Local developers Forshaw Group and ‘regeneration specialists’ Peel Waters have revealed plans to transform the empty bit of land next to the Cornbrook tram stop into a high-quality, mixed-use residential scheme.
The currently vacant brownfield site located between Cornbrook station and the VOX Manchester apartment complex has sat unused for a number of years, but with numerous plots being regenerated in and around the Castlefield area, the Bolton-based company have seen some potential.
Forshaw Land & Property have this week submitted plans to Manchester City Council to redevelop the area into a 24-storey development consisting of 224 one, two, three-bed and even four-bed penthouse apartments and hotel rooms.
In an effort to knit into the local community, the proposals also include other new amenities, including an independent coffee bar and co-working spaces, as well as a gym, yoga studio and private dining room for prospective residents.
The first CGIs of the proposed Cornbrook regeneration plans have now been shared. (Credit: Forshaw Group)
Folding into Peel‘s ongoing Manchester Waters project, which has already seen a number of new waterside buildings erected on Pomona Island, leading up to Salford Quays and back towards the city centre, the one-acre plot has seen locals Leach Rhodes Walker appointed as the lead architects.
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Set to take design influence for the development from the historical industrial context of the site, they say the proposed plans will turn this land into a “high-quality gateway building” and serve as an “arrival point into the City… whilst complementing the other new buildings close to the site.”
The Forshaw Group’s Managing Director, Lyndon Forshaw, said: “I’m really excited by our proposals for this hugely important gateway site that delivers on the ambitions of the Cornbrook Regeneration Framework.
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“The development will mark the entrance to Manchester city centre providing much-needed new homes along with a brand-new upmarket hotel. This will be our largest residential-led scheme to date and deliver the first hotel of our new prestigious brand Vivere Aparthotels.”
The CGIs for the currently derelict land look promising and it only bodes well for the Metrolink station itself.
As for Peel Waters, whose presence in Manchester is continuing to grow, Executive Director James Whittaker added: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Forshaw Group to bring forward an opportunity to create needed high-quality housing, places to stay and amenity space to the area.
“The proposed plans by Forshaw Group complement our vision for the wider Manchester Waters neighbourhood which will transform the site into a sustainable, mixed-use community, which will offer a range of inclusive living options in one of the most desirable locations in Greater Manchester.”
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This isn’t the only new project recently announced by the Peel Group either, as they are also spearheading a new ice rink down the road in Trafford.
You can see the plans for the new venue which is set to be one of the biggest in the UK down below:
Inside the regal Cheshire home for sale on one of Britain’s most expensive roads
Emily Sergeant
A stunning detached family home on one of Britain’s most expensive roads is currently on the market over in Cheshire.
In case you hadn’t heard, a recent report by The Times has revealed where you’ll find Britain’s top 20 most expensive roads for 2026, based off Rightmove data, and Congleton Road in Alderley Edge – slap bang in the middle of Cheshire’s iconic ‘Golden Triangle’ – has appeared in the top five most expensive outside of London.
So we snooped around to see what your money (… or your hypothetical money, at least) can get you on this street, and came across a regal residence currently for sale for a whopping £4.95 million.
This is Highclere – a six-bedroom detached family home occupying a private plot of over 1.3 acres and enjoying panoramic views across the adjoining Cheshire countryside.
This is Highclere – a stunning family home on one of Britain’s most expensive roads / Credit: Andrew J Nowell
Approached behind electric gates, and set back along a sweeping driveway, estate agents say Highclere has been ‘carefully and tastefully’ renovated by the current owners.
It now offers ‘spacious and versatile’ accommodation, and benefits from being within easy reach of Alderley Edge village centre and all the amenities it’s known and loved for.
Some of the stand-out features include an impressive reception hall with large sweeping staircase, open living kitchen with a large central island, large bedrooms, and a full leisure suite with a pool, jacuzzi, steam room, and showers.
There’s also a dedicated bar area, a games room, cinema room, and a gym.
Upstairs is where you’ll find what is described as the ‘unparallelled’ principal bedroom suite with two large dressing rooms, its own living area, en-suite bathroom, and a powder room, as well as four other large bedrooms.
Just as you’d expect, the outside of Highclere is as impressive as the inside.
The property is set within a private plot of over 1.3 acres enjoying panoramic views / Credit: Andrew J Nowell
Not only are there expansive terraced lawns with mature trees and shrubs and two large courtyards perfect for outdoor entertaining, but there is also a large driveway providing off-road parking for multiple vehicles and a detached double garage converted into annexe accomodation.
This property is currently on the market with Alderley Edge-based independent estate agents, Andrew J Nowell, for a Guide Price of £4.95 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 nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – Andrew J Nowell
Property
Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study
Danny Jones
Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.
If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.
As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.
Even some ‘available’ housing in town is being hampered by claddin (Credit: Valienne via WikiCommons)
That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.
Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.
As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.
Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.
You can see the full table down below:
Rank
City
% increase – 2020-2025
Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £
Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025
1
Newport
47.39%
£2,611
£8,121
2
Liverpool
42.12%
£2,290
£7,727
3
Manchester
41.00%
£3,364
£11,569
4
Edinburgh
40.28%
£4,620
£16,090
5
Leicester
39.93%
£2,391
£8,379
6
Wolverhampton
39.22%
£2,049
£7,273
7
Nottingham
39.07%
£2,400
£8,543
8
Glasgow
38.02%
£2,679
£9,725
9
Colchester
37.63%
£2,617
£9,572
10
Cardiff
37.06%
£2,828
Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025
Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.
That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.
Danny Jones -
30th January 2024 
