace and quiet yet modern life is within reaching distance.
Bleak House is actually a former mill manager’s house, and dates all the way back to the early 19th century, with associations to Samuel Oldknow and Peter Arkwright, making it a property of both archaeological and historical significance.
It’s a stunning five-bedroom Grade II-listed residence in the Stockport countryside / Credit: eXp UK
Gaining its Grade II-listed status in 1967, the house itself offers some 3,000 square feet of living accommodation set over three floors.
Due to is listed status, this means the current owners have been required to carry out all recent development works as ‘sympathetically’ as possible, with strict requirements adhered to along the way, and you’ll see once you step through the grand front doors that the property has managed to perfectly blend period charm with contemporary touches.
Some of the stand-out features the property boasts is a living room with a wood burner set in stone fire surround and dual-aspect sash windows offering far-reaching views, and a recently-fitted bespoke kitchen diner at the heart of the home, along with a separate boot room and utility room.
The property has its own separate annex and even its own private canal mooring / Credit: eXp UK
There are also four generous-sized double bedrooms, each with their own en-suite, and not only has the property been recently extended, but there is also planning permission granted for further reception rooms, plus a car shelter and storage space.
As well as the main house, there’s also a self-contained annex that comes with property, and this has also been recently refurbished, and now presents as a way to generate some extra income from short stays and holiday lets.
Once you step outside the property, it’s just as impressive as it is on the inside.
Bleak House faces south with the Peak Forest Canal to the west and Strines Road to the east.
To the front of the property, there’s a long driveway providing plenty of off-road parking, and EV car charging point, and a large lawn surrounded by woodland, while to the rear, there’s also another large lawn area with various steps, pathways, and tiers leading up to the canal.
At the top is a decked patio area that offers some of the best views of the pictursque Goyt Valley adjacent to the canal, with the property’s own private mooring.
Bleak House is currently on the market with the North West branch of property company eXp UK for a whopping £1.25 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.
Daisy Jackson -
4th July 2024 
