Waterhouse Gardens has reached a new milestone, as the last residential blocks begin handing over and more buyers and renters move into one of Manchester city centre’s newest neighbourhoods.
Developed by Salboy on the site of the former Boddingtons Brewery, the £195 million scheme will deliver 556 homes alongside 30,000 square feet of commercial space and a private landscaped podium garden, transforming this prominent gateway on Great Ducie Street into a major new residential address. The whole site, including the 30,000 square feet of retail and leisure space, is expected to be complete by the end of February.
New residents are already settling into their apartments and making full use of The Waterhouse Club – the residents only amenity hub at the heart of the development. The club brings together a 2,500 square foot gym, pool, spa facilities with plunge pool, steam room and sauna, a sports court, cinema room, private dining space, co working areas and dedicated concierge support.
For many, daily life now includes early morning swims, gym sessions before work, quiet time in the residents’ library or co working space, and evenings in the games room, cinema or private dining room with friends and neighbours. The amenity club is now fully open, complementing the landscaped podium gardens and setting a new benchmark for amenity led living on the northern edge of the city centre.
Part of the new Ducie Street neighbourhood
Waterhouse Gardens sits at the centre of a wider transformation of Great Ducie Street, identified by Manchester City Council as a future “Ducie Street neighbourhood” in its plans to create seven new districts around the city core. The ambition is to turn what was once a largely underused, vehicle dominated corridor into a walkable, mixed use neighbourhood that links Greengate, NOMA and the Medieval Quarter.
As more residents move in, Waterhouse Gardens is helping to anchor this emerging district, bringing a permanent residential community, high quality public realm and active ground floors to a location just minutes from AO Arena, Victoria Station and the city’s main commercial and cultural quarters.
Simon Ismail, CEO & Co-founder of Salboy, said:
“Seeing more residents collect their keys and make Waterhouse Gardens their home is a proud moment for everyone who has worked on this project. From the outset our focus was on building a genuine neighbourhood, not just another city centre scheme. The way people are already using The Waterhouse Club and the shared spaces shows how strong the demand is for high quality, amenity rich living on Great Ducie Street.”
“This site was always going to be important as a gateway into the city. Now, as part of the emerging Ducie Street neighbourhood, it is becoming a place in its own right – somewhere people live, socialise and spend time, as well as a key link between surrounding districts.”
Commercial tenants announcements coming in the new year
With the last residential blocks now handing over and construction entering its final stages, attention is turning to the commercial promenade and ground floor units that will line the new avenue through Waterhouse Gardens. These spaces are designed to host a curated mix of independent and boutique operators, including cafés, eateries, lifestyle and everyday services aimed at residents, workers and visitors.
Salboy expects to announce the first commercial tenants in the new year, helping to shape this area into one of Manchester’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, with boutique food and drink, everyday essentials and lifestyle services all within a short walk of residents’ front doors.
