CERT has facilitated the purchase of the 97,000 sq ft Shena Simon Campus from The Manchester College, on behalf of the private family office of Oliver Cookson, for an undisclosed price.
CERT intends to deliver a hotel on the site and discussions are already underway with a “leading, global hotel operator”.
The proposals for the redevelopment of the campus, which first opened as The Central Higher Grade School in 1901, will be submitted by CERT’s design team this spring.
Howard Lord, managing director of CERT, said: “The Shena Simon Campus builds on our dedication to restoring heritage properties, and matching them to serve their neighbourhoods with a new purpose; just as we did with Duke & Parr in Liverpool. This time we’re taking our capabilities into hospitality, with an incredible hotel brand that will complement this beautiful old building and its surroundings.”
Oliver Cookson, whose family office is working with CERT on the redevelopment of the campus, added: “Manchester is where I grew up – it shaped my outlook and gave me the foundations to build from. This city has always been about reinvention, and the Shena Simon Campus is the perfect place to keep that spirit alive. With CERT, we’re not just restoring a building – we’re reimagining its role in Manchester’s future. We’re turning a landmark into a destination, blending heritage with ambition. It means a lot to give something back to the city that gave me my start.”
John Thornhill, CEO of LTE Group, said: “For over a century Shena Simon has been a place of learning where people from across the city have been able to access education and gain the skills that have been so vital to Manchester’s economic success. However, it no longer offered the cutting-edge facilities required to equip learners with the skills they’ll need in 2025 to access the economic opportunities that exist in the city, which we offer at our other campuses in Manchester.
“Given the enormous role that Shena Simon has played in the social history of Manchester we are delighted that, as we exit the site, its architectural integrity will be preserved as its purpose changes, and it will continue to play a major role at the heart of the city.”
