That Hodder design is not fantastic , but in all honesty i welcome any new developments along Gt Ancoats St , lets hope this gets built and not end up like that half built peice of shit over road

This was created years ago, only put on you tube recently


eGV4423OaGo

here is the link to the video, the above embeded text didnt work? never tried before, why is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGV4423OaGo

The square that is featured is under construction at the moment.
The actual extension to the church is on hold.

here is the link to the video, the above embeded text didnt work? never tried before, why is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGV4423OaGo

The standard YouTube embedding script doesn't work on the forum. You need to use youtube tags like this:

[/youtube ]

With your video reference in the middle:

eGV4423OaGo

[youtube]eGV4423OaGo

This was created years ago, only put on you tube recently

<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eGV4423OaGo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eGV4423OaGo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>

here is the link to the video, the above embeded text didnt work? never tried before, why is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGV4423OaGo

The square that is featured is under construction at the moment.
The actual extension to the church is on hold.

the textile museum isn't going ahead - isn't it?

You-tube-topia

Gun shots fired, empty cartridges found, cars damaged...

Heard this on Key 103 this morning, but can't see any more info. Apparently gunshots were heard on Great Ancoats Street around 6pm last night. Empty cartridges were found and cars were damaged, but all very mysterious...

Potato Man and any other man.

Why is that (even though i have changed my internet settings and downloaded the new flash thingy) I cant see anything on you tube.

Except via that frame posted by Potato Man????

I am grateful though Mash man

Potato Man and any other man.

Why is that (even though i have changed my internet settings and downloaded the new flash thingy) I cant see anything on you tube.

Except via that frame posted by Potato Man????

I am grateful though Mash man

Have you tried turning it off and then back on again?

might be worth a read of this...???

http://www.softwarepatch.com/network-security/flashdownload-security.html

Massive thank you Mr Potato Man.

Download the stand alone version.

You will certainly make a wee woman happy tonight.

(even though I will have to endure a probable evening of her and her mates watching re runs of 80s TV ads again).

And I pretty chuffed as well.

Cheers

Gun shots fired, empty cartridges found, cars damaged...

Heard this on Key 103 this morning, but can't see any more info. Apparently gunshots were heard on Great Ancoats Street around 6pm last night. Empty cartridges were found and cars were damaged, but all very mysterious...

The Police closed the small side street behind that new Irish developers site, there used to be a Yardie Garage there. Its now paint white and blue and is supposed to be a car wash, Although I have never seen a car getting washed.
Almost directly opposite the entrance to the central retail park on great ancoats street.
I witnessed something very strange and un-nerving as I was going home the night of the shooting. I was driving down Old Mill street thru New Islington (chips) when I saw around 10 men all in black with hoodies and baseball caps, they were all making an effort to hide their faces and were heading towards the shooting scene. I heard the next day that someone had been shot. The police were at the scen for at least 24 hours.

Strange no mention on the news, but I guess shooting happen evry other day in the Ghettos and its not news anymore!

The Police closed the small side street behind that new Irish developers site, there used to be a Yardie Garage there. Its now paint white and blue and is supposed to be a car wash, Although I have never seen a car getting washed.
Almost directly opposite the entrance to the central retail park on great ancoats street.
I witnessed something very strange and un-nerving as I was going home the night of the shooting. I was driving down Old Mill street thru New Islington (chips) when I saw around 10 men all in black with hoodies and baseball caps, they were all making an effort to hide their faces and were heading towards the shooting scene. I heard the next day that someone had been shot. The police were at the scen for at least 24 hours.

Strange no mention on the news, but I guess shooting happen evry other day in the Ghettos and its not news anymore!

I bumped into a old friend which joined the GM armed police and he gave the indication that shootings and the like were tying to be kept quieter in the news but that they still occur pretty frequently.

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1331.jpg

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1332.jpg

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1334.jpg

the new public space dealy

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1336.jpg

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1337.jpg

a developement called 'iceplant' nearby

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1338.jpg

http://www.iceplant.co.uk/ no images or anything here...

I recall someone on here saying Oldham Road was shite, I agree to an extent but think these are two good buildings. If only the rest of the road was like this:

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/islandmonster/P02-03-09_1329.jpg

I bumped into a old friend which joined the GM armed police and he gave the indication that shootings and the like were tying to be kept quieter in the news but that they still occur pretty frequently.

I think the police and the council set a lot of store by stories such as this:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1063508_praise_for_antigang_cops

There's always a lot of muddy water around what is or isn't a gang-related incident, and how any given incident is symptomatic of wider trends or not. In particular, the police and government often seem to try and draw a sharp divide between gang and non-gang-related incidents, which fails to acknowledge the fluid and dynamic nature of gang memberships and identities, and the way in which gang-"motivated" crime can and often does overlap with more personal crime.

Still, a lot of money has been spent in the region in trying to bring down gun crime, so obviously people's careers are resting on the crime figures that come out the other end. I worry about how much of this is really just attempted quick-fixes with no long term scope. The police and council rarely seem to come out with radical new measures to combat the root social causes of gun violence in the city. You could argue, I suppose, that this is outside the responsibility of GMPD, but as it's them who has to mop up the end result of a society that drives people into violence, I would say they have just as much of a role to play as (local and central) government and community groups do.

Wow, this ended up having nothing whatsoever to do with Ancoats Urban Village! Never mind.

How Do.

Ancoats hits the Cutting Room floor

Thursday, 21 May 2009

What organisers are billing as the world’s first user-generated event is gathering pace online.

The Cutting Room Experiment is a celebration of Ancoats’ regeneration and members of the public are being asked to say what they want to do during the day.

Flash mob events will take place on the hour, every hour and ideas include a human beatbox orchestra, silent disco, knitathon and building a mini Manchester.

It’s all being done through the internet, SMS, blogging and social networks including Facebook and it will take place in Cutting Room Square in Ancoats on 20th June.

“Manchester is known for its creativity and the people of the City are coming up with many innovative and exciting ideas,” explained Peter Mearns, executive director of communications and marketing at the NWDA.

“Some of these amazing ideas will be turned into a reality and there is still time to get involved to make this into a day to remember. This is something that has never been attempted before and Cutting Room Experiment can only work if people get involved by submitting their ideas or committing to take part.”

The NWDA has invested £72m into Ancoats and funded Cutting Room as part of this investment.

People can visit www.cuttingroomexperiment.com to submit an idea by 29 May. Winning ideas will be announced on 4 June 2009.

I like the sound of the Human Beatbox Orchestra

The latest idea for St Peter's Church (http://www.ancoatsbpt.co.uk/projects_peters.htm):
...
Key Actions for 2009/10 include:
...
Work with the Hallé Orchestra and NWDA to evaluate St Peter's Church,
Ancoats as a potential new rehearsal and education centre for the Hallé;
...
Taken from the New East Manchester 2009/10 Implementation Plan (http://www.neweastmanchester.com/research/copy_of_policy-documents/).

does anyone know what has become of bengal mill (next to beehive mill in ancoats)?

Its clear a decent amount of work done, crane bases are in place, but it hasn't got above ground level. Its been abandoned for about 2 years.

I thought perhaps dylan harvey were just in the shite but they're building mann island in liverpool.

From Property Week.

Peel cuts its cloth to fit Ancoats
25.09.09
Ancoats, on the eastern fringe of Manchester city centre, was an exemplar in the boom years of how to transform a post-industrial wasteland into a cool, thriving, urban district

How times have changed.

Today the fate of Ancoats Urban Village is in the hands of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The project involves two of Manchester’s best-known developers, John Whittaker’s Peel Holdings and Carol Ainscow’s Artisan. Their Artisan Ship Canal Developments joint venture completed around half its £100m, Lower Eastside Valley scheme, finishing 385 out of 600 homes by the end of 2007.

James Whittaker, director of Peel Holdings, tells Property Week an application has been submitted for Kickstart funding from the HCA so the scheme can be completed, but declines to comment further.

The HCA said in a statement: “Peel Holdings has applied for Kickstart funding for their development at Ancoats, known as Advent Phase 5 [after the Advent car dealership that was on the site]. This bid was one of the 54 shortlisted Kickstart bids in the north-west. There should be an announcement in the next few weeks.”

In 2008, Ainscow put ACG North, part of Artisan Construction Group, into voluntary liquidation. This stalled residential sites such as Kings Waterfront in Liverpool.

In the meantime Peel is pressing on with residential phases at its vast Media City UK scheme in Salford Quays, reporting strong sales on the back of the BBC’s imminent injection of 2,500 staff in 2011.

Artisan, on the other hand, is standing by the telephone.

Phase 5?

http://www.afl-uk.com/files/projects/large/452124440_Main%20Image.jpg

Not wishing to split hairs but isnt Ancoat Urban Village a specific part of Ancoats Ie the bit that is being cobbled. That would mean that Advent and that general area isnt actually the Urban Village its New East Manachester.

???

does anyone know what has become of bengal mill (next to beehive mill in ancoats)?

Its clear a decent amount of work done, crane bases are in place, but it hasn't got above ground level. Its been abandoned for about 2 years.

I thought perhaps dylan harvey were just in the shite but they're building mann island in liverpool.

Didnt Dylan Harvey go under a couple of months back?

As I live in Advent - and have done for the past 2 years - I would tend to agree with you. However, the development has been let down very badly by the property developers and, if things aren't remedied soon, it will become East Manchester's first new slum! No kidding, the lifts have not worked for over three months (who needs gym membership when you have to walk up to the 6th floor numerous times a day!). The poor folk who own their own apartments and have to pay £120 per month service charges are certainly being hard done by! I think they are in the process of legal action against Artisan for spending all the service charge money on propping up Artisan as a company and neglecting Eastside Valley. I understand Peel is involved in all this too along with Manchester City Council, who I am convinced are starting to place people from the council waiting list in this development. Crazy times!

Award winning public realm.
Landscape Institute Awards 2009 winners

Urban Design and Master Planning
Winner: Ancoats Public Realm - Camlin Lonsdale Landscape Architects, Llangadfan
http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/news/awards.php

There were a couple of articles on Ancoats in this weeks Crains, inc a brief mention of the Halle/St Peters Church idea, no new info though.

PR from the NWDA:
Developers sought for Ancoats
http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/press-releases/200901/developers-sought-for-ancoats.aspx
26 November 2009

A new drive to attract further businesses and developers into Ancoats in east Manchester has been initiated by the NWDA.

Opportunities will be explored to rent or sell existing buildings and to redevelop cleared sites which are not already linked to a developer.

Lambert Smith Hampton will work with the NWDA and urban regeneration company New East Manchester to market the vacant land and property which, including projects already in the pipeline, are worth over £8 million.
...
Some of the vacant properties are: 46 Radium Street, 27 Blossom Street, 2-6 Loom Street and Jactin House.
full PR here... (http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/press-releases/200901/developers-sought-for-ancoats.aspx)

A bit more info on the potential HCA Kickstart Round 2 funding, with three schemes on a reserve list including New Islington and Sarah Point, so hopefully a few bids have failed the 'due diligence' process, should find out soon anyway. Taken from a MCC doc, link below,
2.3.2 In the second round of Kickstart, of 14 bids submitted in Manchester, 4 have been shortlisted and 3 put on a reserve list. The reserve list will be drawn upon if shortlisted schemes are unsuccessful in due diligence or if Round 1 schemes fail to go ahead. There is no guarantee that any of the reserve list projects will be taken forward until the HCA know how much spare funding resource it has available.

2.3.2 Of the 4 shortlisted bids, two are linked to stalled PFI schemes: Gleeson - Grove Village and Lovell - Miles Platting. The other two shortlisted bids are: Bloor - Wayland Road in Gorton and Artisan - Loom Street, Ancoats. If these 4 shortlisted bids are successful they will deliver £6,658,272 of HCA funding to the city to enable £31,727,681 of investment. They would provide 194 market sale units, 8 units of Homebuy direct, 32 units of LCHO and 23 social rent units.

2.3.3 The shortlisted bids will impact upon the local economy, employment and regeneration as follows:
...
Loom Street

The Loom St site is located in the heart of Ancoats Urban Village, townhouses with their own external space will create a place for families and contribute to building a sense of sustainable community. The scheme will continue the regeneration of Ancoats, providing a thriving and sustainable mixed development offering family homes, workspaces, new public areas and leisure opportunities.

2.3.3 The 3 bids placed on a reserve list are: UK Land and Property - Sarah Point, Ancoats, Urban Splash - New Islington Phase 2 and Gleeson - Beswick. These bids are requesting £14,236,205 of funding to enable £50,946,622 of investment in the city. They would provide 188 units market sale units, 25 units of Homebuy direct, 53 units of LCHO and 13 social rent units.

2.3.4 If the reserve bids were to become shortlisted and receive funding they would impact upon local economy, employment and regeneration as follows:

Sarah Point, Ancoats

The Sarah point development makes a significant contribution to NEM’s strategic place making objectives. It’s prominent location on Great Ancoats Street puts it within the City Fringe area and it will act as a natural extension to the city centre supporting a greater range of households and neighbourhood uses.

New Islington, Ancoats

New Islington is vital in the regeneration of East Manchester. The project is part of the HCA ‘Millennium Community’ initiative and a major part of New East Manchester’s strategy for the area. Housing delivery was progressing well before the recession, with 179 homes completed and others with planning permission.

A successful Kickstart 2 application would enable the next phase of housing to be constructed, creating 61 new homes, with a mix of sizes, typologies and affordability levels.

Significantly, these new homes would also be spread over three different areas of the New Islington site, creating activity in different parts of the cleared development platform and reviving local employment within the building industry.
...
2.3.5 Full due diligence and agreement of contracts of Round 2 bids began in December. The HCA is expecting to establish by mid February the extent of those shortlisted bids which might fall away and at that point should have a better idea of potential headroom in the national programme. It expects to begin announcing successful Round 2 schemes in February, as part of a process to be completed by April.

Economy, Employment & Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 1st March 2010 - Building Sites (http://www.manchester.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/1089/economy_employment_and_skills_overview_and_scrutiny_committee)
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/kickstart-round-two

Small office/retail app for the Cross Keys pub,
091781/FO/2009/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KTCW2SBC01W00&searchtype=WEEKLY)
97 Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester. M4 6JG

Erection of a 5 storey building with retail on ground floor and B1 offices above following demolition of existing public house

http://i48.tinypic.com/2drc1v4.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/3877731841_73e1e1a122.jpg
From Flickr by: Franciscus51 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41294785@N06/3877731841/)

also these went in a few weeks back,
Block A Royal Mill, Royal Mills, Redhill Street, Ancoats, Manchester

092351/FO/2010/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KXIWEJBC00700&searchtype=WEEKLY)
Change of use of Block A to offices and creation of new reception lobby

092363/LO/2010/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?keyval=KXJ45GBC00700&searchtype=PROPERTY&module=P3)
LISTED BUILDING CONSENT Internal alterations including new lift shafts, staircases and creation of new reception within the lobby

Surely with Sankey's sitting opposite this plot they could just re-open it as a pub?

Aye. But what will probably happen is Sankeys (and the rehearsal rooms in the same building) will eventually be forced out by all the flats that eventually surround it.

That's my (uneducated) prediction anyway.

Aye. But what will probably happen is Sankeys (and the rehearsal rooms in the same building) will eventually be forced out by all the flats that eventually surround it.

That's my (uneducated) prediction anyway.

Good hunch, with them seeking premises in non-residential Trafford Park (depite protests from the locals there).

Another independent, albeit closed pub, set to bite the dust. To think when this area is complete, there will be nowhere local to have a drink as the derelict Smiths Arms is scheduled for demolition and the Cheshire Cheese also. Flats, Flats everywhere but not a drop to drink, to bastardise a phrase.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Picture279.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Picture280.jpg

Chapeltown St (Urban Village) the old warehouse demolition in progress.Is anyone know what's going on?

From the weekend, Ice Plant & the square in the sun.


http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae73/cdx410/Ancoats_1.jpg

Whats the script with this in Ancoats, on the corner of Poland/Silk St, another abandoned one?

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae73/cdx410/Ancoats_2.jpg

What a mess. The 'development' looks to be called Ingenta, possibly some link to Realty Estates...I think it's this,

http://media.primelocation.com/THNLGR/THNS/THNS6617369/PHOTO_01.JPG
http://www.primelocation.com/new-homes/details/id/THNS6617369

The agents have just posted a little marketing spiel on it...
New Northern Quarter Apartments, Exclusive to Thornley Groves
Posted on 26 August 2010

We are pleased to present a range of brand new apartments for sale in Manchester City Centre that are on the market exclusively with Thornley Groves.

The inspirational new Ingenta development on Poland Street in the Northern Quarter comprises 30 brand new 1 and 2 double bedroom apartments. Prices range from £90,000 for a one bed right up to 2 bed pent house properties complete with roof terraces priced at £169,500.

These stunning apartments are on the market exclusively with Thornley Groves – Manchester’s leading Estate Agents – and will be ready to move into by mid-October. With expected completion now approaching, demand is likely to be high for these unique homes, so please get in contact today to reserve your appointment.

The Ingenta development is situated in the heart of Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter, an area of the City Centre that has become a renowned hub of alternative and bohemian culture in recent years, boasting vibrant surroundings in a fashionable location.
continues here... (http://www.thornleygroves.co.uk/stunning-contemporary-new-development-exclusive-to-thornley-groves/1953/)
http://www.thornleygroves.co.uk/stunning-contemporary-new-development-exclusive-to-thornley-groves/1953/

Love the sales pitch TG.

Another independent, albeit closed pub, set to bite the dust. To think when this area is complete, there will be nowhere local to have a drink as the derelict Smiths Arms is scheduled for demolition and the Cheshire Cheese also. Flats, Flats everywhere but not a drop to drink, to bastardise a phrase.

are these pubs gone yet? i'd like to have a look before they are flattened.
sometimes i can't believe how stupid and short sighted the real estate market is.

thankfully permission was refused for the pub opposite beehive mill. in a couple of years when the area is buzzing with new residents, this place could do a roaring trade. surly some entrepreneur somewhere can see this.

The agents have just posted a little marketing spiel on it...

http://www.thornleygroves.co.uk/stunning-contemporary-new-development-exclusive-to-thornley-groves/1953/

Love the sales pitch TG.

You won't be surprised to hear that there are many estate agents now claiming that apartments around the the Tobacco Factory are now being marketed as the Northern Quarter too. Pretty sure thats still Collyhurst.:lol:

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x301.5/aug_10/pnw__1282925504_Mancs_mental2.jpg

27 Aug 2010, 17:13

Manchester architect Maurice Shapero and Bolton-based construction consultants Bradshaw Gass & Hope have designed a new mental health centre for charity 42nd Street on Great Ancoats Street, Manchester.

If delivered the building will become a new base for the charity which works with young people between the ages of 13-25, living in Manchester, Salford or Trafford.

The design shows two interlocking cubes clad in a white stone.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/7016-designs-for-great-ancoats-charity-unveiled.html

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x301.5/aug_10/pnw__1282925504_Mancs_mental2.jpg



http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/7016-designs-for-great-ancoats-charity-unveiled.html

And there you have a piece of architecture that would grace any city in the world. That's exciting and I'm excited by it. :)

are these pubs gone yet? i'd like to have a look before they are flattened.
sometimes i can't believe how stupid and short sighted the real estate market is.

thankfully permission was refused for the pub opposite beehive mill. in a couple of years when the area is buzzing with new residents, this place could do a roaring trade. surly some entrepreneur somewhere can see this.


please see here for a bit of information about the lost pubs of Ancoats:

http://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.com/2010/01/cheshire-cheese-oldham-road.html

http://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.com/2010/01/smiths-arms-sherrat-street.html

and more at:

http://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.com/

HCA funds New Islington project
10 Sep 2010, 15:27


Work on a fourth housing development at the east Manchester site will start in November.

The Homes & Communities Agency has confirmed £936,000 funding is being put towards building 17 homes on land off Cardroom Road and Weybridge Road.

The project is being delivered by a partnership consisting of Great Places Housing Group, developers Urban Splash, urban regeneration company New East Manchester, the HCA and the North West Development Agency.

Great Places said the working name for the scheme is The Guts, derived from the site's central position in the 'belly' of the New Islington masterplan.

The housing group said the development will be available for all remaining residents previously living in the area and who want to return, as well as providing new and affordable opportunities with HCA products including Rent to HomeBuy and New Build HomeBuy for people wanting to move to New Islington.

The Guts is the eighth scheme to have been developed at New Islington, including Great Places' Islington Square, completed in 2006, and its Guest Street development, in 2007.

Urban Splash developed the Chips apartment block last year and a public park, Cotton Field, which was funded by the HCA, has been completed, as well as a new health centre.

Great Places said new pathways and cycleways into and around the area, funded by NWDA, will better link New Islington with the city centre. A new bridge will provide a direct link with Ancoats and a new marina, allowing canal boats to enter and moor there for the first time.

The Guts is designed by architects MAE and is expected to reach the Government's code for sustainable homes level three. The development is due to be completed late next year.

Matthew Harrison, deputy chief executive and director of development at Great Places, said: "Islington Square and Guest Street are bold, striking developments and we want our third and final site to have a similar impact.

"The residents coined the name The Guts and it's stuck! During consultation, they were really keen to be right in the middle of New Islington so that's where we're siting these homes."

Tom Bloxham, chairman of Urban Splash, said: "This is the eighth project so far in New Islington with even more to come.

"Each of the projects shares the same vision of architectural excellence, attention to detail, true sustainability and variety. We are making real progress and New Islington is fast becoming one of the most interesting parts of Manchester."


http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/7124-hca-funds-new-islington-project.html

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x301.5/aug_10/pnw__1282925504_Mancs_mental2.jpg

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/7016-designs-for-great-ancoats-charity-unveiled.html

Here's the app for it(I think)
094401/FO/2010/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=L9I1L3BC00700&searchtype=WEEKLY)
87-91 Great Ancoats Street And Vacant Land On Corner Of Pickford Street And Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester

Proposed erection of a three storey building on Pickford Street to form offices in connection with youth advisory facility and creation of feature wall and entrance to Great Ancoats Street frontage to enclose courtyard

and the docs are on...
http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?094401/FO/2010/N1

change to the plans???

http://i52.tinypic.com/10y0so2.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/ily6fk.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/2rmax6o.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/2qvecxy.jpg

http://mauriceshapero.com

Hi ya guys, yep Im still alive ;) not sure if u already know this. I cant see it on here on the last 2 pages.

Sarah point / sarah village has been bought and AUV has got NWDA funding for quite a few schemes.

Sarah Point on Great Ancoats Street, one of the blighted developments owned by collapsed development company BSC Group, had become ‘Ancoats’ most prominent casualty of the financial crisis’, according to the report.

The site was dormant for two years and was also the scene of a fire but work is due to restart on the scheme ‘in the near future’ after is secured Kickstart funding and was bought by UK Land & Property. That scheme will deliver 166 apartments and around 20,000 sq ft of commercial space.


http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/General/Ancoats-back-on-track-says-new-report_15417.asp

^^ still no sign of activity on it though :ohno: its these guys that have taken it on,
http://www.uklandandproperty.com

there are signs of life at the office conversion next door, I think this one,
090307/FU/2009/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KKXALEBC00700)


Still Ancoats, is this prop due to be revived???

'Xantium'
http://i56.tinypic.com/10y1ly9.jpg
http://www.moylan.co.uk/index.php?page=xantium
085801/FO/2008/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=JW2MM0BC00700&searchtype=WEEKLY)

just had its s106 signed off last week, finally showing as approved, how much of its marketing spiel is valid though since it's app in 2008...quote from an old PR,
MANCHESTER ANNOUNCED AS FIRST CITY IN BRITAIN TO GET CARBON ZERO HOUSING

The UK's first ever carbon zero housing development has just achieved planning permission to be built in Manchester's Northern Quarter by Reddish based building firm Moylan Homes.

The carbon zero rated Xantium building on Mason Street will house 61 apartments (49 two bed and 12 one bed) designed to meet ‘Code 6’, the highest possible rating in the new government system to measure the sustainability of new homes. The scheme, which was designed by award winning Manchester based Makin Architecture, will also feature four commercial units at street level, covering around 7,000 sqft, which will be constructed to ‘BREEAM Excellent’, the highest current BREEAM rating.

this app relating to the same site has just been withdrawn as well,
093843/LE/2010/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=L65V01BC00700&searchtype=WEEKLY)
CERTIFICATE OF LAWFUL DEVELOPMENT for use of land as surface car park

^^ No sooner that was approved but a new temp car park app went in, so I guess it's not getting built anytime soon.


Approved @ committee this week,
094401/FO/2010/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=L9I1L3BC00700&searchtype=WEEKLY)
87-91 Great Ancoats Street And Vacant Land On Corner Of Pickford Street And Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester

Proposed erection of a three storey building on Pickford Street to form offices in connection with youth advisory facility and creation of feature wall and entrance to Great Ancoats Street frontage to enclose courtyard


This new(ish) site is actually quite comprehensive with regards to the area, what's up for sale etc,

http://www.east-manchester.com/ancoats/index.htm

Lambert Smith Hampton agents seem to be marketing quite a bit of property, trying to shift some of the NWDA's assets.


And another thing, CABE have released the 'Building for Life' scores for all the Kick Start funded housing, not that bad for the three around Ancoats, especially considering the state of Sarah Point. Scores out of 20, quite a few on the list scored under 10...

KHD Ice Plant, Northern Group Developments Ltd, Manchester - 16
KHD Advent Ph5, Eastbank, Artisan, Manchester - 11
KHD Sarah Point, Ancoats, Manchester, UK Land and Property, Manchester - 13.5
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/the-full-list-of-kickstart-scores/5009663.article?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LatestNewsFromBDonline+%28BD+|+Latest+News%29

So, the Ice Plant is of 'Gold Standard' apparently,

http://www.buildingforlife.org/standards

how is that getting on anyway?

http://www.east-manchester.com/ancoats/index.htm

Think this might have been updated pretty recently - the list gives an idea of the number of development sites that are available in Ancoats

The Iceplant, Ancoats

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_0860.jpg?t=1295109002

Doesn't look too bad so far

Place North West.

Ancoats Dispensary set for new use

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x301.5/jan_11/pnw__1296141851_Twds_tower_and_MM.jpg

Heritage Works, a not for profit developer, is currently undertaking a study to identify possible end uses for the Grade II-listed Ancoats Dispensary building in New Islington, east Manchester.
Heritage Works said the landmark building is in need of a new use and a partner to deliver the viable project.

Ancoats Dispensary dates from the 1870s and is the last remaining building on the original Ancoats Hospital site. The three-storey red brick building is designed in the Neo-Gothic style and features a distinct central tower.
Heritage Works, a building preservation trust, is also searching for potential fundable projects to bring the former Ancoats Dispensary back to life.
The property fronts on to Old Mill Street on a 30-acre site on the former Cardroom estate in Ancoats, an area being regenerated led by developer Urban Splash.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/200x267/jan_11/pnw__1296141902_Front_elev.jpg

Working with Ian Simpson Architects, Splash acquired the site from the NHS to create a mix of apartments and commercial uses within the building.
The building has a gross internal area of 13,110 sq ft, previously over three floors, but now has internal floors removed.
Heritage Works said the building provides a degree of flexibility and offers architectural possibilities for a wide range of new uses.
■The study deadline is early March 2011. Anyone interested can email Heritage Works at ancoatsdispensary@heritageworks.co.uk or to discuss potential ideas further

Lots of activity at Sarah Village (it is called that isn't it?) on Great Ancoats St. Replacing the hoardings, tidying up and ready to go. It's been a right eye-sore as just the frame of a tower.

Lots of activity at Sarah Village (it is called that isn't it?) on Great Ancoats St. Replacing the hoardings, tidying up and ready to go. It's been a right eye-sore as just the frame of a tower.

Excellent! About time too! :)

So someone's taken this over and are going to build the rest of it then?

Developer northerngroup has unveiled plans to transform a former mill workers' hostel in Manchester into a £5m hub for new businesses which will also feature a gym, a pool, a children's nursery and space for a café or delicatessen.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency has approved northerngroup's proposals for Jactin House, in the Ancoats Urban Village.

If the plans are approved, the 40,000sq ft, five-storey building will be transformed in two phases with work due to start next January.

Nathan Ezair, director of northerngroup, said the scheme would generate between 200 and 300 jobs at the site.

It is the latest venture in the area for northerngroup, which completed the 136-apartment Flint Glass Wharf last year and is close to finishing work on the Ice Plant flats development.

The NWDA chose northerngroup's blueprint ahead of rival submissions and the company will take out a 999-year lease on completion of the scheme.

Mr Ezair said: “We are proud of northerngroup's record of developing and delivering in Ancoats for many years and throughout the downturn. We are excited to have Jactin House as our latest project and grateful to the NWDA for choosing us.”

Mark Hughes, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “This exciting new development will be a huge asset to Ancoats providing some of the highest-quality business space in the area as well as creating new jobs for local people. This is a building full of character which has stood empty for some time and I'm delighted that northerngroup has recognised the potential of Jactin House.”

Eddie Smith, chief executive of urban regeneration company New East Manchester, said: “It's fantastic that another of Ancoats' historic buildings will be given a new lease of life. This innovative scheme will deliver major improvements to the public realm and make a substantial contribution to local amenities, injecting economic vitality into the area, bringing jobs and much-needed leisure facilities.”



SOURCE; Manchester Evening News:29th March 2011

Jactin House as is

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x301.5/mar_11/pnw__1301324019_Jactin_House1.jpg

The new end of the Ice Plant,

http://i53.tinypic.com/jg2yo4.jpg

and one of the old, I think that's another of the NWDA's old assets on the end there.

http://i53.tinypic.com/qmx4rl.jpg

Love little apps like this, seems quite an odd plot to use???

'Land At Corner Of Portugal Street And Radium Street Ancoats Manchester - Use of land as allotment with associated raised planters and polytunnel'

http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=LJAGK0BC06N00

Here comes Nuovo.

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9609/nuovou.jpg

From this weeks Greater Manchester Business Week.

A few more images of Nuovo.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x311.22580645161/may_11/pnw__1305192113_NUOVO_CGI_02_.jpg http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/assets/_files/cached/img/310x274/may_11/businessdesk__1305182736_CGI_of_UK_Land_&_Propertys_Nuo.jpg?access=604T971T840

From http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/9020-first-look-at-rescue-scheme-on-great-ancoats.html

The boarded gap, to the right of Flange's 11:46 post is currently under construction. JRB posted images of the project. Fills another gap, as Great Ancoats St. slowly comes together.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x301.5/aug_10/pnw__1282925504_Mancs_mental2.jpg



http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/7016-designs-for-great-ancoats-charity-unveiled.html

Is it this your talking about G ?

Is it this your talking about G ?

Hi Highriser,

I believe that that was the original proposal, but I think we're now getting something that isn't awful, but isn't quite as funky either. I can't put my finger on it.

http://i52.tinypic.com/10y0so2.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/ily6fk.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/2rmax6o.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/2qvecxy.jpg

http://mauriceshapero.com

This is whats being built aint it?

^^Underway and currently looks like this....

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1119.jpg?t=1306160402

Scaffolding mostly down on the Iceplant. There seems to be some decent sized retail units along the ground floor too - under the new element, although you can't really see from my photo

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1120.jpg?t=1306160521

looks fairly decent, glad they managed to find funding to finish this.

The Cube developments as below. I kept meaning to take pics, but the officail gallery is quite good. Many of you probably knew, but it had passed me by; there are 30 town houses going up here.

http://www.eastbankancoats.co.uk/gallery

A two double bed with garage, additional parking and balcony for £160k. Not bad IMO. This will be opposite the new tram stop & comfortable walking distance from the city centre.

http://www.kingsturge.co.uk/property-search/property-details.aspx?t=r&id=110658

Glad to see a private development near the city centre including actual houses... shame the houses look as cramped and indentikit as the shoe box flats around them. I swear the bathrooms and kitchens shown on that link are an exact match for the pokey flat I lived in in the Green Quarter. Shame.

Yeah I saw this on Monday. Looks ok from the outside but the whole thing has zero space! It's so cramped and dark it looks like it's been built for moles

A two double bed with garage, additional parking and balcony for £160k. Not bad IMO. This will be opposite the new tram stop & comfortable walking distance from the city centre.

http://www.kingsturge.co.uk/property-search/property-details.aspx?t=r&id=110658

Floor to ceiling window in a ground floor spare bedroom - no ta. For £170k I'd rather take my chance with something a bit more tattier in a more central location.

Best,
Slip

Floor to ceiling window in a ground floor spare bedroom - no ta. For £170k I'd rather take my chance with something a bit more tattier in a more central location.

Best,
Slip

Fair enough, just thought it was interesting to have houses this central and at prices competing with two bed flats.

Hi there, I'm new on here - well, I've been reading threads for years now, but never posted. I live down the other end of Every Street from this Eastbank development and came across a pic of what used to be here from the 1940s until the 1980s. I'm not sure if anyone is interested, but thought I'd post it up anyway. It almost seems that what goes around comes around, with a similar size and presence on the same corner of the streets! The were very similar to the flats that are still in existence in Hulme by the Manciunian way. Its good to see some life coming back round here anyway. Let's just hope for the HKR to get moving :)

http://i55.tinypic.com/vdczs2.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/344yqsn.jpg

BDNW.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/assets/_files/cached/img/310x207/jun_11/businessdesk__1307529335_Eastbank-Mews.jpg?access=604T778T840

DURING the recent residential property boom, it seemed like major apartment schemes were hosting launches at a weekly rate.

It is notable, then, that Manchester Ship Canal Developments' event which took place last week to launch the new Mews at Eastbank homes at Ancoats on the fringes of Manchester City Centre was the first event of its kind to take place this year - and with the general lack of residential development in the city, it may well be the last.

The scheme's own history provides something of a microcosm of Manchester's own property rollercoaster. It was initially conceived as a £100m development by its three partners, Artisan Holdings, Peel Group and Manchester City Council and phase one of the development containing 143 apartments successfully concluded around five years ago.

However, the dramatic decline subsequently experienced in property values - and the difficulty in financing schemes - meant that this latest phase was rather more tricky to deliver.

For instance, Artisan eventually bowed out of the scheme, with the company's last filed accounts for the year to June 30, 2009, noting that its share in the venture had been dissolved, leading to a £3.6m write-down in the value of its investments.

Indeed, activity only recommenced last year after the project was the recipient of £5m of kickstart funding from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).

This allowed Manchester Ship Canal Developments (MSCD) to complete the neighbouring Cube scheme containing 33 new one- and two-bed apartments in December and the latest phase of 30 new two- and three-bed apartments which opened in early June. Russells Construction been main contractor on the project.

Mike Coulter of Grasscroft Development Solutions, who is working on behalf of MSCD, said that seven of the 30 homes which are just being released onto the market have already been sold. Two of them were sold at a recent open day, with one being bought for the asking price for the two-bed properties of £159,999.

The two-bed properties are two-storey houses with a bedroom, bathroom and covered garage on ground floor level and an open plan living/dining area, bathroom and master ensuite bedroom upstairs. Full-height doors at the other end of the living area open out onto a first floor balcony area.

The three-bed properties differ slightly in configuration, with the covered garage sacrificed in return for the extra bedroom. They have an asking price of £169,995, but if car parking is needed secure spaces can be acquired onsite for £10,000 each.

A series of 45 duplex apartments are also currently being built above the townhouses. Starting prices for these are £102,500.

The HCA's grant means that properties at both the Muse and Cube are being offered on a shared equity basis, with deposits of just 5% required.

Peel’s development director, James Whittaker, said: “The new Shared Equity Scheme offers buyers a simple and accessible way to own their own home in a vibrant area close to the centre of the city.

"The mixed element at Eastbank will encourage the resurgence of community in this part of the city.”

Following completing of the duplex apartments, Manchester Ship Canal Developments will move on to developing phase three of the project on an adjoining site fronting Great Ancoats Street.

Update on the 42nd Street building being built to Nuovo. This has been built very quickly!

From the back
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1154.jpg

And the quirky entrance fronting Great Ancoats Street is coming on.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1157.jpg

It will look like this when finished
http://i52.tinypic.com/10y0so2.jpg

More prep work on the promised Ancoat's bridge spanning the canal between Redhill St and New Islington, and note the streetscape taking shape in New Islington ('bout time too!):

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/DSC01889.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/DSC01886.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/DSC01888.jpg

If you're in to all things Ancoats, I've posted some new images of the Flint Glass Works in the completed projects section (I sometimes overlook this section) http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=80483988#post80483988

New wave of development sweeps over Ancoats

8 July 2011

The Ancoats area of Manchester underwent dramatic change after a massive compulsory purchase of properties by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) in 2002, which affected 197 parties

Then the recession struck and work stalled. Two years on, sites are starting to re-emerge, and there are hopes of a new wave of development. Mark Canning, project manager at the NWDA, says: “Two years ago it was not looking good, but we are seeing a change – with new planning permissions and refinancing – and things are starting to move again.”

Nuovo, Great Ancoats Street
After Manchester-based Iraqi developer Bashar Issa went bankrupt, the former Sarah Point – named after Issa’s wife – stalled mid-build in 2008. The scheme was picked up by UK Land & Property, working with site owner Clydesdale Bank. UKLP is now on site with a £13m plan for 166 flats. Completion is due in late 2012. The Homes and Communities Agency gave UKLP £2.5m in August 2010 to finish the job.

6 Loom Street
The closing date for bids for the disposal of the site came in April, and it was Northern Group that picked up another Ancoats property to add to its portfolio. Northern plans a part-refurbishment and part-new-build to provide three storeys of offices. No dates have been set yet.

87 to 91 Great Ancoats Street and 10 Pickford Street
This former Victorian shop and adjoining cleared plot will house 42nd Street, a charity that helps “young people under stress” gain employment and counselling. The scheme, designed by architect Maurice Shapero, was granted planning consent in November 2010 and started on site in February. Completion is due later this year.

Ice Plant, Blossom Street
Practical completion of 82 flats and 21,500 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space is due in July 2011. The £12m project, by Northern Group, received a £1.76m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency in October 2009.

40 Oldham Road and Heart of Ancoats, Loom Street
Manchester-based Carol Ainscow’s firm, Artisan, is working with NWDA adviser Lambert Smith Hampton to get the Oldham Road scheme back on track. The residential-led brief should be agreed by September 2011.

Artisan also has two large cleared sites on Loom Street next to Ice Plant and Cutting Room Square. Artisan was selected preferred developer before the recession. The sites are prepared for development and Artisan is agreeing a programme with LSH. The original plans were for 137 flats and ground-floor commercial.

St Peter’s Church
The church in the centre of Ancoats has been used as rehearsal space by Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra, through ad hoc licences. The BBC filmed the orchestra there in June for a TV documentary about its history. Hallé is putting a business plan together to acquire the building permanently.

Jactin House
Northern Group was named preferred developer by the NWDA in January 2011 and plans 40,000 sq ft of serviced offices, along with a gym, swimming pool and cafe for occupiers. However, it is bidding for assistance from the Regional Growth Fund.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks. It hopes to start on site in January 2012. A second phase of new-build offices on a surface car park next door could follow.

Murray’s Mill
The developer selected for this former textile mill is Burrell Inpartnership, a joint venture between Manchester-based Inpartnership and Scottish developer Burrell Group. BIP is exploring funding options, including municipal bonds and grants for heritage renovation schemes. BIP originally planned 130 flats with a hotel, offices and retail.

http://www.propertyweek.com/

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7742/manchester11thjuly20110.jpg

The Ice Plant (it is called that isn't it?) coming along nicely:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IP.jpg

Couldn't quite get in on one shot, but this shows the palcement next to Weaver's Square and St Peter's church:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IP2.jpg

This shows the bad bit of the scheme, that it has needlessly (IMO) been allowed to interfere with th vista of St Peter's spire. Perhaps i'm being a bit precious there, but I did always enjoy the spire peering above this little patch of Ancoats. That said, at least this area is now having some life breathed slowly in to it:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IPfar.jpg

Cheers G. Would like to see a football cage at the end of the square there. Would bring some life to it and keep the local kids occupied.

....Weaver's Square....

Close..! but it's actually called Cutting Room Square.

http://www.east-manchester.com/living/ancoats/in-the-neighbourhood/cutting-room-square/index.htm

I live down the other end of Every Street from this Eastbank development and came across a pic of what used to be here from the 1940s until the 1980s. I'm not sure if anyone is interested...

I'm very interested in post like this. Thanks very much Rob, oh - and welcome too if not already stated. I was a home birth in the top floor of a very similar development, all be it in Droylsden:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=thornhill+road+droylsden&hl=en&ll=53.484905,-2.136669&spn=0.010508,0.027466&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.484953,-2.136841&panoid=_rgNRCErRmVWByxXuooZfg&cbp=12,52.26,,0,4.17

The 42nd Street charity building that has it's entrance on Great Ancoats Street

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1235.jpg?t=1311423098

Not sure if this is the external cladding?
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1236.jpg?t=1311423194

Also appears on the entrance
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1240.jpg?t=1311423232

More very slow progress on the canal works
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1243.jpg?t=1311423285

I heard a rumour today that Sainsbury's have puchased either the land or units (not sure which) occupied currently by Argos and Mothercare on the Central Retail Park.

I would think it's the whole retail park site. MCC have been working with Sainsburys for quite a while discussing a potential site for a city centre supermarket, with this retail park being the most likely location

Yes I would imagine it would be the whole retail park, I would think if it is Sainsburys they will redevelop the land into a big store for them and possibly some retail units, as I cannot see Toys R Us, Mothercare or Argos wanting to leave the retail park, as they trade rather well from that location.

Let us play: Halle orchestra set to move to Ancoats church

Deborah Linton

August 08, 2011

Manchester's Halle orchestra is poised to make a historic church its second home.

Bosses are finalising a deal to bring St Peter’s Church, in Ancoats, back to life as a rehearsal and small-scale performance space.

The 19th century church has been closed since 1960 and recently had a £1.5m restoration.

The M.E.N revealed around 18 months ago that discussions had started about making the ‘hidden gem’ a permanent centre for the orchestra.

The orchestra has already held test rehearsals at the church, which is on the newly-developed Cutting Room public square – the centrepiece of the regeneration of Ancoats.

A Halle spokesman said: "We would love to be able to use St Peter’s in a number of different ways.

"There are some details that are yet to be agreed but we hope that these can be worked out in the next few weeks and everything should be finalised by the end of September."

The symphony orchestra is based at Bridgewater Hall but currently rehearses at a number of venues around the city. It has been looking for a permanent site for some time.

The building will also be used as a based for the orchestra’s education and community outreach work.

Chief executive John Summers said St Peter’s was a ‘very beautiful and simple space’ which was the perfect size.

St Peter’s was built in 1859 – one year after the orchestra was set up – and was the first Anglican church in the predominately Catholic ‘Little Italy’ neighbourhood. It closed in 1960 and was de-consecrated in 1968.

The building was listed in 1989 and work to save the bell tower was followed by a full restoration, thanks to funding from Heritage Lottery Fund and the North West Regional Development Agency which owns the site.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1454988_let-us-play-halle-orchestra-set-to-move-to-ancoats-church

MEN.

Manchester's Halle orchestra is poised to make a historic church its second home.

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/728.$plit/C_71_article_1454988_image_list_image_list_item_2_image.jpg?08%2F08%2F2011%2007%3A46%3A47%3A142

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/837.$plit/C_71_article_1454988_image_list_image_list_item_1_image.jpg?08%2F08%2F2011%2007%3A46%3A47%3A142

Bosses are finalising a deal to bring St Peter’s Church, in Ancoats, back to life as a rehearsal and small-scale performance space.

The 19th century church has been closed since 1960 and recently had a £1.5m restoration.

The M.E.N revealed around 18 months ago that discussions had started about making the ‘hidden gem’ a permanent centre for the orchestra.

The orchestra has already held test rehearsals at the church, which is on the newly-developed Cutting Room public square – the centrepiece of the regeneration of Ancoats.

A Halle spokesman said: "We would love to be able to use St Peter’s in a number of different ways.

"There are some details that are yet to be agreed but we hope that these can be worked out in the next few weeks and everything should be finalised by the end of September."

The symphony orchestra is based at Bridgewater Hall but currently rehearses at a number of venues around the city. It has been looking for a permanent site for some time.

The building will also be used as a based for the orchestra’s education and community outreach work.

Chief executive John Summers said St Peter’s was a ‘very beautiful and simple space’ which was the perfect size.

St Peter’s was built in 1859 – one year after the orchestra was set up – and was the first Anglican church in the predominately Catholic ‘Little Italy’ neighbourhood. It closed in 1960 and was de-consecrated in 1968.

The building was listed in 1989 and work to save the bell tower was followed by a full restoration, thanks to funding from Heritage Lottery Fund and the North West Regional Development Agency which owns the site.

I heard a rumour today that Sainsbury's have puchased either the land or units (not sure which) occupied currently by Argos and Mothercare on the Central Retail Park.

Did anyone hear any more on this? From when I looked before those two units seemed to be the ones with the shortest lease expiry at 2013, the rest being 2017.

Found some random plans on here: http://www.hwkarchitects.co.uk

Click on Business > Great Ancoates [sic] Street Development

Most likely ancient & posted some while back.

The 42nd Street Building and it's entrance on Great Ancoats Street today

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1305.jpg

With Nuovo in the background

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1306.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1307.jpg

And just a couple more general ones round and about Ancoats this morning.

The Ice Plant looks pretty much finished - externally at least. I really do hate the black fence around the that plot in the foreground, wish it could go

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1304.jpg

This one's soon to bite the dust, although can't remember the name of it.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1303.jpg

And George Leigh Street. Really love this street
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1302.jpg

That's a cracking street on the last picture there. Are they residential houses?

That's a cracking street on the last picture there. Are they residential houses?

Yeah they are. Great isn't it? These are just up from the Express Building on Great Ancoats Street

Fantastic, Used to get the bus past there everyday for a year and never knew these existed.

And just a couple more general ones round and about Ancoats this morning.

The Ice Plant looks pretty much finished - externally at least. I really do hate the black fence around the that plot in the foreground, wish it could go

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1304.jpg

I agree the black fence needs taking down, it looks really good other than that.

And George Leigh Street. Really love this street
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1302.jpg

That is a nice street, I really like the houses.

Isn't that one over from Anita St? (previously Sanitation St)

Just looking on bing maps and noticed there's a few streets like that there, as well as what looks like a gorgeous mansion house style apartment complex. Is this a desireable place to live, have never seen any come up on rightmove.

as well as what looks like a gorgeous mansion house style apartment complex.

Victoria Square tenements? now retirement housing,
http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/cities/manchester/walks-and-tours/socialprovision/municipal-housing.html

I've seen houses come on the market on George Leigh St, looking at sold prices (http://www.mouseprice.com/house-prices/land-registry/?CenterLat=53.485325559865295&CenterLong=%20-2.2298291834671224&TopleftLat=53.48562879711061&TopleftLon=%20-2.2308417173702537&BottomrightLat=53.485022320452245&BottomrightLon=%20-2.22881664956401&MapSearch=true&IsBirdEyeView=&ZoomLevel=19&PropertyType=-1&Dated=-1&Mode=SP) around there show how infrequently though, one sold last year,
http://www.hopkinshenstock.co.uk/details29george.htm

& a flat on the market at the moment on Anita St,
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-17984397.html

Think it's a mix of social/private ownership around there.

Just looking on bing maps and noticed there's a few streets like that there, as well as what looks like a gorgeous mansion house style apartment complex. Is this a desireable place to live, have never seen any come up on rightmove.


These are Victoria Square flats and are sheltered, warden controlled housing for the elderly or dissabled. Owned by Manchester councill and managed by Nothwards Housing Trust.
Grade 2 listed and was the first municipal housing in Manchester.
There is loads of information available, just google it.

You won't find many on Rightmove etc as I think quite a few of them are still owned by either MCC or a social Landlord. The 'gorgeous mansion house style apartment complex' I think you're refering too is Victoria Square and is owned/operated by NW Housing and is for more 'aged' residents ;)

but here's one...

http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=8128179

Thanks guys,

I love the look of the tenaments, reminds me of a programme about social housing I saw on BBC which looked at these type of flats in Liverpool.

And just a couple more general ones round and about Ancoats this morning.

The Ice Plant looks pretty much finished - externally at least. I really do hate the black fence around the that plot in the foreground, wish it could go

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1304.jpg

This one's soon to bite the dust, although can't remember the name of it.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1303.jpg

And George Leigh Street. Really love this street
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1302.jpg


Jactin House is not set to bite the dust, it is a listed building which English Heritage have spent quite a bit of money on cleaning and making weatherproof. Long term there is a housing association conversion planned as far as I am aware from this site.

^^You're quite right. This article was posted in this thread in March


Developer northerngroup has unveiled plans to transform a former mill workers' hostel in Manchester into a £5m hub for new businesses which will also feature a gym, a pool, a children's nursery and space for a café or delicatessen.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency has approved northerngroup's proposals for Jactin House, in the Ancoats Urban Village.

If the plans are approved, the 40,000sq ft, five-storey building will be transformed in two phases with work due to start next January.

Nathan Ezair, director of northerngroup, said the scheme would generate between 200 and 300 jobs at the site.

It is the latest venture in the area for northerngroup, which completed the 136-apartment Flint Glass Wharf last year and is close to finishing work on the Ice Plant flats development.

The NWDA chose northerngroup's blueprint ahead of rival submissions and the company will take out a 999-year lease on completion of the scheme.

Mr Ezair said: “We are proud of northerngroup's record of developing and delivering in Ancoats for many years and throughout the downturn. We are excited to have Jactin House as our latest project and grateful to the NWDA for choosing us.”

Mark Hughes, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “This exciting new development will be a huge asset to Ancoats providing some of the highest-quality business space in the area as well as creating new jobs for local people. This is a building full of character which has stood empty for some time and I'm delighted that northerngroup has recognised the potential of Jactin House.”

Eddie Smith, chief executive of urban regeneration company New East Manchester, said: “It's fantastic that another of Ancoats' historic buildings will be given a new lease of life. This innovative scheme will deliver major improvements to the public realm and make a substantial contribution to local amenities, injecting economic vitality into the area, bringing jobs and much-needed leisure facilities.”



SOURCE; Manchester Evening News:29th March 2011

yeah there's a For Sale sign on the side of the building in that photo, refurb opportunity etc, hardly gonna knock it down if that's the case.

I've been doing some research on the history of Ancoats and I found this Freudian Slip on the Royal Mills website (http://www.royalmills.co.uk/about.php): "1830 - Rail links are created between Liverpool and London." Surely they mean Liverpool and Manchester? As my little sisters would say - FAIL!

I've been doing some research on the history of Ancoats and I found this Freudian Slip on the Royal Mills website (http://www.royalmills.co.uk/about.php): "1830 - Rail links are created between Liverpool and London." Surely they mean Liverpool and Manchester? As my little sisters would say - FAIL!

I suspect so - the Grand Junction Railway which provided a link to London did not open until 1837.

Best,
Slup

The GJR would only have taken you as far as Birmingham in 1837 (via Newton-le-Willows). It wasn't until the London and Birmingham Railway was opened in 1838 that there were rail links between Liverpool/Manchester and London.

My point is that some web designer has been contracted to do a site promoting a group of yuppie flats in Ancoats and they've done a really good job (http://www.royalmills.co.uk/about.php) but in the History section where they were supposed to put Manchester they've put London - for me it reflects something sad about the 'New Islington' property developers in general. It seems they have London on the brain!

^^ More probable they just copied and pasted some blurb from somewhere else, lazy buggers.

The GJR would only have taken you as far as Birmingham in 1837 (via Newton-le-Willows). It wasn't until the London and Birmingham Railway was opened in 1838 that there were rail links between Liverpool/Manchester and London.

Touche! That'll learn me to do my research in future! Had it my head that the L&BR opened before the GJR, oops :)

Best,
Slip

The (almost doomed) Ancoats Dispensary was featured on NWT just now, in the hope it can be saved.

Fingers crossed!!

for me it reflects something sad about the 'New Islington' property developers in general. It seems they have London on the brain!

This isn't actually part of New Islington. The front page of the NM site implies it is but then the location page says it is neighbouring NI. It also implies that the Green Quarter is an acclaimed development, so make of that what you will.

The 42nd Street building next to Nuovo. Bit different. I like it!

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1402.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1404.jpg

View from the back through to where the entrance will be (plus my reflection)
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1403.jpg

Hope?

Campaigners in bid to stop Urban Splash from demolishing Ancoats Dispensary - Grade II listed building

October 10, 2011

Conservationists have made a last-ditch appeal for Manchester's historic Ancoats Dispensary to be saved.

Owners Urban Splash have applied to pull down the building saying it is beyond repair with the council due to decide the building's fate within weeks.

Meanwhile the Dispensary, the last remaining piece of Ancoats Hospital, has been up for sale at just £1 – but there have been no takers.

The Victorian Society are now calling for the gothic 1891 building to be saved, and added the site to their list of the top 10 most endangered buildings in the UK.

The Society's director Dr Ian Dungavell said: "There isn't sufficient justification for demolishing this important Grade II listed building and it must be given another chance.

"The Dispensary is not beyond repair and future generations won't forgive us for allowing buildings like this to be lost due to short term economic concerns."

The bill to repair the building has been estimated at £30M – with £200,000 needed for emergency repairs alone.

Plans to save it fell through when funding from the North West Development Agency was scrapped and no other investors could be found.

Nick Johnson, Urban Splash deputy chief executive, said: "We agree with the Victorian Society's views whole heartedly – but they are not coming up with a way to save the building.

"We have spent £1.2M trying to find a use for it over three years and the application to demolish it is not something we feel comfortable with.

"The Victorian Society could buy the Dispensary for a pound – but they would have to be able to take on the liability that comes with it.

"The way the economy is at the moment, there just isn't the funding available to put into it."

The Victorian Society also added the former Crumpsall and Cheetham District Library in north Manchester to their top 10 list.

Now privately owned, the Edwardian Baroque building on Cheetham Hill Road is boarded up and has suffered damage from rain seeping in through the roof.

Other buildings on the Victorian Society's endangered list include London's 'flat iron' building, the South Eastern Railway Offices, and Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1461209_campaigners-in-bid-to-stop-urban-splash-from-demolishing-ancoats-dispensary---grade-ii-listed-building-


Bletchley cricket pavilion on Victorian Society's at risk list

A Victorian cricket pavilion in Buckinghamshire has been named as one of the 10 most endangered buildings in England and Wales.

The Bletchley Cricket Pavilion, which was built in the 1890s, "needs urgent work to reverse years of decay", according to the Victorian Society.

The society compiled its list after a public appeal to find the most at risk Victorian and Edwardian buildings.

It said some were at risk of imminent demolition.

Among these are the South Eastern Railway Offices, which are threatened by the redevelopment of London Bridge station, and the Ancoats Dispensary, in Manchester, which was painted by the artist LS Lowry.

A Grade I-listed flax mill in Leeds and a former YMCA building in south Wales are also on the list.

The Bletchley Cricket Pavilion, which was built as part of the Bletchley Park Estate, was a "sobering example of what can happen when a building loses its historic context", the society said.

Top 10 at risk buildings

Bletchley Cricket Pavilion,
The Old Rectory, Columb Major, Cornwall
Temple Mill, Marshall Street, Leeds
Former YMCA building, Portmorlai West, Merthyr Tydfil
Ancoats Dispensary, Old Mill Street, Manchester
South Eastern Railway Offices, Tooley Street, London
Wansford Railway Station, Sibson-cum-Stibbington, Peterborough
Manningham Baths, Carlisle Road, Bradford
Crumpsall and Cheetham District Library, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester
Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, Berkshire

The building has been separated from its cricket pitch since it was sold by Bletchley Grammar School and is now divided from the playing area by a large hedge.

The bungalow-style pavilion is also largely concealed by trees, leaving it vulnerable to thieves who have stolen bricks and timber, leaving the building "extremely fragile", The Victorian Society said.

"Future generations won't forgive us for allowing buildings like the cricket pavilion to deteriorate beyond repair," the charity's director, Dr Ian Dungavell, said.

"It is in an extremely dilapidated state and the owners need to undertake urgent repairs before it is too late."

The society said it hoped the building, which is in the process of being sold, would find a new owner who was prepared to incorporate the pavilion into any new development.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15235988

Halle Orchestra wins funding to make Ancoats church home

Deborah Linton

October 15, 2011

Manchester's Halle Orchestra will be able to fulfil its dream of turning an historic church into a second home after winning almost £1m grant money.

The symphony orchestra will bring St Peter’s Church, in Ancoats, back to life as a rehearsal and small scale performance space after securing two cash awards.

Halle bosses have been handed £702,000 from Viridor Credits, which supports community and heritage projects.

It comes within days of confirmation of a £150,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation for charitable organisations.

The cash means the Halle can begin work planning the transformation of St Peter’s, a pretty 19th century church in the heart of Ancoats.

It will provide the orchestra with a permanent rehearsal space for the first time in its 153-year history and will also act as a base for the Halle Choir, Youth Orchestra, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir as well as education and community work.

Grade two listed St Peter’s sits on the newly developed Cutting Room public square – the centrepiece of Ancoats’ regeneration.

The exterior, which has already been painstakingly restored, will be preserved when redevelopment gets underway.

The symphony orchestra is based at Bridgewater Hall but currently rehearses at a number of venues around the city. It has been looking for a permanent site for some time.

Halle chief executive, John Summers, said: "This is brilliant news, both for the Hallé and the sleeping beauty that is Ancoats.

"We are delighted to be able to focus our education and community work in an area which played such a central role in Manchester’s emergence as a city of world significance. We are hugely grateful to both Viridor Credits and the Garfield Weston Foundation for giving us such an excellent start to our fundraising campaign."

Viridor, which puts money from landfill tax back into the community, has allocated the cash as part of its tenth anniversary awards.

General manager Lisa Nelson said: "We were inundated with entries for our tenth anniversary commemorative awards but the Hallé really stood out to us.

"Not only will it help to restore the impressive St Peter’s Church for everyone to enjoy, but it will also help to provide valuable space for the prestigious Hallé Orchestra, helping to regenerate this area of Manchester."

Coun Jim Battle, deputy leader of Manchester council, added: "The Hallé is very much in tune with our aspirations for the regeneration of east Manchester.

"The presence of such a world-renowned cultural institution in the heart of Ancoats, especially bringing this building back to life as the base for its community and education programmes, is brilliant news for the area and the city as a whole."

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1461929_halle-orchestra-wins-funding-to-make-ancoats-church-home

^^Wow they've done incredibly well to get £850k in this economic environment!
Let's hope that this can really help to drive this part of Ancoats forward. There has been LOADS done there in the last 10 years, but there are still really no amenities.

A convenience store, a coffee shop, a bar and a bistro in the units around Cutting Room Square would be an amazing start and not forgetting the internal atrium space at Royal Mills, which may one day see it's potential!? One day....

The retail space has been included in to many of the new developments, but all remain dormant at present.

superb news, may be the catalyst ancoats needs to realise it's potential.

there is retail provision on the bottom level of Iceworks isn't there?

It's bizarre how there isn't even a Spar or something in Ancoats given the amount of people who live there.

superb news, may be the catalyst ancoats needs to realise it's potential.

there is retail provision on the bottom level of Iceworks isn't there?

It's bizarre how there isn't even a Spar or something in Ancoats given the amount of people who live there.
I'm not sure about Ancoats but the development at New Islington are going to provide retail along with a school and basically make it so you can get all you need there without heading into the city.

Also, I got in St Peter's Church (and Murray's Mills) yesterday. I have some rather terrible quality photos (sorry) if you want to see, I'll have some proper ones up in a few days I hope http://on.fb.me/roVTvG

I'm not sure about Ancoats but the development at New Islington are going to provide retail along with a school and basically make it so you can get all you need there without heading into the city.

That's been the plan for almost 10 years though hasn't it and we're still several years off NI being completed.

If the rumours are true and a supermarket opens up at Central Retail Park, that will help to a certain extent but then I hope independent retail opens up throughout Ancoats. It's a fascinating place but one that I think most visitors to the city never see. Maybe needs a museum there for a start that focusses on the history of that area

It's a fascinating place but one that I think most visitors to the city never see. Maybe needs a museum there for a start that focuses on the history of that area.....

......to be based in a certain refurbished gothic style hospital.....

......to be based in a certain refurbished gothic style hospital.....

That would be a fantastic idea. I've been thinking the same for years. Sadly, there's no money in that.

More works continue. This is where the bridge connecting Ancoats and New Islington will be:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/RedhillSt.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/RedhillSt2.jpg

Carcking on here:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Sankeys.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Sankeys2.jpg

The 42nd Street Building. Looks completely finished and looks great!!

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/DSC00149.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/DSC00150.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/DSC00151.jpg

What is it? New home for the nightclub?

New building for 42nd Street a childrens charity.

http://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1469830_historic-ancoats-dispensary-could-be-saved-from-the-bulldozers-with-just-1?rss=yes&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Historic Ancoats Dispensary could be saved from the bulldozers with just £1
January 06, 2012

The old Ancoats Dispensary building on Old Mill Street was due to be demolished by developers Urban Splash
A Victorian landmark symbolising Manchester’s industrial history could be saved from the bulldozers.

Developers Urban Splash planned to knock down the iconic Ancoats Dispensary building after failing to find either a new use or a buyer for it.

But campaigners say they have come up with a plan which aims to grant the building a stay of execution.

The Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust has agreed to buy the Grade II-listed former hospital from Urban Splash for just £1.

The developers are also understood to be offering the campaigners the money they would have spent on demolition.

But the last-ditch attempt to save the building could falter if the trust cannot raise enough money to purchase the scaffolding which is essential to support the crumbling structure.

Mark Watson, from the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust, said: “Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust and its parent company have a long track-record of saving buildings in similar conditions to the Ancoats Dispensary and are prepared to take the risk and develop the building when better times come along, as we are sure they will.

“Our immediate problem is the scaffolding. It is owned by a firm who have a contract with Urban Splash.

“We are trying to find out more about the terms, but it is proving difficult to unpick the story.”

Mr Watson and his company are now trying to find donors to help raise the cash needed.

He said: “We need some financial backing to pay someone to acquire the scaffolding.

“Can you help us save the building? It seems ironic that we could lose this very important building simply because of scaffolding costs.”

The building is in a poor state of repair and would require up to £3m to bring it up to modern standards.

The North West Development Agency had planned to provide a grant to save the facade of the building but this was taken off the table when the agency was wound down by the government.

The hospital started life in 1828 as the Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary on Great Ancoats Street.

It moved to Mill Street in 1869 and was built to serve the influx of people who came to the Ancoats area during Manchester’s industrial hey-day.

The hospital finally closed its doors in 1996 and the dispensary building is the last remaining in the area.

Nobody from Urban Splash was available for comment.

PNW.


Ice Plant reaches completion

12 Jan 2012, 13:58


Northern Group has finished its £12m apartment scheme off Greet Ancoats Street on the edge of Manchester city centre.

The Ice Plant contains 82 one, two and three-bedroom apartments for rent. The façade of the ice-making warehouse was retained and three new-build blocks built, including an eight-storey tower, around a central glass atrium.

The scheme includes a 2,000 sq ft penthouse with three bedrooms and panoramic views of the city. Northern Group is retaining ownership of all 82 apartments for rent through its in-house property managers. Ice Plant also has five ground floor retail or commercial units fronting on to the square ranging from 2,000 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft.

The development, partly funded by the Homes & Communities Agency, overlooks Cutting Room Square and St Peter's Church, recently confirmed as a rehearsal base for the city's Halle orchestra.

Nathan Ezair, director of Northern Group, said: "We believe we have created some of the highest specification - if not the highest specification - apartments in the city centre and are bringing a fresh approach to the rental market. The current economic climate means demand for rentals is higher than ever but that does not mean that communities have to be transient. We are catering for long-term tenants who want to make the property their home and not just a stop-gap - replicating the rental model of mainland Europe and cities like New York.

"We've put a lot of effort into observing and researching Manchester's property market and listening to what tenants want. People don't want to live in carbon copy boxes so we have sought to change and improve upon existing models and created a scheme which offers desirable, generously-sized apartments, with premium fixtures and fittings and great attention to detail.

"We are very grateful for the HCA Kickstart funding that has helped us to complete this scheme during very testing economic conditions and believe we have a development which we and Manchester can be rightly proud of."

All apartments are available furnished or unfurnished. Prices start from £650/month.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/200x300/jan_12/pnw__1326376148_Ice_Plant.jpg

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/291x200/jan_12/pnw__1326376160_Ice_Plant2.jpg

Carcking on here:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Sankeys.jpg

This reminded me when I was browsing Google Earth a month or so ago...


Very, very juvenile... but it made me laugh. :lol:

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/1214/ancoats.jpg

"We chose Ancoats for IT'S unique character" :ohno:

^^:lol:


Found this on Twitter,
LBRY - WORK/PLAY The library is dead! Long live the lbry!

New library/media centre opening in Ancoats Manchester...

In talks with interior designers for new centre, very exciting! :)

We want to hear your ideas on how to make the library relevant for the 21st Century, tweet us your opinions

http://twitter.com/radiumstreet

BDNW.

WHR Property Consultants has completed the purchased of a 12,702 sq ft office building in Ancoats Urban Village in Manchester City Centre on behalf of the new occupiers, 151 Products.

The standalone building, a former Victorian School House, contains three floors of office space and was previously occupied by Ask Developments, It was sold off an asking prirce of £1.25m.

Gary Chapman of WHR Property Consultants saidf: “151 Products Ltd is a cutting edge, successful company and wanted a new headquarter office that would reflect its image and enable them to continue to grow as a business.

"We worked hard to identify the right property and The Old School House proved to be a unique opportunity to acquire a landmark building in an emerging location.”

The Bengal St Apartments are now up to the fifth floor of concrete frame. They're really just not photogenic, so I didn't bother, but you can imagine.

The bridge across the canal on Redhill St is starting to look good with the decorative facade now being added. It was a dark, wet mornign so the images don't really do justice, but it gives you all an idea:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0384.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0383.jpg

New Islington has received plenty of crticism (not unfairly), as a stalled Millenium project, but I have to say that the public realm work being done here and largely completed in and around Ancoats, bordered by Gt Ancoats St, Redhill St and Oldham St. has made massive improvements. Whilst now might not be the time to attract investment, it will certainly be attractive in the meantime and ready-to-go when the economic climate improves. Well done MCC and NEM I say; some praise to balance the easy criticism.

Completed Ice Plant apartments (think they're called that) in the foreground and U/C Bengal St apartments in the distance:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0386.jpg

You'll notice from this second image that there is a readonable retail/leisure unit at the bottom of the new bit. Ideal for Anocats Village' first convenience store or bar.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0385.jpg

Most Extraordinary New Building In Manchester?

Karen Regn tours a building in Ancoats with real meaning for charity 42nd Street


http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/i/IP2/4QWE_M.jpg
SEVEN tonne steel sentinels, pathways leading nowhere, secret rooms, slanted walls…

Manchester’s architectural portfolio just got a bit more individual with the opening of youth mental health charity 42nd Street’s new headquarters.

The dramatic white steel gates visible from Great Ancoats Street only hint at the full measure of architect Maurice Shapero’s symbolic design, which is remarkable throughout, functional but fantastic, rational but bizarre.

.........continued
http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/i/IP2/4QWI_K.jpg



http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Culture/Arts/Youth-Charity-Loves-Its-Modern-Minimalist-New-Headquarters

Planning applications are online for St Peters Church, to be refurbished for the Halle.


St Peters Church Blossom Street Ancoats Manchester M4 6AJ

Change of Use of former church building to rehersal and performance use, with associated internal and external alterations

http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M0KL75BC06N00


St Peters Church Blossom Street Ancoats Manchester M4 6AJ

LISTED BUILDING CONSENT Application for works including installation of acoustic treatments, installation of secondary glazing, creation of welfare facilities within vestry, creation of first floor within South porch, alterations to walls and doors, installation of new flooring, together with other associated works, in connection with change of use to rehearsal and performance space.

http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M0KKJYBC06N00

Does anyone know when Cotton Fields Park is scheduled to open? Work on this is painfully slow, you can almost count how many bricks they've laid between one week and the next.

^^ Not too sure, but they are doing a lot of the toe-paths, so perhaps they will all oen at the same time. It will be an interesting wander once all of this area has been 'given back to the city', so to speak.

I keep waiting for the new bridge from Redhill St to open.

I was chatting with one of the workmen at the park yesterday and he reckons that part of it will open this weekend. The Rochdale Canal end is not ready yet, the pathways and the bridge aren't ready to be used, but he said the Old Mill Street end is ready for action.

I'm told by Richard Hattan the director of development at urban Splash that "the park is expected to open towards the end of April 2012".

Roll on, the sun is shining and Manchester needs more parks.