Specialist student housing developer Student Castle plans to build 850 studio flats in a 168m tall red brick tower at Hulme Street.

Architect Glenn Howells is lead designer on the project on behalf of GMS (Parking) Ltd.

A planning submission proposes to reconfigure and reduce the size of an existing multi-storey car park at the location to release sufficient land for the landmark scheme, which is planned to open at the end of 2022.

Edward Cade started Student Castle in 2010 alongside Jacqui Hawthorn with a clear vision to change the perception of traditional student accommodation.

He said: “The building will become a new Manchester landmark and provide spectacular views over the city.

“The building also presents a significant windfall opportunity to redevelop a portion of an existing multi-storey car park adjacent to Manchester Oxford Road Station into a fully managed purpose-built student residence.”

Alan McCartney, Studio Director for Glenn Howells Architects, said: “The design proposes a contemporary interpretation of the contextual red brick buildings present in and around Manchester.

“Its proximity to the local universities, transport hubs and the city core makes the site location ideal for an emerging student development, combined with an ambitious vision to design high quality student living where students would want to live.

“The provision of SME incubation space also offers opportunities for small businesses to have an affordable workspace.”

Deloitte is the planning consultant on Hulme Street, WSP the structural and M+E engineers while AECOM is project manager.

Ed Britton, Assistant Director of Deloitte Real Estate, said: “The Hulme Street project will directly meet the need to improve and increase Manchester’s range of student accommodation by providing high quality purpose built accommodation and will help encourage students out of city centre apartments.

“The SME incubator space will help nurture growing businesses and supports the strategic growth objectives of the City and Oxford Road Corridor.  The scheme demonstrates exceptional design quality and will make a positive contribution to the emerging Oxford Road cluster and Manchester’s skyline.”