Cooper House - Manchester
Location: 59-61 Booth Street West, Manchester
Value: £2 million
Project Duration: TBC
Contract: JCT Intermediate Building Contract 2024 (ICD)
Client: The Guinness Partnership
Agent: AtkinsRealis
Cooper House is a nine-storey, occupied Higher Risk Building in Hulme, Manchester, comprising 91 apartments. Originally built in the 1970s, the project replaces combustible façade cladding to entrances, balconies and soffits, delivered through the Building Safety Regulator's Gateway process while residents remain in their homes.
Appointed as Principal Contractor, IRS will remove the existing Trespa cladding system and install a new RockPanel cladding system with PermaRock render to soffits, covering external columns, balcony dividing walls, access walkway soffits and the entrance lobby. Insulated PVCu and PPC spandrel panels to windows and curtain walling will be replaced, alongside new fire-stopping measures and remediation of PPC window flashing to the west and east façades. Services within access walkways and balconies will be relocated to suit the new build-up.
PCSA/COMPLIANCE: Cooper House is classified as a Higher Risk Building under the Building Safety Act 2022. IRS has entered into a PCSA to carry out the Building Control application through the Building Safety Regulator's Gateway process. Section 1 covers completion of the Contractor's Design Portion and Gateway 2 approval; Section 2, subject to Section 1, delivers the works.
Design, surveys, procurement and cost planning are being coordinated to secure a de-risked scheme and fixed contract sum. Safety performance to date shows zero RIDDOR incidents across 31 active delivery weeks, with an AFR of 0.00.
RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT: Resident safety, communication and access are central to delivery at Cooper House. A dedicated Resident Liaison Officer coordinates with residents to manage expectations, provide updates and resolve issues as they arise. Given the Hulme location, close to neighbouring residential and educational premises, engagement extends to managing traffic and logistics sensitively around the building. Residents receive a Welcome Pack outlining scope, emergency procedures and fire strategy, backed by ongoing communication throughout.
Similar projects
