A masterplan has been unveiled by Manchester City Council and Allied London Properties which is set to transform part of Manchester City Centre and bring with it a massive jobs boost.
An exhibition of Spinningfields, held at Manchester Town Hall in February, laid down the blueprint for the renaissance of the area of Manchester bounded by Deansgate, Bridge Street, Quay Street and the River Irwell.
The 8.90 ha mixed use scheme features ten major office buildings, together with new City Magistrates Courts, two impressive luxury hotels, several residential apartment buildings, a new college for Manchester College of Arts and Technology and a unique array of shops, restaurants and bars.
A number of buildings in the area will be retained, including the Pumphouse Museum, Gartside Street multi-storey car park, the Opera House and other buildings fronting Quay Street. The existing Crown Courts will also be retained, but will be extended at the Hardman Street end, onto part of the area occupied by the existing Magistrates’ Court.
John Rylands Library, which houses one of the most spectacular collections of rare books and manuscripts in the world, will gain a new entrance building, replacing the current grey brick extension. The new building will include a wheelchair accessible lift along with catering and retailing facilities.
The area will be opened up with new direct links established between Deansgate and the River Irwell. These links will open up more public space, much of which will be along a pedestrian boulevard running from the side of the Opera House down to the Irwell, parallel with New Quay Street. This will pass through two new squares – Hardman Square and Irwell Square- before linking with a new pedestrian footbridge across the river.
Work on the first phase of the scheme should start within the next 12 months. This covers the construction of a new, 18,588 sq m Magistrates” Court on the site of Cumberland House, to the rear of John Rylands. A new City Centre facility for Manchester College of Arts and Technology will be built on part of the existing Mancat site on New Quay Street and a new riverside development built along the Irwell between the Pumphouse and New Quay Street. This is set to include new homes, restaurants, bars, retail units and gallery space.
Also in the first phase will be a five-star, 235-room hotel, on the site of Northcliffe House, situated at the corner of Hardman Street and Deansgate.
Later phases of the scheme will depend on commercial demand but could include a further hotel on part of the college site, ten office blocks with up to 65,058 sq m of high callibre space, further residential blocks, retail space and a multi-storey car park. These will utilise not only the remainder of the Mancat site, but also part of the sites of Cumberland House, the existing Magistrates’ Court and vacant land on Hardman Street. There is also a proposal to demolish the existing YHA shop and Manchester Evening News building and replace them with a major retail store
“The scheme will help consolidate Manchester”s standing as a modern, dynamic, international centre for major investment. Following the successful redevelopment of the bomb damaged area, the regeneration of this quarter will represent the next significant phase of investment in the City Centre.
“It will be an exciting place for people and families and will make a major contribution to our key policy objective of providing new job opportunities for Manchester residents.”
Richard Leese, Leader, Manchester City Council
“This is a sustainable development and can be delivered through our valuable partnership with Manchester City Council. These buildings and the public space around them will create a commercial area needed to enable Manchester to achieve it’s deserved international status.”
Michael Ingall, Managing Director, Allied London Properties