Muse Developments and Morgan Capital have signed a deal to bring forward the second and final phase of development at New Victoria, the £190 million gateway scheme in the heart of Manchester city centre.

This phase will see a 150,000 sq ft Grade A, eight-storey office building delivered, with the ambition for it to be a best-in-class, sustainable development.

The team at Morgan Capital – working in a joint venture with a European Family Office – has been actively searching for the perfect opportunity to enter the North West market to invest in a high-profile scheme to hold for the long term, and with the commercial phase at New Victoria, they feel they have found it.

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Morgan Capital is an award-winning real estate operating partner, with a current portfolio value of £500m, that acquires, develops and asset manages best-in-class commercial properties with investor partners.

In 2020 during the first lockdown, Muse announced a £130m deal with Pension Insurance Corporation to fund and operate the 450,000 sq ft residential phase of the scheme, which once complete in 2024, will deliver 520 high-quality homes across two 20 and 25-storey buildings respectively, with first-class amenities.

David Burkinshaw, development director at Muse, said: "Hot on the heels of the £130m deal with PIC to deliver the residential phase, we’re proud to sign with Morgan Capital, who will deliver and own the commercial phase. This deal also represents another ringing endorsement of what we’ve achieved at New Victoria and in Manchester.

"Our vision was always to repurpose this key area in the heart of the city centre, driving inward investment, creating truly special places to live, work and socialise, while creating prosperity for all, and we look forward to seeing another place-changing scheme delivered in the heart of Manchester."