Moho

Location
Castlefield, Manchester
Client
BWP Consultants
Contract Value
c.£12m
People

The Brief

Moho is a landmark 102-apartment development in Castlefield, Manchester. Originally developed by Urban Splash, the building was created from off-site manufactured modular living pods and is classed as a Higher-Risk Building under the Building Safety Act.

BTP was appointed as Architect and Building Regulations Principal Designer for the £12 million façade remediation. The project involved removing combustible materials and completing wider fire-safety upgrades while retaining the building’s distinctive architectural character.

The Impact

Improving fire safety and safeguarding 102 homes through major façade remediation and essential safety upgrades.

Our Role

BTP led the architectural design and coordinated the project team through the Building Safety Regulator’s Gateway 2 process.

Working closely with Moho Management Company, BWP Building & Project Consultants and a specialist design team, we developed the technical design, resolved complex buildability issues and maintained clear compliance information throughout the project.

Before and after

Restoring safety and confidence at Moho

Design development

Moho’s modular construction and occupied setting made the remediation particularly complex. Misalignment between the factory-fixed steelwork and individual modules required bespoke detailing, while corrosion to balcony structures was addressed through sandblasting, protective treatments and targeted steel replacement.

The original timber cladding, EPS insulation and other combustible materials were replaced with an aluminium façade system and A1-rated fire-resistant components. The works also included new windows and patio doors, reconstructed dining pods, upgraded soffits and walkway decking, balcony waterproofing and fire-stopping to previously uncompartmented service risers.

Pilot panels and pod prototypes allowed key details to be tested and refined before installation. Upgraded insulation and membranes improved thermal performance, while a carefully phased strip-out and recycling process helped reduce waste and disruption to residents.

Arundel Street Courtyard Elevation

Outcomes

Completed in March 2025, the project delivered safe, compliant and more resilient façades while restoring Moho’s distinctive appearance. Careful sequencing supported phased reoccupation, and the refreshed façades and reinstated pod detailing have renewed residents’ confidence in their homes and given this Manchester landmark a new lease of life.

Darren Bailey, BWP Building & Project Consultants.

"BTP’s technical expertise and collaborative approach have been invaluable in progressing this complex façade remediation scheme. Their clear leadership successfully guided the project through the Building Safety Regulator’s Gateway 2 process."

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Director
Simon Dennis

BSc, BArch(Hons), RIBA

Director
Simon Dennis

BSc, BArch(Hons), RIBA

I joined BTP in 2015, bringing a portfolio of Judicial and Custodial refurbishment projects to the practice, which I still continue to develop, including several conservation projects. More recently, I have also developed my role as a Principal Designer on both HRB & Non-HRB projects, particularly for custodial and education projects.

Since Graduating from Dundee University in 1996 I have gained considerable experience as an architect through completing a broad range of project types and sizes; from domestic projects for private clients to multi-million pound construction programmes for Government bodies and International commercial organisations throughout the UK. My predominant skills are in job running, detailed design, conservation projects and project management.

Outside of the office I am an enthusiastic hill-walker and climber and enjoy the outdoors, from gentle country strolls, ticking off Wainwrights and Munros, or summitting international peaks. I am also a keen traveller with a collection of passport stamps from Iceland to Antarctica.
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Architectural Assistant
Alin Pal

BSc (Hons), M.Arch.
Architectural Assistant
Alin Pal

BSc (Hons), M.Arch.

I joined BTP in 2018 as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant and have since completed my master’s degree in architecture. I’m now working towards my Part 3 qualification, with experience across new-build housing, retrofit, retirement living and high-rise remediation.

My projects include a 50+ unit extra care home, Bowland House 17-storey high-rise remediation and 70 unit Booth Street housing scheme in Stoke. I also lead BTP’s CGI and animation studio, creating architectural visualisations that help clients understand and explore their projects.

Outside work, I enjoy travelling, exploring new places, photography, and spending quality time with friends and family.
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Director
Leanne Beirne

BA(Hons), M.Arch, RIBA, ARB
Director
Leanne Beirne

BA(Hons), M.Arch, RIBA, ARB

I’m an architect with specialist experience in housing and heritage projects, with a particular focus on fire safety and cladding remediation. I qualified in 2015 and joined BTP in 2017, following roles in Singapore and Sweden working on public buildings, BIM management and accessible design.

I am qualified as a Certified European Passive House Designer, a RIBA accredited Conservation Architect, and became one of the first Architects to be listed on the RIBA Principal Designer Register for Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs).

Outside work, I like to keep fit with running, hiking, weightlifting, skiing and rock climbing. Travel and adventure are a big part of my life, from completing the Inca Trail and climbing Kilimanjaro to running my first (and probably only) marathon on the Great Wall of China.