A 48,000 sq ft office in Manchester’s Mount Street has been handed over for use by artists, charities and community groups while owner FORE Partnership works up a planning application for the building.
Previous owner Titan Investors sold 24 Mount Street, formerly London Scottish House, to FORE at the end of last year for £13m. Titan had gained planning permission in 2014 for a 175,000 sq ft redevelopment of the block, to be known as the Assembly building. The architect on the scheme was Eric Parry.
The office is located in Manchester’s Civic Quarter near to the Midland Hotel and Manchester Conference Centre.
FORE decline to comment on the nature of its plans or when an application would be submitted, but said it would be “a high-sustainable building, offering high-quality office space combining a sense of community with flexible workspaces and cutting edge technology”. Further detail will come later in the year.
Occupiers in 24 Mount Street’s studio space includes woodwork studio MCR Maker Space, circus workshop The Circus House, parent and baby theatre group Abooo and art-based community group Women & Hulme in Partnership. FORE has appointed social enterprise 3Space to manage the creative workspace on its behalf.This is the first time the building has been occupied in almost seven years.
Basil Demeroutis, managing partner of FORE, said: “At 24 Mount Street we want to create a working environment that inspires and brings people together. We’re really thrilled that the building is put to such good use while we develop our exciting plans and we’re delighted to be providing a free platform for so many talented local people.
“This kind of innovative use is part of our core ‘responsible investing’ values that encompass traditional low carbon and sustainability, but also wider around place making, design, community and social responsibility. When completed, the building will contribute to the overall transformation of the Civic Quarter.”
