The redevelopment of the former Manchester Metropolitan University campus included three Grade II Listed buildings including the iconic Toast Rack building saw Urban Green work collaboratively with the developer Generation and architects SixTwo and Ollier Smurthwaite to develop complementary landscape masterplan and public realm design proposals.
The listed modernist setting, it opportunities and constraints and the proposed buildings and their uses were carefully considered to develop the appropriate design proposals. Arboriculture and ecology surveys were completed to support the planning process.
The existing mature trees formed an integral part of the final design solution. At the location of the new gateway building situated to the north west of the site, a feature planting scheme complements its modern architecture.
Detailed planning consent was granted in early 2017 and works commenced summer 2017 with the first phase completed in May 2018.