Laystall Street, Manchester

The Laystall Street development is a 20m, nine-storey residential scheme located just off Great Ancoats Street in Manchester city centre. Delivered in partnership with Eric Wright Construction, and part-funded by Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund, the project will provide 89 one- and two-bedroom apartments available for Rent to Buy and Social Rent.

The scheme forms part of the wider regeneration of the site, following the transformation of the Grade II-listed Armitage Showroom into high-quality office space. Together, the developments contribute to the continued revitalisation of this prominent city-centre location.

The project involved working with an existing concrete frame structure, requiring detailed appraisal to determine its condition and capacity before any alterations could proceed. Adapting an existing building for a new operational use introduced structural and compliance considerations, particularly in ensuring that proposed modifications aligned with both performance requirements and long-term durability.

Farrow Walsh undertook a comprehensive structural appraisal of the existing concrete frame, assessing its condition and suitability for the proposed change of use. Proposed alterations were carefully reviewed to ensure compatibility with the existing structural system, enabling the efficient adaptation of the building while maintaining structural integrity. Through detailed assessment and pragmatic engineering advice, Farrow Walsh supported the successful retrofit of the structure into a modern stay hotel facility within a wider regeneration scheme.