Princess Court is a seven-storey residential building in Manchester city centre, providing 90 apartments above ground-floor commercial space. Appointed by Contractor Casey, we led the design of remedial works, including the removal and replacement of non-compliant external cladding and the redesign of internal compartmentation to the top storey, retiling the roof to improve the safety, performance, and appearance of the building.

We were appointed by Contractor Casey to deliver remedial works at Princess Court, a seven-storey residential building owned and managed by Your Housing Group. Situated in the Whitworth Street/Princess Street Conservation Area, the building provides 90 apartments above ground-floor commercial premises, arranged around a central courtyard.

Our brief was to design a compliant replacement for the non-conforming cladding systems identified by the fire engineer, while remaining sympathetic to the conservation area setting. This required intrusive investigations into wall types, insulation, cavity barriers, and potential construction defects, all of which informed our design solutions.

We also reviewed internal compartmentation to the top storey, specifying a compliant ceiling system to replace the existing demountable grid, integrating fire detection, fire stopping, and dampers to the ventilation system, while assessing the roof structure for any additional remedial work.

The completed scheme has refreshed the building both aesthetically and operationally. New cladding panels, aluminium window frames, cavity barriers and insulation have significantly improved fire safety, thermal efficiency, and overall performance. The roof was renewed with a reconstituted slate system, complementing the conservation area context.

Externally, the bold new red and yellow detailing reinstates Princess Court as a distinctive and vibrant presence in central Manchester. Working closely with Contractor Casey, we have delivered a safer, more resilient and future-ready home for residents while preserving the character of this landmark building.

Both Your Housing Group and building residents have subsequently shared their positive views on the scheme.