Valad Manchester Co-Living Scheme Planned for 300 Units 2026

Key Points

• Valad has signed a contract with SimpsonHaugh for the former Manchester office of the architectural practice based on Commercial Street.
• The London-based investment firm is in the process of developing plans for a 15-storey co-living building with 300 units.
• The company plans to make an application for planning permission to Manchester City Council before Christmas 2026.
• The latest development comes after plans for a 20-storey building with 200 units were scrapped.
• The Commercial Street location is in Knott Mill and close to the skyscrapers being developed by Renaker on Great Jackson Street.
• SimpsonHaugh has been occupying the property for 25 years before moving to King Street in the city center.
• Valad commented that the project would concentrate on high-quality accommodation, facilities, and services.
• The deal is still subject to planning approval.
• Besides this, Valad is advancing with other co-living developments in Canary Wharf and Glasgow and also a logistics development at Omega North in Warrington.
• The development was first covered in Place North West on 14 September 2026 by Dan Whelan.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 14, 2026 – the London-based investor is preparing plans for a 15-storey co-living development containing 300 units at the former SimpsonHaugh office in Knott Mill. The project is subject to planning approval, with Valad aiming to submit proposals to Manchester City Council before Christmas, according to Dan Whelan of Place North West.

The Valad Manchester co-living scheme is at the centre of plans to redevelop SimpsonHaugh’s former Commercial Street base after Valad exchanged contracts with the architecture practice for the site.

What is Valad planning for the former SimpsonHaugh office?

Valad is working on plans for a co-living development with approximately 300 units. The proposed building would rise to 15 storeys and would be designed for residents seeking accommodation supported by shared amenities and services.

The site is located on Commercial Street in Knott Mill, an established area close to Manchester city centre. Valad has listed the project on its website as “in delivery”, although the scheme still requires planning approval before construction can proceed.

Place North West reported that Valad has exchanged contracts with SimpsonHaugh and will acquire the site subject to the outcome of the planning process. The report did not state the financial value of the transaction.

The proposal represents a change from the earlier redevelopment concept associated with the property. Marketing material released last year indicated that the site could accommodate a building of around 20 storeys with approximately 200 units. Valad’s current plans would therefore involve a shorter building with a larger number of homes.

Why is the Commercial Street site significant?

The Commercial Street property has a direct connection with Manchester’s architectural and development history. SimpsonHaugh occupied the building for 25 years before moving to new premises on King Street in Manchester’s central business district.

The former office is also close to Renaker’s Great Jackson Street skyscraper cluster. SimpsonHaugh designed the cluster, which has expanded substantially over the past decade and has become one of the most recognisable areas of Manchester’s changing skyline.

The location places the proposed co-living scheme within an area shaped by major residential and commercial development. The existing high-rise buildings nearby provide a significant urban backdrop, while the former SimpsonHaugh office represents a smaller and more established part of Knott Mill.

Place North West reported that the earlier proposals for the site were more modest than the glass towers overlooking the area. Valad’s plans would continue that contrast, with a 15-storey building proposed rather than a development matching the height of the tallest buildings in the surrounding cluster.

When could Valad submit its planning application?

Valad is aiming to submit the planning application before Christmas 2026. The exact submission date has not been announced.

The proposed timetable means the scheme remains at the planning and design stage. Submission of an application would allow Manchester City Council to assess the development against planning policies and other relevant considerations, including its design, scale, residential use and relationship with neighbouring buildings.

The planning process will determine whether the proposal can proceed in its current form. It may also lead to changes to the height, layout, number of units or other aspects of the scheme.

Valad’s acquisition is linked to planning approval. The investor is therefore seeking to move forward with the development while the formal planning process remains outstanding.

What did Valad say about the development?

Lucas James, a partner at Valad, said the investor had been selected to bring forward its proposals following a competitive selection process.

As reported by Dan Whelan of Place North West, James said: “We are delighted to have been selected to bring forward our proposals for the site following a competitive selection process.”

He described Knott Mill as an established and distinctive part of Manchester with a strong architectural and commercial character. James said Valad believed there was an opportunity to deliver a scheme that responded appropriately to the area.

“Our ambition is to bring a new model of co-living to Manchester, focused on delivering well-designed spaces alongside the amenity and services that increasingly underpin how people want to live in the city,” James said, according to Place North West.

He added that Valad believed the site was suitable for the approach and that the scheme could become a high-quality addition to Knott Mill and the wider Manchester market.

The comments set out Valad’s stated aims for the project but do not establish whether the proposal will receive planning approval. The planning authority will consider the formal application once it is submitted.

How would the proposed scheme differ from the earlier vision?

The earlier vision for the site involved a building of around 20 storeys with 200 units. Valad is now working on a scheme of 15 storeys containing 300 units.

The comparison indicates that the new proposal would be lower in height but would provide more units. The final figures may change during the design and planning process, as developers often revise schemes before or after submitting planning applications.

The available information does not provide details about the size of individual units, the proposed tenure, rental levels, parking arrangements or the exact mix of private and shared spaces.

It also does not confirm the proposed architectural design, the amount of amenity space or the expected construction timetable. Those details may become available through future planning documents or further announcements from Valad and Manchester City Council.

What is co-living and how does it relate to the proposal?

Co-living generally refers to accommodation in which residents have private living spaces while sharing selected communal facilities and services. The model can include shared lounges, kitchens, workspaces, social areas or other amenities, depending on the design and management of a particular scheme.

Valad said its proposal would focus on well-designed spaces together with amenities and services. However, the company has not publicly released a full specification for the Commercial Street project in the information reported by Place North West.

The term “co-living” does not by itself confirm the nature of the tenancy arrangements or the precise services available to residents. Those matters would need to be set out in the developer’s future documentation and any relevant planning materials.

For potential residents, the final details would be important in assessing the development. These could include unit sizes, rent, included services, communal facilities, lease terms and eligibility requirements.

Where else is Valad developing co-living projects?

The Commercial Street proposal forms part of Valad’s wider development activity. According to the company’s website, it is progressing other co-living schemes in Canary Wharf and Glasgow.

The company is also working on a logistics development at Omega North in Warrington. Place North West reported that the logistics scheme covers 500,000 square feet.

The projects show that Valad is active across several property sectors and locations. However, the report does not state whether the Canary Wharf and Glasgow schemes have reached the same stage as the Manchester proposal or provide details of their planning status.

Valad is headed by chief executive and founder Eann Smith. The company is based in London.

What happens next for the Manchester site?

The next major step is the preparation and submission of Valad’s planning application. The investor is targeting submission before Christmas 2026.

Once an application is submitted, Manchester City Council would assess the proposal through the planning process. The council’s consideration would provide more information about the detailed design, unit numbers, height, access, amenity space and other planning matters.

The development cannot be treated as approved at this stage. Valad has exchanged contracts and is progressing plans, but the proposed acquisition and construction remain linked to planning consent.

SimpsonHaugh was contacted for comment, according to Place North West. The report did not include a response from the architecture practice.

The available report also does not provide a construction start date, completion date or confirmed contractor. These details may depend on the planning outcome and the final development programme.

What could the scheme mean for Knott Mill?

If approved, the development would add a significant number of residential units to Knott Mill. The proposed 300 units would increase the amount of accommodation planned for the Commercial Street site compared with the earlier 200-unit concept.

The project would also introduce a new use for a property previously occupied as an architecture practice’s office. Its design would need to respond to the site’s position near both established city-centre streets and the newer high-rise development around Great Jackson Street.

Valad has said it wants the project to respond to Knott Mill’s architectural and commercial character. The final assessment will depend on the plans submitted to Manchester City Council and the council’s decision.

The development could also add to the range of housing formats available in central Manchester. However, the published information does not state whether the units would be affordable, discounted or aimed at a particular group of residents.

Background: What is the history of the Commercial Street site?

SimpsonHaugh occupied the Commercial Street building for 25 years before relocating to King Street in Manchester’s central business district. The practice appointed CBRE to market the office in the previous year.

The property sits near the Great Jackson Street skyscraper cluster developed by Renaker. SimpsonHaugh designed the cluster, which has emerged over the past decade and has contributed to the transformation of Manchester’s southern city-centre skyline.

Marketing material released last year suggested a redevelopment of roughly 20 storeys and 200 units. Valad’s current proposal changes both the height and the number of units, with a 15-storey building and 300 co-living homes now under consideration.

The site’s redevelopment is part of the wider change taking place around Manchester city centre, where former commercial properties and underused sites have been considered for residential and mixed-use projects. In this case, the next formal milestone will be the submission of Valad’s planning application.

Prediction: How could the Valad Manchester co-living scheme affect residents and investors?

If the proposal receives planning approval, the Valad Manchester co-living scheme could increase the supply of centrally located accommodation in Knott Mill. Its effect on residents will depend on the final rents, unit sizes, services and tenancy terms, none of which have been confirmed in the available report.

For prospective renters, the project could provide another option close to Manchester’s central business district. For existing residents, the effect could include additional activity around the site and a change to the appearance and use of the former SimpsonHaugh property.

For investors and property professionals, the proposal could offer an indication of continuing interest in co-living schemes in major UK cities. However, the project remains subject to planning approval, and its commercial outcome will depend on costs, demand, the final design and the timing of delivery.