Manchester Life New Little Mill, Manchester
Overview
New Little Mill was vacant for a number of years. The development features a façade retention and a new steel frame built within, alongside a two-storey extension, all of which will host a mix of two and three-bed duplex apartments with roof terraces and winter gardens.
The dwellings were arranged around a central courtyard covered by a glazed roof to allow natural light to fill the space and provide residents with a covered approach from the main entrance to their dwellings.
All alterations were in response to the scheme’s historical context and location within the Ancoats Conservation area.
Key Challenges
Key challenges on this scheme included:
- Working on a Grade II listed building
- Site constraints including limited on-site storage and locating the site cabins off site
- The site was bounded by an existing Listed mill and EWC have reached an agreement with the landowner to erect façade retention within their site demise
- Two of the other elevations were on main roads, with a road closure in force
- There were a number of other contractors working in the close vicinity therefore communication has been paramount, ensuring staggered material deliveries etc so not to cause congestion in the area
Complexity of façade retention
Added Value
EWC took a very collaborative approach to the project and offered various value engineering solutions to ensure a highly successful scheme. The original design offered a piled slab with retained façade, however EWC were able to redesign the substructure, pumping in the concrete using a ground bearing slab which eliminating the need for piling and temporary works and saving time and cost.
The team also modified the façade retention to allow access scaffolding, again saving cost and reducing the programme.
While working on site, EWC were committed to the use of local labour, local supply chain and apprentices.