Timekeepers Square

The development is located within the Adelphi/Bexley Square conservation area with the neo-classical Grade II* listed St Phillips Church, designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke, at its centre.

The area also encompasses a row of Georgian terraces, a Victorian courthouse, St John’s RC Cathedral, and the former Town Hall, all of which are Grade II listed.

A primary urban design aim for the project was to reinstate the area’s historic street pattern, where this had been destroyed, and re-introduce a legibility to the streets that would strengthen the area’s centrepiece – St Phillips Church.

The strategic plan for Timekeepers Square, therefore, has been to create clearly defined rows of terraces that relate in a sensitive and contemporary manner to neighbouring Georgian terraces, responding to them in height, massing, and rhythm.

Two blocks of two and three bed terraced houses have been set out along the edges of a new pedestrian boulevard – St Phillip’s Walk – leading up to the church. The three bedroom houses have been designed to be three storeys and at an appropriate scale to the church. Moving away from the church however, the houses defer in scale in line with the changing site levels, helping define and frame the view towards St Philips to ensure that it remains the development’s focal point.

A third block of four bed houses has been created adjacent to the church and recreates a side of the church square that had been lost. This block completes an existing row of Georgian townhouses and has been designed to be four storeys in height, responding in height to the scale of the church and of the Georgian houses.

RIBA North West Awards 2018: Winner
Housing Design Awards 2018: Winner of the Richard Feilden Award
Civic Trust Awards 2018: National Winner
RICS Awards North West 2018: Winner of the Residential Award
Insider North West Residential Property Awards 2018: Winner of Small Housing Development of the Year
Manchester Society of Architects Awards 2017: Winner of Best Multiple Residential
Manchester Society of Architects Awards 2017: Shortlisted for Building of the Year
The Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2017: Shortlisted for Development of the Year
Brick Awards 2017: Shortlisted for Large Housing Development of the Year & Winner of the Urban Regeneration Award
Housing Design Awards 2016: Shortlisted
Manchester Society of Architects Awards 2015: Winner of Best Multiple Residential (unbuilt)