AC1 Construction has signed the replacement building contract to complete Zentra Group’s 129-home One Victoria development in Manchester city centre, giving the project a formal delivery route through its final construction, commissioning and handover stages. The contract was signed on 25 September after AC1 had already taken possession of the site under a letter of intent on 30 July. Zentra’s regulatory announcement to the Aquis Stock Exchange confirms practical completion is currently expected in December 2026.
That sequence is important. AC1 did not wait for the full replacement contract before mobilising. The July agreement allowed the contractor to take possession of the development, assume principal contractor duties and begin agreed works while Zentra Great Ducie Street Limited, the project funder and professional team completed the remaining scope, cost plan and contractual arrangements.
One Victoria in Manchester, where AC1 Construction has been appointed to complete the 129-home development for Zentra Group. Editorial illustration.
AC1 moves from interim mobilisation to full contract
The new contract formalises a transition that has been under way for almost two months. Torsion Construction’s previous appointment ended after administrators were appointed to the contractor in July, with AC1 brought onto One Victoria immediately afterwards to maintain progress on the advanced scheme. London Construction Magazine reported on Torsion Construction’s financial position and the emerging completion strategy at One Victoria in July, when Zentra was already working on contingency arrangements for the project.
At that stage, Zentra said the apartment fit-out was substantially complete and façade works were in their final stages. The remaining programme principally covered external and communal areas, finishing and snagging, testing and commissioning, together with the inspections and approvals required before practical completion.
This makes One Victoria a late-stage project recovery rather than a restart from an incomplete structural shell. AC1’s role is now focused on taking already advanced construction through the interfaces that determine whether a finished building can actually reach handover: remaining physical works, defects, system commissioning, inspections and completion documentation. That distinction matters on any contractor transition. As LCM’s project restart analysis has previously examined, changing delivery teams requires a clear understanding of what has already been completed, what evidence supports that work and which items remain open before the incoming contractor progresses to completion.
129 homes across two Manchester city centre buildings
One Victoria sits between Great Ducie Street and Mirabel Street and comprises 129 apartments across two buildings. The Mirabel Street building rises to 10 storeys, while the Great Ducie Street block steps between 10 and 14 storeys. The approved development also includes ground-floor commercial space and resident amenity areas. The original development programme was established after a construction agreement with Torsion Construction was signed in July 2023. At that point, the project was reported with a gross development value of approximately £39.1m and a Q2 2025 practical completion target. The £39.1m figure relates to gross development value, not the value of the construction contract.
Zentra’s project update from May 2024 recorded the structural topping-out of One Victoria and credited Torsion Construction, Day Architects, Innov8, Civic Structural Design Engineers, PDA Acousticians, CWC Manchester & Liverpool MEP, UI Consulting and the wider site and subcontractor teams involved in reaching that stage. The development sits within the wider Great Ducie Street area, where Manchester City Council’s regeneration framework supports the creation of a mixed-use neighbourhood combining residential, commercial and other city-centre uses.
Trafford investment forms part of the project funding structure
The project also has a Greater Manchester public-sector funding connection. Trafford Council’s published Asset Investment Fund records a £22.6m development debt commitment against One Victoria as part of the council’s wider investment programme. The council describes the objective of its Asset Investment Strategy as supporting Trafford’s strategic priorities while generating an income stream for local services. The One Victoria allocation sits alongside other property and development investments across Greater Manchester. Zentra Group acts as development manager for One Victoria and holds a 30% equity interest in Zentra Great Ducie Street Limited, the project company. Companies House records show the development vehicle remains active and was previously named One Heritage Great Ducie Street Limited before the wider group rebrand.
Sales progress gives the completion programme a clear destination
The sales position is already well advanced. Zentra reported on 25 September that 105 of the 129 apartments had exchanged contracts, with another seven reserved. That leaves 17 apartments available while AC1 progresses the remaining construction programme. Jason Upton, Chief Executive Officer of Zentra Group, said: “AC1’s early mobilisation has enabled us to maintain the fourth quarter completion timeframe announced in July, with practical completion currently expected in December.”
The positive point for the project is the speed of the delivery transition. The original AC1 letter of intent was signed on 30 July, allowing site control and principal contractor responsibilities to transfer while the full building contract was still being prepared. The subsequent contract now gives AC1, Zentra, the funder and professional team a defined route through the remaining works rather than leaving the Manchester development in an extended procurement gap. It is also a practical example of the distinction highlighted in LCM’s 2026 construction insolvency analysis: contractor insolvency does not automatically mean project failure where the client and project team can secure a controlled replacement delivery strategy.
The next confirmed milestone is practical completion, currently expected in December 2026. Until then, AC1’s programme is centred on completing the remaining external and communal works, finishing and snagging, testing and commissioning, and securing the inspections and approvals needed to bring One Victoria through to handover.
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus Founder & Editor, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |