engineering.
Oval Real Estate has submitted a revised planning application for the transformative redevelopment of Albert Bridge House, situated between Bridge Street, the River Irwell, St Mary’s Parsonage and Trinity Bridge in Manchester City Centre. Designed by Studio Egret West, the project will regenerate a key riverfront site at the threshold between Salford and Manchester city centre.
The updated scheme supersedes the original 2023 approval with a bold new vision. It will introduce 800 new homes within two residential towers of 37 and 49 storeys respectively. The towers are located at the river’s edge and are designed with an octagonal footprint and efficient structural cores that maximise buildability while avoiding complex transfers.
On the southern portion of the site, a new 18-storey commercial block will provide 250,000 sq ft of modern office space. This building similarly adopts an octagonal geometry, continuing the design language of the residential elements.
The development is aligned with the City of Manchester’s target for net zero by 2038 and is part of the wider Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the Bridge Street area. It will include over 4,000 m² of public open space and 1,600 m² of green space, greatly enhancing the pedestrian environment and enabling new connections through the site.
Crucially, the buildings will feature independent basement structures in response to the new Building Safety Act, allowing phased delivery of the scheme with improved regulatory clarity. The site design also accounts for the sloping topography from the river embankment.
AKT II is delivering structural, civil, façade, and wind engineering services for the scheme. The firm’s bioclimatic team has conducted CFD wind comfort assessments for both the office terrace and public realm spaces, contributing to the Environmental Statement for planning. The Envelope team has supported the pre-planning design, performing critical daylight and energy calculations to guide the technical submission.
The redevelopment of Albert Bridge House promises to be a benchmark for sustainable, high-rise, mixed-use urban regeneration in Manchester.
