200x200_fitbox-mosley_street_manchester.jpegMany older building situated on the edge of city centres are now finding themselves the focal point for developers.  Several have been left to crumble and decay, by-passed by their more central cousins, but their time now seems to have arrived – especially with the new ideas that are coming through to preserve their exteriors and facades. 


A ground-breaking concept is currently being applied by Yorkshire based Robinson Design Group, which gives new life and usage to forgotten buildings. The company’s consultant engineers have devised a very effective way to grow existing constructions by applying further storeys.


This specialised technique of Vertical Extensions is giving real life to these dormant structures, with two fine examples in build at this moment. This engineering procedure for one of these buildings has fundamentally been to strengthen the original structure by steel plating the original concrete columns and beams, sustaining the weight of the additional storeys.  This process obviates the need for any wholesale demolition, thereby giving maximum return to the developer.


“Very often these buildings are over 50 years old and must be treated with respect and sensitivity and by getting inside the head of the original builder” says Ralph Brade, Managing Director of Robinson Consulting. “We are finding this new evolution is giving a whole new life to such buildings and proving cost effective for the developer”. There are two developments currently underway in Manchester. 

80 Mosley Street, is being developed by Bilsdale Properties Ltd., and will provide 29,000 sq ft of prime city centre office space.  Its original 6 storeys are being “upsized” to carry a further 4, by extending the two outer elevations on both Mosley and Princess Streets, and is scheduled for completion in October. 

Additionally, the stylish 1920s warehouse Pall Mall House has had the top 2 of its original storeys removed and replaced by 3 new ones. More spectacularly, its interconnected rear warehouse building is also being vertically extended by 5 storeys, to provide a service core.

This is to become 169 residential units, within the Northern Quarter. The Light House, as it is to be called, will also house a gastro pub. This new engineering breakthrough could bring a significant rethink for other disused buildings - timely, in light of the current housing shortage.