iQ Student Accommodation Weston Halls & the Pendulum Hotel
Our proposals
Our scheme
The redevelopment of Weston Halls and the Pendulum Hotel presents an opportunity to provide more high-quality, modern, purpose-built student accommodation in a strategic city centre location, close to the universities.
Around 2,500 student bedrooms will be provided in a mix of studios and cluster units, within fully serviced and expertly managed buildings. The development will be delivered over two phases.
Active frontages are proposed on the perimeter of the buildings and within the site, to enhance the wider public realm offering.
Supporting amenity spaces including a gym, study spaces, extensive lounges and both private and social dining, as well as a significant area of external amenity space for students to enjoy.
Design development
The proposals are for around 2,500 purpose-built student beds and associated amenity facilities. The development will be delivered over two phases with four buildings in total, with the tallest building having a maximum height of up to 50 storeys.
Phase A - Partial removal of existing structures and erection of two buildings comprising purpose-built student accommodation. One will be 50 storeys and one will be 18 storeys, with a 9-storey intermediary link building, together with associated amenity space, external landscaping, highways works, and change of use of the Pendulum Hotel to purpose-built student accommodation.
Phase B - Removal of remaining existing structures and erection of two buildings comprising purpose-built student accommodation. One will be 32 storeys and one of 24 storeys, with a 1-storey intermediary link building, together with associated amenity space, external landscaping, and highways works.
The development incorporates supporting amenity spaces including a gym, study spaces, extensive lounges and both private and social dining, as well as a significant area of external amenity space for students .
Active frontages are proposed on the perimeter and within the site, to enhance the wider public realm offerings as part of the development.
Illustrative image of the proposals from Charles Street (click to enlarge)
Illustrative image of the proposals from Princess Street (click to enlarge)
The proposals have been developed with consideration of the wider, existing context.
These include the immediate Charles Street Car Park, University of Manchester (North) Campus and Circle Square.
The two buildings of height have been positioned to the south east and north west of the site, in response to the proposed pedestrian routes and large public spaces proposed in the Sister ID masterplan.
A series of smaller buildings of varying height address Charles and Sackville Street, reinforcing the street edge and street pattern.
Indicative public realm and landscaping masterplan (click to enlarge)
Public realm and landscape
The landscaping proposals for the site aspire to create an ambitious, high-quality student neighbourhood at the heart of the city. The design is structured around three distinct, yet interconnected, spaces delivered through a phased approach.
The Streetscape is anchored by Charles Street and Sackville Street and forms the public interface of the development, connecting seamlessly to the Sister ID masterplan. This active urban edge will encourage movement and interaction, strengthening the relationship between the development and the surrounding area.
The Courtyard sits at the heart of the scheme and will provide a series of active and tranquil spaces for socialising, study and play. From the courtyard, views will be enjoyed across the Woodland Edge below, situated approximately three metres lower.
The Woodland Edge will offer a softer, more natural character, accessible via both stepped and level pathways. Interventions here will be deliberately light touch, focusing on native wildflower planting and small woodland trees to encourage biodiversity and seasonal change. An informal looping route will weave through this landscape, offering opportunities for temporary uses, flexible activities, and moments of quiet retreat.
Together, these spaces will see the delivery of 3,200m² of visual amenity, including new, landscaped spaces. Opportunities for public access to these spaces is being considered as part of the development of the plans.
Sustainability
Targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
All electric building services strategy incorporating solar PVs to reduce operational carbon emissions. All electricity from renewable sources (onsite and offsite)
Design which considers embodied carbon through early stage modelling and options appraisal
Car free development prioritising active travel and benefiting from an extremely sustainable location in terms of amenities and public transport
Climate resilient design to prevent risk of overheating
Bio-diversity net-gain
Targeting elements in BREEAM to deliver high indoor air quality and contributing to the health and well being of occupants
Delivery
Subject to planning permission, the demolition of the existing Weston Halls and the Pendulum Hotel will be phased. Removal of existing structures, site preparation and construction of the proposed development is anticipated to commence in 2027, with Phase A construction being completed the development opening for the academic year 2031/32. Phase B construction is anticipated to commence in 2031, being completed opening for the academic year 2034/35.
2025
Planning application submission to Manchester City Council
2027
Partial removal of existing structures, site preparation and construction
2031/32
Phase A operational
2034/35
Phase B operational
Benefits
The proposed development will deliver a number of benefits, including:
Construction Phase
Operational Phase
Expanding Choice and Capacity in the Housing Market
1 GVA (Gross Value Added) measure the value of output created (i.e. turnover) net of inputs used to produce a good or service (i.e. production of outputs). It provides a key measure of economic productivity. Put simply the GVA is the total of all revenue into businesses, which is used to fund wages, profits and taxes.
2 Estimate assumes all Band A properties.
FAQs
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The proposed scheme has been developed with consideration to the existing context. These include the immediate Charles Street Car Park, University of Manchester (North) Campus and Circle Square.
The two buildings of height have been positioned to the south east and north west of the site, in response to the proposed pedestrian routes and large public spaces proposed in the Sister ID masterplan.
A series of smaller buildings of varying height address Charles and Sackville Street, reinforcing the street edge and street pattern.
Locating the buildings along Charles and Sackville Street allows the introduction of a large south facing landscape courtyard responding to the position of the tower on Sackville Street.
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Charles Street will be the primary entrance to the development.
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The removal of the existing Weston Halls and Pendulum Hotel on site will be phased (Phase A and Phase B).
The phased approach will reduce the impact, and loss, to existing market stock; as part of Phase A partial removal of the existing buildings on site will be brought forward, which will allow the remaining elements of the existing buildings to be retained and used as student accommodation during this period.
Temporary fencing / hoarding will be erected around the perimeter of the site at the outset where works are proposed. A Demolition and Construction Management Plan will be agreed with Manchester City Council prior to any works being undertaken on site. This will set out hours of operation and ensure that any impacts to local residents and businesses are minimised.
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We would like to be clear to all current users of the nursery and staff working there that the nursery will not be impacted by these proposals until 2031 at the earliest.
Early engagement activity has taken place with the nursery, who currently lease the space on the ground floor of Weston Halls from iQ. While it will be a number of years before anything comes forward on site, iQ are taking proactive steps to support the nursery and its users. These include:
Ongoing engagement with the nursery about timings and next steps
The project is being delivered in phases, and the nursery will remain fully operational as part of Phase A (set to complete in readiness for the 2031/32 academic year).
iQ is engaging in discussions with wider strategic partners to scope opportunities for alternative, nearby suitable locations for the nursery.
The project team will ensure that the nursery and wider stakeholders are kept up to date with the delivery of the project and are working closely with them to source an alternative suitable location for when it is necessary.