Support services provider Carillion has put community support and sustainability at the heart of a high profile office and retail / restaurant development project in the civic heart of Manchester city centre.

One St Peter's Square (OSPS) sits on the site formerly occupied by Elisabeth House and is being re-developed as a 13-storey office and retail / restaurant building set within an important conservation area.

As main contractor, Carillion is working in partnership on the £65 million project with leading developer Argent (Property Development) Services LLP (Argent) and the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund (GMPVF).

Sustainable development, local job creation and supporting local community projects have been paramount for both Argent and GMPVF and Carillion's ability to deliver was key to its selection.

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Carillion has already used the project to offer local training and apprenticeship opportunities and has provided 14 placements through the Business in the Community's (BITC) Ready for Work programme to help the homeless.

Carillion has implemented lean design and sustainable construction solutions including reducing on-site waste by 50% and ensuring that manufacturing processes produce less than 1% waste.

Plans are also being considered to link the Grade 'A' office building to a district heating system within the Manchester Central Complex to provide district heating power for Manchester's Central Library, Town Hall, Manchester Central and potentially the Midland Hotel and the OSPS.

John Currie, Carillion Project Director, said: "The challenge we have been set is to develop OSPS as an exceptional building and a modern classic. Achieving BREEAM 'Excellent' standards and meeting strict conservation area rules while maintaining the aesthetic quality of the building have not been easy and has involved going back to the drawing board more than once.

"However, we are delighted with the progress and we are confident this development will become a much-loved addition to Manchester."

(CD)