Regeneration
The Opal Property Group is a private company with an innovative approach to property development. Over the last 25 years, we have demonstrated an ability to transform some of the most difficult sites and buildings into commercially viable and successful mixed-use schemes. We have often done this in locations shunned by other developers and without public sector grant assistance. Because we are a privately owned company, we have flexibility and this means that we can work in partnership to deliver long term successful regeneration.
Opal’s £13 million conversion of a Grade II listed building into Manchester’s very first apartment hotel (The Place on Ducie Street) has been integral to the regeneration of the Piccadilly area. Prior to Opal acquiring the former London Warehouse in 1998 it had been empty and derelict since the 1960’s. It was Opal’s vision to breathe new life into this important historical building. We believe that this innovative and complex conversion demonstrates an innovative yet practical solution for a key regeneration challenge. It also demonstrates Opal’s commitment to develop in areas ahead of other developers – taking risk in order to realise our unique ‘apartment hotel’ vision. The project also helped deliver the public sector’s vision for Piccadilly and we received support in the form of English Partnership’s grant.
The combination of industrial heritage and contemporary architecture has ensured that The Place has become a popular alternative to conventional hotels in Manchester. The completed project incorporates over 100 apartments, over 15,000 ft² of retail and office space and two floors of secure underground parking. A ground floor bar has recently opened adjacent to the reception area and we have plans to develop a conference facility.
Between 1997 and 2000 Opal undertook 4 phases of development in the regeneration area of Hulme. In total the developments provide 700 en-suite student and key worker apartments with a combined value of £25 million. Opal worked in close partnership with firstly Hulme Regeneration and then Manchester City Council’s ‘Moss Side and Hulme Partnership’ throughout the period to deliver these key developments on the Stretford Road corridor.
The first development was designed and built prior to the Hulme Design Guide but fully conformed to the Council’s design aspirations. In particular this led to a development which looked outwards onto the street rather than being a ‘gated community’. Our early projects in Hulme ensured that Opal are familiar with both Manchester City Council’s design aspirations and wider regeneration aspirations. This stood us in good stead for other developments in the City which adhere to the city-wide Guide to Development in Manchester.
Wilmslow Park on Wilmslow Road is a £35 million new build mixed-use development comprising:
- 1257 en-suite student bed spaces
- 56 key worker apartments built off a transfer deck at 1st floor level
- 60,000 ft² retail and office space at ground floor
- 400 space commercial car park at ground and basement level
- An 8,000 ft² private leisure club including swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna and spa pool
This 8 storey building provides a suitable mass at a significant junction adjacent to Central Manchester Hospital. It serves as a gateway development into the Rusholme district (‘The Curry Mile’) and has been described by The Times as “Britain’s most luxurious student digs”. The retail and office space is fully let with compatible uses.
Our development in Birmingham was secured via a competitive bidding process to Optima Community Association. They were eager to work with a developer who shared their approach and could work well with residents in adjacent homes. The scheme is an 18 storey development at the key junction of Bristol Road and Belgrave Middleway and will have over 600 student bed spaces and a gym which is available to the students and Optima residents. Locally, 80% of residents are in receipt of benefit and we feel that an in-flux of students will increase disposable income in the area and underpin Optima’s aspirations for new shops.
Opal Property Group has developments across the UK in:
- Manchester
- London
- Birmingham
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- Sheffield
- Nottingham
- Leicester
- Wolverhampton
- Bradford
- Huddersfield
- Plymouth
- Wrexham
We have recently started on a new build project in Newport and there are further schemes in the pipeline in Dundee, Glasgow, Bristol and Exeter.
We are therefore very familiar with working with a variety of different local authorities with different objectives and pressures. Above all, we have a very good understanding of the strategic regeneration frameworks within which many individual developments sit and we are committed to working in partnership with local authorities and other key stakeholders to produce high quality, sustainable developments.
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