Burton Road
Urbanise was chosen by W H Real Estate to strip out, extend and renovate two residential properties in the popular area of West Didsbury in Manchester. The project focused on conjoining adjacent buildings and bringing the near derelict properties back to life for both residential and commercial use.
From near derelict to new
In preparation of conjoining the two properties, we first stripped out the buildings. Due to demolishing works, we employed a specialist propping and temporary works design and strategy to safely remove parts of the very fragile existing structure. We then installed a 30ft structural steel section, which required the use of specialist lifting equipment. Next, we extended the property to form four new apartments, each acoustically treated and fitted with Porcelanosa bathrooms, gas central heating and modern kitchens with integrated appliances.
As part of the extension, we removed the party wall, which created over 1,800 sq ft of retail space, giving the building a dual purpose.
Project challenges
This project presented us with several challenges, primarily working within a very tight urban space. We had to carefully manage access, deliveries and waste removal due to a sizable bus stop being located at the front of the properties. We staggered deliveries and waste removal to overcome this challenge. Lastly, we liaised with local residents and businesses to keep them informed of the works and to ensure the retailers could continue operating with minimal disruption.
Ongoing success
Despite these challenges, the project was a success, transforming the existing properties into four 2-bed flats and one large retail space ready to be let.
We’ve completed several projects in the Didsbury area to date – we fitted out the popular pizza restaurant, Proove, which is situated in the ground floor commercial unit of this project, and we delivered an extensive refurbishment of over 150 homes at Didsbury Point.
