Firma Partners and Precede Capital have jointly financed the €35m redevelopment of Barclay House in Manchester, a landmark office-to-residential conversion by Broad Street Real Estate. The 6,500m² scheme will transform a neo-Renaissance building on Whitworth Street into 94 apartments, complete with premium shared amenities.
Strategically located near Oxford Road station and within walking distance of Spinningfields and Deansgate, the project is designed to attract young professionals and students seeking lifestyle-led city living. The building’s historical façade, ornate stonework and generous proportions are being preserved to retain architectural character while delivering modern interiors.
Backed by two specialist lenders focused on sustainable, high-quality schemes, the development exemplifies the ongoing reactivation of heritage city centre assets into high-demand rental housing. For investors, it signals the appeal of adaptive reuse models in regional UK cities where demand for amenity-rich living continues to outpace supply.
“We are proud to support Broad Street Real Estate on this distinctive, thoughtfully designed residential-led scheme,”said Victor Librae, CEO of Firma Partners. “Barclay House reflects the kind of quality, character and placemaking that we look for in a project.”
Precede Capital, a B Corp-certified lender, highlighted the scheme’s alignment with its focus on experienced sponsors and community-enhancing developments. “Barclay House aligns with our strategy of backing experienced sponsors delivering high-quality, amenity-rich rental housing in key UK cities,” added Randeesh Sandhu, CEO of Precede Capital.
As city centres evolve post-pandemic, projects like Barclay House showcase the potential for underused commercial stock to be repositioned into vibrant residential destinations. These developments are increasingly attractive to institutional capital seeking long-term, ESG-compliant assets in core urban locations.
People mentioned:
Victor Librae – CEO, Firma Partners
Randeesh Sandhu – CEO, Precede Capital
Companies mentioned:
Firma Partners – Real estate lender and development finance provider
Precede Capital – B Corp-certified real estate lending platform
Broad Street Real Estate – Developer of Barclay House
Image Source: Firma Partners
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