Official Manchester Thread 9 [Archive]

dgnr8

June 24th, 2005, 02:50 PM

£100m repair bill for town hall
David Ottewell

MANCHESTER's town hall complex - the jewel in the city's architectural crown - needs nearly £100m of repairs.

Councillors have been warned there is a risk of "slow decay" if they fail to act urgently.

Radical suggestions to generate cash include turning over part of the building for private flats - offering one of the most prestigious addresses in the city. Another option is to hand ownership to a trust.

The complex is made up of the town hall, with its 286ft Gothic clock tower, which opened in 1877, Central Library (opened in 1934), town hall extension (1938), and two public squares. It is regarded as the finest collection of civic buildings outside London.

Consultants estimate the price of repairs at £98.5m based on the cost of refurbishment, repair and "sympathetic modernisation" of the 74,000 sq ft complex. But the estimate excludes the cost of rehousing staff while the work is carried out.

A £2m programme of repairs has already been agreed for 2005-06, including £400,000 for heating and electrical work and £300,000 to improve disabled access to the library.

The staggering price is equal to a bill of more than £588 for each of the 167,451 households in Manchester.

Challenge

Peter North, the council's director of operations, warned the scale of the task would be a "huge challenge".

He said: "If it is to continue to be home to a local government determined to create a world-class city, the image presented by the buildings should not become one of slow decay."

Up to £10m could be secured from National Lottery grants and financial advisors have been looking at ways of boosting that sum. But council chiefs have dismissed plans to let part of the building for residential use.

Sue Murphy, the council's executive member for finance, agreed the buildings would be used for flats "over my dead body".

She said: "We need to look at every option people come up with, while remembering it is the heart of democracy in Manchester."

The Gothic town hall was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and cost £1m - the equivalent of more than £400m in today's prices.

George Ferguson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said: "Obviously £98m is quite a scary figure but there can be no question of the importance of this collection of buildings.

"Manchester town hall is one of the top three most important Victorian buildings in the country."

Accura4Matalan

June 24th, 2005, 02:53 PM

nooooooooo.... they cant turn it into flats!

Farsight

June 24th, 2005, 04:26 PM

Hmmn. How about it's a life-expired seventies building no longer relevant to current needs and too costly to maintain. Oh sorry, I was getting confused for a minute there.

http://www.ma.man.ac.uk/~higham/photos/mathstower/041209-1346-08_std.jpg

Farsight

June 24th, 2005, 04:39 PM

Seriously though. I was listening to something on the radio about Lincoln Cathedral being unable to get sufficient grants for maintenance. They used to get £1m a year from English Heritage, but now the maximum is £100k.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/funding/story/0,12564,1374927,00.html

Craig

June 24th, 2005, 04:42 PM

Sorry to take you off the topic of 45-storey towers (even if it has been confirmed today lol) but I went through Cheetham Hill for the first ever time today. What an amazing place! I've never seen anywhere like it. It was like a mix of New York/Chicago/Tel Aviv/Mumbai/Mexico City all in one street!

I know what you mean - it has to be the most culturally diverse part of the city, Mancs' answer to Manhattan's lower east side.

WeasteDevil

June 24th, 2005, 05:11 PM

What the hell has happened to Salford CCs website?

Just gone from blank, to text only, to normal with all the tables cacked.

caw123

June 24th, 2005, 06:38 PM

Equivalent of £400 million for the Town Hall? Wow.

Them crap new apartments near Victoria:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2840ParkersApartments_pic1.jpg

WeasteDevil

June 24th, 2005, 06:43 PM

Equivalent of £400 million for the Town Hall? Wow.

Well, it is made of stone and marble, and all sorts of other nice things.

markydeedrop

June 24th, 2005, 07:42 PM

'Media village' plans for BBC and ITV
Simon Donohue

IT WASN'T the most romantic of proposals - ITV boss Charles Allen telling a House of Lords committee last week that he'd like ITV Granada to get it together with the BBC in the north west.

But his dream of a "pact" is still likely to set tongues wagging as fervently as a soap wedding.

In hindsight, Mr Allen was merely making public a courtship that has now been under way for a good few years when he addressed a committee deciding the BBC's future.

Even before the BBC had announced its movement of up to 2,000 staff from London to Manchester, ITV bosses were talking about the possibility of a media village on their Quay Street site.

And in what might now be construed as a first date, the rivals pooled their technical resources just a few years ago when they created 3sixtymedia, the BBC-Granada joint venture which provides both organisations with camera crew, lighting staff and sound technicians.

So what happens next?

It emerges that high-level talks are taking place between the BBC, Granada, the North West Development Agency and Manchester city council which present several options.

Granada's preferred option would see the BBC join them at a media "campus" on a 22-acre site including and adjacent to Granada's current headquarters in Quay Street, Manchester.

Resources

Independent media companies would be invited to "share" and offer resources on the site.

Another option would see the BBC, Granada and independent media companies moving to a new location. Granada insists that this would never happen, as it would mean moving the sacred Coronation Street set.

But even this tough stance might alter if a compelling argument was put forward.

At the heart of any shared site are suggestions for some form of visitor attraction, a notion which would satisfy both financial and social responsibilities.

If talks break down, however, it will leave the BBC and Granada to consider maintaining separate locations in the city, a decision which would still result in both parties either redeveloping existing sites or moving.

Given Granada's preferred option, and the BBC's unsuitable current Manchester location, a shared site does seem to make sense.

Both parties believe they can share further resources and a location without damaging their separate "brand" identities and that it would be a "magnet for talent".

The regional TV and film production body, North West Vision, has also made available millions of pounds worth of grants for independent media companies wishing to relocate or redevelop existing businesses in the region.

Both the BBC and Granada will be looking for some financial assistance from the NWDA and city council. Speaking on the latter's behalf, a spokesman says: "We are working with the BBC and others to evaluate a number of options. At the appropriate stage this process will be brought to a conclusion."

Detractors will mention the possibility of further job cuts and the prospect of programme-makers working on behalf of licence fee payers and commercial TV.

It's likely that moving to a shared site would attract the attention of Tessa Jowell, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, as well as commercial media industry regulator Ofcom.

Plans

To a certain extent, the ball is in the BBC's court. Pat Loughrey, the BBC's director for the nations and regions, has been touring Manchester in recent weeks and is charged with implementing director general Mark Thompson's "Out of London" plans.

He has been asked to present a range of options for the BBC in Manchester to the corporation's governors by October.

Another option that Mr Loughrey will also be considering is the idea of bringing Granada and other media companies to a renovated or redeveloped base at the BBC's existing site on Oxford Road in Manchester.

The corporation will be as keen as Granada to maintain its most recognised asset, which is a very visible centre in the city.

Architects have already been asked to draw up significant plans for the redevelopment of the Oxford Road site, including an accessible drop in centre for the public.

Asked about Mr Allen's comments, Mark Thomas, director of the BBC North Project, said the corporation was exploring "all options" for an expanded Manchester base.

"We are talking to the council and NWDA to see if there are any locations which produce greater economic and social benefits than others, and we are talking to ITV about whether any location would be of interest to them as well."

Opportunity

Granada - which has 1,000 regional, network and back office ITV staff - has clearly seen an opportunity to do some advantageous business.

Sue Woodward, Granada's managing director, said she welcomed the BBC's Out Of London project. The NWDA, BBC and ITV are all talking together in partnership to see how we can make this happen," she added.

"The BBC is pondering where to put 1,800 new bodies. Do they redevelop Oxford Road? We know we need to redevelop this site. We are already considering moving into a bonded warehouse within our site.

"That way we could sell our existing building and set about creating a media campus alongside the BBC which could work in partnership with the international media centre at Salford University and independent media companies.

"Would we be willing to become part of a media campus elsewhere? The biggest jewel in our crown is Coronation Street. Because of the way it is made, there would have to be unbelievably compelling reasons for us to even talk about that."

caw123

June 24th, 2005, 08:51 PM

Sounds good.

Not sure if anyone has posted these yet? Cobbetts Eagle Star House replacement:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/cobbetts.jpg

Looks quite a bit like the Pinnacle.

Accura4Matalan

June 24th, 2005, 08:52 PM

I'd not seen them yet. BIG improvement! Hopefully, the rest of the scheme around Mosley Street will be as good.

highriser

June 25th, 2005, 03:07 AM

Does anyone know what's going to happen to the Fujitsu Tower in West Gorton,me personally i would like to see it flattened

Fujitsu opens new office in Manchester's Central Park
Fujitsu Services, one of Europe's leading IT services companies, will be opening brand new offices in the Central Park development in Manchester on 17 June.

Fujitsu Services, one of Europe's leading IT services companies, will be opening brand new offices in the Central Park development in Manchester on 17 June. The three buildings in the development cover 175,000 sq ft and will house 900 staff from all areas of Fujitsu.

The majority of staff will be moving from their existing offices in Gorton, Manchester, and the remainder are coming from Fujitsu's three other premises in the area. The office consolidation will serve to open up channels of communication throughout the company by joining staff together and providing them with an open plan and modern environment.

David Sillitoe, director of group property at Fujitsu Services added: "Central Park is a superb location and we are very much looking forward to relocating our Manchester offices within these excellent, high quality designed buildings."

Central Park will be the UK's first large-scale mixed-use urban business park, covering 450 acres by the time of its completion. Initially 90 acres are being developed including office space totalling 1.4 million sq ft (130,060 sq m). Central Park will be located just 1.5 miles from Manchester City Centre.

Also a new hotel as just open in Central Park
http://www.expotel.com/news/html/June05/choiceHotels.html

highriser

June 25th, 2005, 04:30 AM

Render of Erie Basin ive not seen

http://www.knightfrank.com/webui/viewdetails.aspx?p_id=1014995&lk_id=1

P.S im on night bored shitless :(

jrb

June 25th, 2005, 02:30 PM

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/536.$plit/C_17_Articles_163710_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

MANCHESTER's town hall complex - the jewel in the city's architectural crown - needs nearly £100m of repairs. :eek:

Councillors have been warned there is a risk of "slow decay" if they fail to act urgently.

Radical suggestions to generate cash include turning over part of the building for private flats - offering one of the most prestigious addresses in the city. Another option is to hand ownership to a trust.

The complex is made up of the town hall, with its 286ft Gothic clock tower, which opened in 1877, Central Library (opened in 1934), town hall extension (1938), and two public squares. It is regarded as the finest collection of civic buildings outside London.

Consultants estimate the price of repairs at £98.5m based on the cost of refurbishment, repair and "sympathetic modernisation" of the 74,000 sq ft complex. But the estimate excludes the cost of rehousing staff while the work is carried out.

A £2m programme of repairs has already been agreed for 2005-06, including £400,000 for heating and electrical work and £300,000 to improve disabled access to the library.

The staggering price is equal to a bill of more than £588 for each of the 167,451 households in Manchester.

Challenge

Peter North, the council's director of operations, warned the scale of the task would be a "huge challenge".

He said: "If it is to continue to be home to a local government determined to create a world-class city, the image presented by the buildings should not become one of slow decay."

Up to £10m could be secured from National Lottery grants and financial advisors have been looking at ways of boosting that sum. But council chiefs have dismissed plans to let part of the building for residential use.

Sue Murphy, the council's executive member for finance, agreed the buildings would be used for flats "over my dead body".

She said: "We need to look at every option people come up with, while remembering it is the heart of democracy in Manchester."

The Gothic town hall was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and cost £1m - the equivalent of more than £400m in today's prices.

George Ferguson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said: "Obviously £98m is quite a scary figure but there can be no question of the importance of this collection of buildings.

"Manchester town hall is one of the top three most important Victorian buildings in the country."

WeasteDevil

June 25th, 2005, 03:16 PM

This was posted the other day JRB.

100m is a lot of money I agree, but I'm not too sure as to what it is for. 100m would say to me that it needed serious structural repairs. God knows what it's for.

Anyway, it's probably the most important building that we have, so they should just do it. Leaving it will just make it worse. If they have to sell of land or other assests to do it, so be it. This and Grants from the NL & English Heritage should make up the rest.

In fact, all 10 boroughs should contribute towards this.

jrb

June 25th, 2005, 07:29 PM

Yep!

Its that clean!

Anyone fancy a swim?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/swim1.jpg

andysimo123

June 25th, 2005, 10:01 PM

I did a watersports course in that not long ago and the women said dont swallow any water. It also has signs on the walls which say "Do not swim this water maybe polluted".

Manc Guy

June 26th, 2005, 07:02 PM

Would you drink water from anywhere other than a tap...?

Its comon sense andy... lol

WeasteDevil

June 26th, 2005, 07:21 PM

Yeah, andy obviously drinks seawater by the gallon load when he's swimming on holiday in the med. Or by the chlorine infested load when at his local pool, ;)

WeasteDevil

June 26th, 2005, 07:22 PM

Would you drink water from anywhere other than a tap...?

Yep, a bottle. ;)

Mez

June 27th, 2005, 03:01 AM

I suppose Coca-Cola's 'Dasani' confuses the arguement. :booze:

SleepyOne

June 27th, 2005, 11:10 AM

Bit more info on 2-4 Chester Rd. Come on Ian Simpson / Howard Holdings, release the damn renders!

Design and Technology combine to win Landmark Project

Creative engineering and applied technology have helped Faber Maunsell’s Advanced Design Group win a significant appointment for Manchester’s latest iconic buildings.

The 17-storey, two-tower residential development at 2-4 Chester Road occupies an important site in the city at the end of Deansgate. The Faber Maunsell team has been appointed as Façade, Environmental and M&E Engineers, with several other specialist duties.

This development is the latest from Ian Simpson Architects, who have designed some of our landmark buildings over the last few years and are increasingly active in North American and European competitions. Simpson’s architects develop complex geometries and façade solutions, usually with a highly transparent skin, creating a very distinctive aesthetic and a technical challenge to the engineering team.

From the outset, we have approached the buildings holistically, particularly due to our aim for new Part L compliance, even though construction starts well before it comes into effect. Faber Maunsell’s success on this project relies on our ability to combine creative design engineering with a highly technical approach, something that both the developer and architects fundamentally need.

Successful completion of this building, while maintaining the architectural aspirations and getting compliance will be a significant achievement. Progress to date, however, has been good, and has led to several invitations on other interesting projects in Leeds, Leicester and Manchester. We are looking forward to further strengthening our relationship with various architects through this approach.

Farsight

June 27th, 2005, 12:02 PM

Hmmn. 17 storeys doesn't sound like much of a landmark. I mean, how big is Leftbank and see how it hardly figures in this photograph.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/2005pano15.jpg

Thanks for the pic caw.

dgnr8

June 27th, 2005, 12:37 PM

Landmark as in Urbis landmark, not Beetham landmark.

caw123

June 27th, 2005, 01:10 PM

Exactly, why does something have to be tall to be a landmark?

And 17 storeys, they've stuck 4 on.

On the pano you've posted farsight, the 2-4 Chester Road towers would appear in front of Sunley, and probably block most of it.

Trammy

June 27th, 2005, 02:04 PM

The German (Munich) festival in Albert Square is bob on again this summer, was there on Friday night and Sunday afternoon, absolutley rammed.

No advertising for it anywhere though.

WeasteDevil

June 27th, 2005, 02:06 PM

There was an article about it in the MEN the other day.

Any good?

Trammy

June 27th, 2005, 02:10 PM

Aye - tree-fucking-men-dous, beer a bit on the costly side at £3 a pint, but fantastic atmosphere - especially sitting out in the sunshine all afternoon yesterday - and no hangover.

WeasteDevil

June 27th, 2005, 02:42 PM

Pints?

The don't sell it in Masses then?

Brock Flanders

June 27th, 2005, 03:06 PM

Hey guys, drove along Great Ancoats St this morning and notice the crane oposite piccadilly aproach has nearly doubled in hight. I thought this development wasnt that big, but the crane dose give you the impression that its a big one. Anyone shed any light on this matter.

Farsight

June 27th, 2005, 03:27 PM

I dug this picture of 2-4 Chester Road off caw's development summary. Thanks caw. Is there a picture anywhere of the 17-storey version? If anybody's asking I don't like the overhang, I think it's too much. That apart it's pretty nice.

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/709/490castlefield_bmp.jpg

Trammy

June 27th, 2005, 03:47 PM

Weaste - yep, unfortunately plastic pint pots - unfortunately a sign of the times I'm afraid that we are probably not being trusted to use glass stiens outside, through fear we'll hit each other over the head with them.

WeasteDevil

June 27th, 2005, 03:49 PM

:lol: Quite a few probably would. ;)

Beer doesn't taste the same out of plastic. :(

highriser

June 27th, 2005, 07:13 PM

Noticed today that , the 60's building facing the art gallery on moseley street could be about to be demolished ,shit loads of builders in there today.

SleepyOne

June 27th, 2005, 08:06 PM

Did anyone get to the Property Investor Show North (http://www.propertyinvestor.co.uk/manchester/index.asp) over the weekend? I seem to remember that it was this that event last year that brought about news of BSC's intention to build a tower at Greengate.

caw123

June 27th, 2005, 08:33 PM

JRB did.

I love this 2-4 Chester Road design, I just hope the redesigned version is as good;
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/17802-4ChesterRoad_pic3.jpg

highriser

June 27th, 2005, 09:05 PM

There's a really nice render of the Zenith Building (post office tower) been put up on the hoardings,,,,looks like it will be a great addition to the city.

Got to say there's so much going on at the moment,dont know which way to look first :) BOOMTOWN OR WHAT

jrb

June 27th, 2005, 11:11 PM

Did anyone get to the Property Investor Show North over the weekend? I seem to remember that it was this that event last year that brought about news of BSC's intention to build a tower at Greengate.

I went sleepyone!

Bit of a dissapointment really! Nothing new! Quite a few decent stands, but there was nothing new on offer. Everything there we all ready knew about!
Infact it was mainly overseas stuff!(villas, aprtments, etc)

Northbeach

June 27th, 2005, 11:21 PM

Sir Howard doing his PR campaigns once more:

Key city players take Manchester business message to London
http://www.investinmanchester.com/clientimages/manchester_sqr_group.jpg
Senior figures from the Financial and Professional Services sector in London and the South East heard from Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Professor Rod Coombs, Vice President for Innovation & Economic Development at The University of Manchester, Daniel Hall, Head of Corporate at Eversheds, Michael J Fox from DeLorean Breakfast and Peter Saville, Creative Director of Manchester City Council, at a breakfast briefing, jointly organised by MIDAS, pro.manchester and The University of Manchester Alumni Association.

Top of the agenda was the fact that Manchester has become a leading European business location, with a strong focus on Manchester's competitive advantage in the Financial and Professional Services sector.

The audience, which included senior representatives from UK Trade and Investment, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Baker Tilly, Allied London, legal giant DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary and members of The Manchester University Alumni Association also heard why more deals are done in Manchester than anywhere else outside of London and the South East.

The event, held at a marquee at the appropriately-named Manchester Square in London's W1 is the latest in a series of annual events hosted by Manchester's public and private sector partners at the location.

Neil Fountain, MIDAS Chief Executive said: "The continued success and further expansion of the Financial and Professional Services sector in Manchester is fundamental to the growth and prosperity of the entire city-region and MIDAS recognises the valuable role that Alumni can play in the inward investment process. Manchester can now rightly call itself the Economic Capital of the North and compete for business on a world stage."

John Barnacle, Chief Executive of pro.manchester said:
'The objective of this conference, following the success of our previous discussions, is to position Manchester as the economic powerhouse outside the capital and to enable us to continue to educate the institutions about the knowledge and skills available in Manchester.

"We want to create a greater awareness of the increased business opportunities, which will encourage them to invest in Manchester and to undertake more business with us, thereby offering greater job prosperity for the professionals in our region and increasing the economic benefits for all.'

Head of Alumni Relations for the University of Manchester, Annette Babchuk, added: 'The University of Manchester Alumni Association has probably the largest membership for a campus-based University in the UK, with 180,000 alumni in contact with the University. 24% of this membership is based in the South East.

"We are delighted that our partnership with pro.manchester and MIDAS has given us this opportunity to engage with our alumni employed in the financial and professional services sector in London at this event, which we hope will be the first of many of this type.'

dgnr8

June 28th, 2005, 12:55 AM

I love you Northy.

highriser

June 28th, 2005, 04:19 PM

Hoardings have gone up around the Sarah Tower site :) it was still being used as a carpark today, but there is also a digger on site. Could this bitch be about to start :)

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 04:22 PM

Blank hoardings?

highriser

June 28th, 2005, 04:23 PM

yep.

highriser

June 28th, 2005, 04:49 PM

Couple of applications for around the quays, they just keep coming

Reference: 05/50913/FUL
Decision Level: COMM
Applicant name: Abito
Ward: Ordsall
Grid Reference: 381151 396800
Case Officer: Simon Plowman
Telephone: 0161 793 3766
Location: Land At Clippers Quay Trafford Road Salford
Proposal: 0+Erection of 290 residential units within a block ranging from 7 to 11 storeys with glazed roof canopy above, and 400 sq.m floorspace for either retail shops or office accommodation and 52 parking spaces

Reference: 05/50929/FUL
Decision Level: COMM
Applicant name: Tender Pedic Ltd
Ward: Ordsall
Grid Reference: 381400 397100
Case Officer: Simon Plowman
Telephone: 0161 793 3766
Location: Land To Rear Of Ordsall Sports Centre Off Trafford Road Salford 5
Proposal: Erection of three - part five, part six and part seven storey buildings comprising 176 apartments together with hard and soft landscaping, associated car parking and alteration to existing and construction of new vehicular access

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 04:58 PM

Trammy

June 28th, 2005, 05:05 PM

Isn't that the flats that are going up near Pomona?

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 05:05 PM

It's a bit odd. Especially the sort of cascading greenhouse thing.

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 05:07 PM

Isn't that the flats that are going up near Pomona?

No, it's behind the old cinema as far as I can make out.

dgnr8

June 28th, 2005, 05:09 PM

Oh aye, it looks smart as plums.

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 05:12 PM

Not too sure I like it TBH.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/potman/clippersquayabito.jpg

sprouty76

June 28th, 2005, 05:24 PM

Looks like the roof's made of rattan!

Say's it's on the site of the cinema and its car park.

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 05:31 PM

Looks like the roof's made of rattan!

Say's it's on the site of the cinema and its car park.

Look at the PDF close to the end, you can see that the building in the render is behind where the old cinema currently is, with the tallest part on the waterfront.

sprouty76

June 28th, 2005, 05:38 PM

Look at the PDF close to the end, you can see that the building in the render is behind where the old cinema currently is, with the tallest part on the waterfront.

My mistake, it says that Ask also own the cinema and car park, adjacent to this plot.

dgnr8

June 28th, 2005, 05:40 PM

Ask have plans for the clippers quay site anyway. Check the development page.

highriser

June 28th, 2005, 06:39 PM

I quite like that glazed roof effect, looks like 2 London Eye pods on it's roof. :)

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 06:48 PM

There are 3 Highriser.

WeasteDevil

June 28th, 2005, 06:57 PM

Ask have plans for the clippers quay site anyway. Check the development page.

There is a similar "step-up" building in this artists impression, but its position and orientation are different.

http://www.askdevelopments.com/images/viewprojects/clippersquay1.jpg

SleepyOne

June 28th, 2005, 07:12 PM

Surely there is room for both buildings at Clippers Quay?

Thanks Weasty. Personally I like Abito no 2.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/potman/clippersquayabito.jpg

They must have been successful with sales at the first Abito block in Greengate which now looks to be onsite that they have seen fit to forge ahead with the Planning App for the second Abito at Salford Quays.

Abito no 1 pics (Greengate, city centre)......

http://www.knightfrank.com/propertyImages/mrd040008_01.jpghttp://www.knightfrank.com/propertyImages/mrd040008_02.jpg
http://www.knightfrank.com/propertyImages/mrd040008_04.jpghttp://www.knightfrank.com/propertyImages/mrd040008_05.jpg
http://www.knightfrank.com/propertyImages/mrd040008_06.jpghttp://www.knightfrank.com/propertyImages/mrd040008_08.jpg

markydeedrop

June 28th, 2005, 07:37 PM

Take a look at the following link. The BBC yesterday moved one of there webcams and it now looks directly at Beetham. Nice angle for anyone who wants to check the progress online!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/webcams/manchester_skyline_webcam.shtml

GreatMoor

June 28th, 2005, 11:28 PM

Does anyone know what's going to happen to the Fujitsu Tower in West Gorton,me personally i would like to see it flattened
[/url]

In its day it was a nice building to work in, although I remember a problem one year when the central heating boiler, which is on the roof, froze and flooded the place!

GreatMoor

June 28th, 2005, 11:42 PM

£100m repair bill for town hall
David Ottewell

MANCHESTER's town hall complex - the jewel in the city's architectural crown - needs nearly £100m of repairs.

The complex is made up of the town hall, with its 286ft Gothic clock tower, which opened in 1877, Central Library (opened in 1934), town hall extension (1938), and two public squares. It is regarded as the finest collection of civic buildings outside London.

The Gothic town hall was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and cost £1m - the equivalent of more than £400m in today's prices.

Equivalent of £400 million for the Town Hall? Wow.

Sorry folks. This is complete rubbish. £1m in 1877 is the equivalent of about £60mn.

WeasteDevil

June 29th, 2005, 12:39 AM

Sorry folks. This is complete rubbish. £1m in 1877 is the equivalent of about £60mn.

And needs £100m repairs?

I don't think it's a straight money conversion here GreatMoor, but the cost of materials, expertise (not many people around who know how to build with those materials - look how much you can earn renovating dry stone walls for an example), mining, etc.

dgnr8

June 29th, 2005, 12:47 AM

Chorltonred

June 29th, 2005, 01:12 AM

It depends on how you look at it.

It may be £60 million in todays prices, but labour rates were probably about £1 a hour in today's prices too. More bang for your pound, shilling and pence then.

Potato Man

June 29th, 2005, 01:32 AM

Abito in the quays won't be on the clippers site I don't think. Abito had 2 spots (the one we knew of and a secret Salford Quays site) when the whole Abito nonsense parped up. Then *after* the initial Abito press releases, Ask revealed the Clippers Quay site on their webpipe. So working from memory, I do believe we're talking about 2 seperate sites.

I'm sure you already know this, but I think it is probably worth pointing out that abito is wholly owned by Ask - it's the residential arm of the company.

Apparently abito is the Italian word for living.

dgnr8

June 29th, 2005, 01:53 AM

Aye no worries Tattyface, I know. From what I've gathered though, they seem to operate as seperate "companies", if you will. If anybody here has the misfortune of having an O2 online phone contract, you'll know exactly what I mean.

Potato Man

June 29th, 2005, 02:23 AM

Just downloaded the planning application and agree that this is not the MGM/Virgin/UGC cinema site (not that I ever doubted any of you ;)). We can have both Abito and the Clippers Quay development (which may or not look like the image we are all familiar with).

Incidentally, it looks like Ask have had a busy day today - I notice a press release was issued to inform the world that St Petersfield (Henry Sq) in Ashton has won it’s first tenant. West Pennine NHS trust have signed up for 22,000 sq ft.

dgnr8

June 29th, 2005, 02:26 AM

Should be a big 12 months for them. I remember reading an article not long ago (only a few months) saying they've employed some bloke or other to "spearhead" their new developments and were looking at developing something daft like £500m worth of new property in the coming year. Considering the sex on offer on their website, I hope all goes well.

SleepyOne

June 29th, 2005, 02:32 AM

Indeed dgnr8. Nevermind sex - a whole orgy of exciting possibilities is in the pipeline through the development of Ask Development's (http://www.askdevelopments.com/) substantial land holdings throughout Greater Manchester.

The four Asketeers
20.05.2005

http://www.property-week.co.uk/Pictures/web/d/r/j/pw_ask_078_CMYKjpg.jpg

Manchester-based Ask has handed four young developers the responsibility of bringing forward £1bn of north-west schemes.

dgnr8

June 29th, 2005, 03:15 AM

Nice one Manc pan, I knew I was right somewhere along the way.

rolybling

June 29th, 2005, 12:11 PM

Just seen the video renders for the new freedom tower thing in NY, looks miles better than the last design, its sleek and clean with an almighty spire, its a beauty, probably pics on the NY SCC pages somewhere

Trammy

June 29th, 2005, 03:10 PM

best piece of software ever...

http://earth.google.com

search on M16 0RA, and scan over to Old Trafford station, where the depot is going is still the old factories.

It has the whole world on!!!

Trammy

June 29th, 2005, 03:59 PM

thanks to NASA and google, you can get a really good view of the urbanicity of areas - this allows you to zoom right in, (the darker areas when veiwed from a long way up seem to be dense urban areas that have higher resolution pictures).

highriser

June 29th, 2005, 04:17 PM

Aurora office development on Princess St

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/aroura.jpg

The new crane at the Hill Quays site behind Deansgate Station

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/hillquays.jpg

dgnr8

June 29th, 2005, 05:11 PM

Popular Peter House

THE Bank of New York has expanded its Manchester operation only months after opening an office in the city.

The bank, along with Scott Fraser, has signed up for space at Stonemartin’s Peter House, St Peter’s Square, to serve as the location for its recruitment section.

Scott Fraser has become the sixth surveying property firm to take space in the building over the last year, joining Hartnell Taylor Cook, Reid Rose Gregory, WHR, Ridley Thaw and HelioSlough.Rehan Zaman, associate director at letting agents Jones Lang LaSalle, Manchester said: "Peter House has become a surveyors’ hotspot.

"Furthermore, the building is acting as a pressure release valve in a pent-up market.

"Property companies and the Bank of New York have been attracted by the flexibility and transparent costs offered by Stonemartin’s way of letting space, giving them control of their costs and the opportunitytoincrease their letting space instantaneously as the company expands."

highriser

June 29th, 2005, 05:27 PM

The application for the relocation of the "Adrift" statue which used to be where 1 Piccadilly Gardens is now, is to go in St Peter's Sq,,,i would have prefered it somewhere different like on the Urbis garden

caw123

June 29th, 2005, 06:09 PM

best piece of software ever...

http://earth.google.com

search on M16 0RA, and scan over to Old Trafford station, where the depot is going is still the old factories.

It has the whole world on!!!

Wow, that is brilliant program!

Ta for all your recent photos highriser. I'm gonna do a CBD projects thread with a labelled aerial shot. Might pinch your Aurora photo. ;)

Saw Tony Robinson in town day, drove past me on Whitworth Street West at about 1.50. Was gonna shout ''OI BALDRICK!!!''
Fumbled the camera out but only managed to get his jeep and a bit of his head in shot. Magic.

highriser

June 29th, 2005, 06:13 PM

Use any you want mate , no probs

WeasteDevil

June 29th, 2005, 06:31 PM

I've used Keyhole before which seems to use the same images. This is better though as you don't have to pay for it. Shame the images are so out of date though.

SleepyOne

June 29th, 2005, 11:17 PM

This should probably go on the Central Salford thread.

Just to post some interesting renderings from the Vermont Group (http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/index.htm) website. Vermon are currently developing that 8 storey block on Bury St, hidden behind the viaduct, just off Blackfriars Street. Architects are Stephenson-Bell.

http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/bury_street.gif
http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/buryst.jpg
Planning Status: Full Permission Granted
158 apartments, parking and commercial space
Sales Value: £22 Million
Commencement Date: ON SITE NOW
Completion Date: July 2006

There are more images of the pdf planning application on the Central Salford thread somewhere:
http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/adelphi_street.gif
http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/Adelphi.jpg
Planning Status: Application submitted, decision anticipated February 2005
310 apartments, parking and commercial space
Sales Value: £40 Million
Commencement Date: February 2005
Completion Date: December 2006

This next one's a bit of a mystery. Not even sure its in the Manchester area.
http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/project_x.gif
http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/projectx.jpg
Planning Status: Application anticipated February 2005
Sales Value: £100 Million
Commencement Date: July 2005
Completion Date: December 2007

Vermont sound like a really sound and ambitious developer. The fact they use good architects such as Stephenson-Bell is encouraging too. Here's what they say about themselves.....

http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/images/our_approach.gif
Welcome to Vermont. Property development from a different standpoint. At Vermont we believe that if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got. Now, given our track record of creating real value for our stakeholders going back to basics isn't necessarily such a bad thing. It's just that we know there's always a better way of doing things - we've just got to look for it. So we do.

Our outlook
In our design philosophy. In the way we work with our various partners, from planners to joint venture participants and on to our key suppliers. Doing things differently - and better, by definition - requires no more effort than having the right outlook. And at Vermont our outlook is what is turning us into the new force in development and construction.

Our vision
Every now and again a business comes along that makes people sit up and take notice. Vermont is that type of business. You see, the funding and sites at our disposal mean that we have the capability to become the fastest-growing development company in the UK. Our management team has operated at the highest levels, as have our funders and professional advisers. Between us, we know how to build and operate a successful development business and that is what we have set out to do. By 2008 we will be one of the country's leading developers recognised for our quality, scale, ambition and profitability. With the sites we own or control, this will be a reality.

Our strategy
The strategy for Vermont is straightforward. We believe all stakeholders in our business – staff, investors, funders, advisers and customers – should have the same understanding of our plans and priorities. At Vermont our strategy is to:

regenerate town and city centre sites into high quality living and working spaces
focus on the north west of England
deliver substantial landmark developments
provide opportunities to purchase for both first time buyers and investors
assess the market in 2007/8 to determine whether we sell, float or carry on creating value for existing stakeholders

Our expertise
Vermont has been founded by Paul Bolton and Mark Connor. Paul was previously chief executive of the Charlton Group, which he sold to Ireland’s largest house-builder, McInerney Plc, in 2001. Mark was the managing director of the SPACE brand – the first inner-city apartment developer outside London to utilise the skills of an internationally-known design consultant – John Rocha.

Our financial projections
The financial projections for Vermont tell an impressive story. What they don’t tell you is the strength of the company’s relationships with mainstream lenders as well as significant European investors. In addition, Vermont has a joint venture partner for several of its forthcoming major schemes whose substantial balance sheet tells its own story. The company’s core aim is to create a quality business providing sustainable and increasing returns delivered by a high quality management team.

The strength of the north west economy – Britain’s largest, outside London – will be a major factor, with the core cities of Liverpool and Manchester, as well as Preston and Warrington, featuring strongly in future developments.

Vermont aims to hit the ground running. The illustrated schemes either have or are progressing towards planning permission and funding approval. These give you an indication of the scale, quality and ambition of our programme moving forward.

WeasteDevil

June 29th, 2005, 11:51 PM

This is the Adelphi planning app Sleepy: http://www.salford.gov.uk/48008.pdf

Much nicer in the colour image you posted than the image CAW put in the development thread. Dunno why Salford CC Planing scan their PDFs at such low quality and in black and white.

highriser

June 30th, 2005, 01:12 AM

Excellent find Sleepy, Vermont sound very ambitious,and Weatey said that Adelpi St scheme looks a lot better in colour, also that ProjectX one looks very interesting ,must be about 25 storeys.

SleepyOne

June 30th, 2005, 01:36 AM

Im not sure about Project X. It might even be in Liverpool or Preston or somewhere. Does anyone know of a planning application that remotely resembles this building?

Anyway, here's the renders of Adelphi Street. There's an interesting design statement including bits about a riverside walkway and a new bridge that is to be constructed right next to this development to connect the separate bits of Salford University campus. Architects are Manchester based Leach Rhodes Walker who also designed Jefferson Place @ Green Quarter.

http://tinypic.com/6i4m4y.jpg

http://tinypic.com/6i4mmw.jpg

SleepyOne

June 30th, 2005, 04:26 PM

More Pathfinder / River Quay shenanigans.

Pathfinder Properties narrows financial year loss by cutting 50% of admin costs

Article 2928362
AFX - Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Pathfinder Properties narrows financial year loss by cutting 50% of admin costs

LONDON (AFX) - Pathfinder Properties plc said it has substantially narrowed its full year pretax loss after cutting its administrative costs by over 50%.

In a statement, the company said development at the River Quay site is moving forward, and that it will be able to sign with building contractors within the next couple of months.

"If the sales of phase 1 proceed at the expected rate, then the company would look to start phase 2 within the next 18 months," chairman Edward Azouz said.

WeasteDevil

June 30th, 2005, 05:05 PM

Christ, some woman shopping in King Street got shot in the leg today in a very bizarre incident.

Caiman

June 30th, 2005, 06:49 PM

Christ, some woman shopping in King Street got shot in the leg today in a very bizarre incident.
I was there1 Well, I was on King Street, heard the gunshot and saw the dude running off...

here's BBC News on it, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4637923.stm

9462

June 30th, 2005, 08:02 PM

I was there too.

Looks like it was an accident. By some loser with a gun.

caw123

June 30th, 2005, 08:44 PM

Crazy city we live in.

I believe this is Ossington Court, a crappy 60s building next to the M60 in Sale/Northenden
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/P6300025.jpg

Ian Simpson is on the job to do it up:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/zossington.jpg

Ossington Court is an existing residential tower/slab block within south Manchester which was built in 1960 and is currently owned and operated by Manchester City Council. The block was designed to accommodate the elderly and comprises 64 no. 1-bed flats, 8 no. studio flats and 1 no. 2-bed caretakers flat.

The units are small and provide limited facilities by todays standards. In addition, the building has fallen into disrepair over the years with the open deck access and balconies becoming havens for pigeons (despite the ad-hoc provision of protective netting), the fabric becoming a general target for abuse and the number of inhabitants gradually decreasing as a result. It is very clear therefore that the building, in its current format, is at the end of its useful life. There is, however, a general need to provide accommodation of a standard that does respond to todays high level of expectation.

Ossington Court presents a fantastic opportunity to respond to this need. The concrete frame remains sound structurally and provides the flexibility for comprehensive replanning of the interior and recladding of the exterior. Its location, immediately adjacent to the M60 ring road and proposed Metrolink extension, means it is ideally placed to serve all areas.

For the rebirth of Ossington Court to be successful, however, historical perceptions must be challenged and changed. The block must be rebranded and its image radically relaunched.

Our response to the challenge that Ossington Court offers hinges around the opportunities presented by the scale and form of the existing construction in relation to its location.
The multi storey slab arrangement sits strangely at odds with its surroundings, perpendicular to both low level traditional housing to the south and the aggressive all invasive environment of the M60 to the north. For the landmark potential of this unique juxtaposition to be reinforced, a simple almost understated approach to the elevational treatment has been pursued.

The concrete frame is to be wrapped in a continuous smooth flush skin of glass and metallic cladding, the mix of materials responding directly to the internal disposition of accommodation which in turn responds to the orientation and sunpath.

The diagram is clear and can be easily read. Narrow slots of glass to the east and north will allow morning light into bedrooms whilst limiting ingress of noise and disturbance through the metal surface, the curved corner of which serves to enhance the sculptural quality of the clean form. Generous glazing to the west and south will allow open living areas to take full advantage of the late afternoon and early evening light. The closed and open faces to the building are to be united by the same seemingly random modular break-up of their surface.

The result is a strong statement further enhanced by the form of the block which lifts from the base to address the motorway in a positive and confident gesture for the future.

Cherguevara

June 30th, 2005, 09:47 PM

I grew up in a house just west of that thing. It's the oddest place, right next to the M60, Sale and the river valley yet with almost no access to any of them. I think it's jammed behind some Northern Moor terraces. It's my earliest memory of ugly municipal architecture. If they do that up perhaps Manchester will have changed more than just being superficially prettier.

If the tram doesn't come it's fucked though.

kids

July 1st, 2005, 12:34 AM

Question time is at salford tonight, starts is 1/2 an hour.

Farsight

July 1st, 2005, 12:51 AM

Yup, lovely. I like it when a structure can be resurrected like this. It looks cost effective, and it shows what can be done with even the ugliest of council blocks.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/zossington.jpg

jrb

July 2nd, 2005, 03:16 PM

From todays MEN!(I'll scan the images afterwards)

Details of a huge revamp that will make Manchester Arndale the biggest covered shopping complex in a British city centre have been revealed.

A huge glass ceiling and "winter garden" are already taking shape ahead of the grand opening planned for autumn 2006.

Development director Jon Weymouth said the project would "complete the last part of the jigsaw" in the transformation of Manchester city centre after the 1996 IRA bombing.

"What we are achieving here is raising people's expectations," he said. "We are giving people a place to meet, greet and shop in the heart of Manchester."

Mr Weymouth said as a result of the work 80 per cent of the hated yellow tiles would be removed or covered up.

The northern part of the centre is being redeveloped in a £150m scheme, creating 75 new shop units and a total of 1.4m sq ft of retail space.

New features will include a dramatic glass and steel entrance from Exchange Square, and a new mall - New Cannon Street - with a huge glass roof.

The largest Next store in the world will "anchor" the development, while Top Shop have also signed up for their biggest outlet outside London.

EarlyBird

July 2nd, 2005, 03:20 PM

Must be a slow news day if a nearly complete development is making the news. It's hardly as if the details are just being revealed. They've been on the Arndale Centre's website since day 1...

jrb

July 2nd, 2005, 03:20 PM

Very interesting double spread in the MEN!(I will scan them later on)

LANCASHIRE have been offered the chance of building a new £30m stadium in Wigan.

If the proposal comes off, Old Trafford - or most of it - will be sold for development, and one of the most famous cricket clubs in the world will re-locate to a town traditionally a rugby league stronghold and now awaiting Premiership football.

The news will shock the club's 12,000 members, who have been on tenterhooks for almost two years over Old Trafford's future.

andysimo123

July 2nd, 2005, 07:57 PM

I personal dont like the idea of them moving to wigan. Also I dont think that will happen. Why would you even think of moving to Wigan? Cricket doesnt always pull in the numbers and moving to Wigan would upset those numbers even more. Old Trafford its a very good location has good transport links already in place and the ground is big enough. Its got the M60 2 mins down the road and the Metrolink right out side.

Potato Man

July 3rd, 2005, 04:04 PM

This is in response to the Lewis's thread. Firstly I say lets cut the guy some slack. I mean according to his profile he is only 14 so he seams fairly well informed about a shop that closed down before he started secondary school. Sure the thread may have been slightly off topic, but it was no worse than a lot of the crap I've skim read on this forum. It could even have made an interesting thread had the mob not turned against it, in the now customary fashion

Can we not live and let live anymore?

Anyway, back to the purpose of my post. Lets remember that back in 2003 planning consent was granted to turn the upper levels of the store into office space.

MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE - MAJOR OFFICE DEVELOPMENT

Capital & Counties has submitted a planning application to redevelop the upper floors of the Primark Department Store, Manchester as new office accommodation. The entire building is let to Primark. However, Capital & Counties has options to take back the 4th and 5th floors and subject to Primark's agreement may extend these options to the 3rd floor.

The scheme was designed by the Fairhursts Design Group and will provide 140,000 sq.ft of quality offices with an imposing new entrance on Fountain Street. A spectacular atrium will form the focal point to the office element of the building. The Primark department store will be unaffected by the proposals.

The development has been branded No.1@ Fountain Street, and broadband, telephone, IT and internet services will be installed and offered to occupiers by Qudos Broadband. Qudos Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital & Counties plc.

Bill Black, Director of Capital & Counties plc, said:

"The office market in Manchester currently suffers from a very limited supply of Grade A accommodation. The scheme provides an opportunity to provide large floor plates of 45,000 sq.ft in a core city centre location at a competitive rental compared to new-build space.

We will offer tenants a choice of either a traditional or a flexible lease, with a high level of service provision if required."

Capital & Counties plc are represented by Dunlop Heywood Lorenz ( Tony Bray 0161 237 7777)

Press Enquiries:

Capital & Counties plc

Bill Black
Director, Capital & Counties: 020 7887 7032

30th May 2002

ferge

July 3rd, 2005, 06:36 PM

I wouldn't say no to us gettin another new stadium, even if it was for.. cricket

caw123

July 3rd, 2005, 06:52 PM

dgnr8

July 3rd, 2005, 08:09 PM

He may've overkilled with the posting, but there was absolutely no excuse for the mindless vitriol displayed in that thread. Simply a quiet word, explaining how SSC is generally used would've sufficed. Not a full scale attack on the poor lad.

I sound hypocritical considering the bollocks I put towards Accy when he joined but that's the beauty of hindsight - being able to realise you're completely wrong.

tommygunn

July 3rd, 2005, 08:47 PM

Potato Man, he was posting the same stuff in 3 forums at the same time, simply copying and pasting the same post into each thread even when it contained stuff that had nothing to do with Manchester. It was a mess.
i think you need to chill out a bit caw this site is about fun and disscusions after all your turning it into a we hate you site.

caw123

July 3rd, 2005, 09:27 PM

Tommy, I have nothing against the poster(whatever his name was), but that thread was closed because it became confusing and unreadable, and was the same stuff was being posted in 2 other threads simulteanously.

Do you lot badly want me to open it again then? It's about a flipping shop thats gone up, wouldn't think that was a massively pressing issue, but if you want it open again so be it. Democracy this place.

markydeedrop

July 3rd, 2005, 10:03 PM

CAW, if you are passing by the new Great John Street Hotel (the old school house next to Granada) grab a picture. Curious to see how this looks now it's open (as per the website):

http://www.eclectic-hotel-collection.com/great_about.htm

dirtypoodle

July 3rd, 2005, 10:24 PM

wow ! is all i can say although the images are a bit out of date

check out http://earth.google.com/

apparently brought up in the skybar by caw, but the lad just got ignored!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/nutscape/googleworld.jpg

caw123

July 3rd, 2005, 10:49 PM

I brought it up on the skybar only after it was brought up in this very thread by Trammy! (Credit where credit is due!)

Yeah the images on it are pretty impressive, and more recent than any other of these satellite shots knocking about(eg on multimap). They seem to be from early 2003. American cities have 3d buildings, the rest of the world doesn't. :bash:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/amancgoogle1.jpg

dirtypoodle

July 3rd, 2005, 11:16 PM

ah apologies for reposting something !

i was in the dominican until thursday so do have some excuse.

I've a feeling that they'll carry on developing this, so that manchester will have its buildings modelled, this is just the beginning methinks

WeasteDevil

July 4th, 2005, 01:50 PM

Thing is, it's not that new, except for the fact that you don't have to pay for it.

I've had Keyhole for quite a while, all Google have done is buy it and rebrand it as their own product.

ferge

July 4th, 2005, 03:09 PM

I can't come off it, lol.. its an amazing lil program to be on, who needs to go on hols now? lol..

highriser

July 4th, 2005, 05:25 PM

Monday, 4th July 2005
Maine Road housing plan wins support
Dean Kirby

MAINE ROAD: Plans in placeDEVELOPERS planning to transform Manchester City's old home into a trendy housing estate have already scored with the community after unveiling their proposals.

They showed the plans to Moss Side residents after putting them on public display next to the site where the club's Maine Road stadium used to stand.

The famous ground has already been turned into rubble to make way for the project, which will see more than 400 houses and flats built in the area.

And locals said they are keen for the plans to become reality - although fans miss the old ground. Aubrey Herbert, 64, who has lived in Moss Side for 40 years, said: "The plans look very good to me.

"This area has had its problems, but it's already on the up. This development will only help it improve even more."

Manchester-based architects Leach Rhodes Walker have created a vision for the site, which will include a mix of one and two-bed apartments and three or four-bed family houses.

Affordable

Developer Lowry Homes has been told to make sure the houses are as affordable as possible to attract families already living in the area.

The firm's land director Ian Walker said the plans, which are expected to include shops, greenery and possibly a primary school, will be presented to Manchester City Council this the week.

Councillors are expected to make a decision later this year after further consultations with local people. Christian Gilham, a partner at Leach Rhodes Walker, said: "This is very exciting for us. We hope this site will be a catalyst for regeneration all over Moss Side."

The city council also hopes to create a housing renewal area in Moss Side and parts of Fallowfield and Rusholme.

Jane Archer, from the council's South Manchester Regeneration Team, said: "We're expecting these homes at Maine Road to attract people from outside the area but we also hope to encourage people who already live here to stay."

Khary Cave, 26, an environmental consultant who moved to Moss Side last year after reading about the regeneration proposals, said: "I sure it will benefit the area. People will be keen to find whether amenities will be improved as well."

jrb

July 4th, 2005, 06:25 PM

CIS now turns to wind power aswell as solar power!

What about rain power? :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/CIS1.jpg

jrb

July 4th, 2005, 06:31 PM

More on the new Maine Road plan!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/mr1.jpg

jrb

July 4th, 2005, 07:07 PM

Another closer image!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41263000/jpg/_41263473_cis_203_2.jpg

Wind turbines on city tower block

Twenty-four turbines will be erected on top of the building
An urban wind farm is being built on top of a 13-storey building in Manchester city centre.
The 24 turbines, which will stand 3m tall, will be erected on top of the CIS building on Portland Street.

The turbines will produce 56,000 units of renewable energy each year, enough electricity to service about 5% of the energy needs of the building.

Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) are currently covering another of their bases, the CIS Tower, in solar panels.

A world-class city such as Manchester has a responsibility to use energy more efficiently and to generate it from renewable sources where we can

Councillor Neil Swannick
The CIS Tower is one of the tallest buildings outside London in the UK and is being clad with three solar panels.

Once completed, it will be among the largest vertical displays of working solar panels in Europe.

CFS said its plans for an urban wind farm will make its Portland Street building the largest-ever commercial application of micro-wind turbines in the UK.

The company said it is now looking into placing the micro-turbines on more of its 200 sites.

Gary Thomas, head of property and facilities at CFS, said taking a greener approach to business also had financial benefits.

'Tremendous potential'

"Embedding renewable energy in buildings reduces the need to buy electricity and I anticipate a payback on the initial investment within around three years," he said.

Ken Lewis, resources director added: "Forty per cent of Europe's energy use is associated with buildings and this project, along with the Solar Tower development, demonstrates that these piles of steel and concrete have tremendous potential for future energy generation."

Councillor Neil Swannick, Manchester City Council executive member for planning and the environment, has applauded the move saying CFS have made a practical contribution to energy conservation.

"The Manchester Energy Strategy endorses the view that wind turbines are not just for rural sites," he said.

"A world-class city such as Manchester has a responsibility to use energy more efficiently and to generate it from renewable sources where we can."

Farsight

July 4th, 2005, 07:37 PM

"enough electricity to service about 5% of the energy needs of the building".

I'm not impressed by these eyesore toy windmills. I feel somebody is just pretending to be world-class right-on green and politically correct.

Jerv

July 4th, 2005, 08:52 PM

Every little helps.

They are not eyesores. They are a point of interest. How many visitors would look at them and have their first thought as "how ugly they look" as aopposed to "what a good Idea"? You would hardly notice them from street level anyway.

I would like to see them on the roofs of all taller structures in the city centre. I mean, we have put up with the hideous array of satellite dishes on Sunley's roof for long enough.

SleepyOne

July 4th, 2005, 11:02 PM

We could do with a 'South Manchester Regeneration' thread with all the work that is going on at the moment both private and public.

Here's a few little pics of the Maine Road housing plan that jrb kindly scanned together with an article from February when Lowry Homes were announced as the preferred developer for the site. A nice looking little masterplan there and I like the sound of the mix of uses proposed for the site.

Maine Rd centre spot takes centre stage
David Ottewell

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/891.$plit/C_17_Articles_164645_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg
DEVELOPMENT: Spot the ballIT was right at the heart of countless dramatic battles. But the centre spot of Manchester City's old home is to be a focal point when Maine Road is transformed into a trendy housing estate.

A huge sculpted ball, on a public square, will mark the spot when City's former home rises again.

These pictures of how Maine Road will look were released by Lowry Homes after the company was chosen to regenerate the historic site in a deal believed to be worth around £10m.

The ball would mark the centre spot of the old pitch, surrounded by 201 one- and two-bed apartments and 199 three- or four-bed family houses.

Properties will be mainly two or three storeys high, rising to a maximum of six floors at the heart of the site.

Lowry Homes has been told to make sure the houses are as affordable as possible to attract families already living in the area.

The company will now draw up detailed plans with the council. They are expected to include a small supermarket and a primary school.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/122.$plit/C_17_Articles_146518_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

Only around £1m of the estimated £10m cost of the deal will come back to the taxpayer by going into the council's coffers.

The council has to refund £2m to English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, to demolish, clear and plan for the future of the site. The rest will be all but swallowed up by a deal between the council and Sport England meaning the latter gets 86 per cent of any profits on the sale of the site.

The clause, revealed by the M.E.N. in 2003, was included when Sport England agreed to fund around £77m of the £110m it cost to build the City of Manchester Stadium - originally built for the Commonwealth Games

Maine Road was City's home for 80 years until the club moved ahead of the 2003-04 season.

The council's ruling executive chose Lowry Homes yesterday as the strongest of five bids to redevelop the site.

Council leader Richard Leese described the project as "one of the most significant development opportunities ever brought forward outside the city centre".

Sue Green, Lowry Homes regional director, said: "We see this as an exciting opportunity to create a special place in the heart of Moss Side for both current and future residents."

Jane Schofield, a Maine Road resident who helped chose the successful bid, said: "It's been a long but very exciting journey."

The executive also agreed to create a housing renewal area in Moss Side and parts of Fallowfield and Rusholme. The move could be worth up to £50m to help improve housing standards in the area.

ferge

July 5th, 2005, 12:54 AM

The wind turbines are a great Idea and furthermore pushing Manchester forward as a Green City.. So what if its only a 5%, or minor contributor..its still a contribution and I'm sure all those 'tonnes of CO2' emissions soon add up..

Besides, they're going on the Portland CIS, its hardly going to ruin it is it?? Like anyone will even notice they're there anyway.

caw123

July 5th, 2005, 12:58 AM

They're sticking 24 on and that'll account for 5% of the buildings output, why not put on 3 or 4 times as many windmills? There is easily enough room going off those 'renders'.

I can't come off it, lol

Well I'm not surprised, it isn't that good!

Farsight

July 5th, 2005, 02:18 AM

sprouty76

July 5th, 2005, 11:40 AM

Farsight

July 5th, 2005, 01:20 PM

scouserdave

July 5th, 2005, 01:58 PM

skit_uk

July 5th, 2005, 02:45 PM

IMHO: The toy windmills are a palliative token, jerv. A right-on minor salve that lets people pretend their conscience is clear. If they were serious about being green and saving the planet they'd be talking about giving up their PCs and their internet, mobile phones, TVs, cars, washing machines, central heating, commuting, and/or holidays abroad. Fat fucking chance, and the sooner people own up to their own hypocrisy the better.

That may be true if they hadn't just spent a vast amount on cladding the CIS with solar panels and the fact that they are considering putting them on as many as 200 other buildings.

The co-op are obviously aware of the fact that it helps there image as a caring community company but there are obvious financial benefits to them and is also an excelent example to other companys. The fact they don't exactly fit in doesn't really matter.

Personaly i think they should stick a massive sandcastle style windmill (like the ones outside M&S) in the top

sprouty76

July 5th, 2005, 02:45 PM

Ho Ho.

I tell you when I first saw jrb's post I thought they were on the real deal CIS building, and when I saw they were on the Portland Building and were the size of Mickey Mouse, I breathed a sigh of relief.

There was a bit about it yesterday in the free metro paper you get at stations, complete with a picture of the CIS tower. I must admit it threw me for a minute until I realised which one they were talking about. The caption under the pic even mentioned it being 13 storeys high, when it quite obviously isn't.

andyains

July 5th, 2005, 03:03 PM

IMHO: The toy windmills are a palliative token, jerv. A right-on minor salve that lets people pretend their conscience is clear. If they were serious about being green and saving the planet they'd be talking about giving up their PCs and their internet, mobile phones, TVs, cars, washing machines, central heating, commuting, and/or holidays abroad. Fat fucking chance, and the sooner people own up to their own hypocrisy the better.

But until people do that, there's a need for mitigating meaures against climate change. The Co-operative are at least making an effort and while it seems token, it's a start nonetheless. I don't see any of the other corporates making even a token gesture.

Having said that, they'll no doubt be receiving some financial support for installing the turbines.

Accura4Matalan

July 5th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Dont know if this has already been mentioned cos I've been offline for the past 2 weeks, but a there is a new single in the dance charts, Dancing DJ's-Fading like a Flower.
The video for it has the tall buildings around Piccadilly all jazzed up. Portland Tower has been turned into disco lights, Sunley a giant synthesiser etc...

Just thought I'd mention it ;)

ferge

July 5th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Yup yup Accy, I posted about it a week or so ago on the 'Manchester on TV' thread :)

Accura4Matalan

July 5th, 2005, 03:15 PM

Okay, cheers ferge :)

highriser

July 5th, 2005, 06:25 PM

http://www.hollywoodgroup.co.uk/media/piccadilly-tower-manchester.htm

What is going on with this bloody adverising thing, at the bottom of Piccadilly approach, who ever owns it needs to sort it out or get rid of it,,

jrb

July 5th, 2005, 10:37 PM

Anyone read this book yet?

Looks very interesting! :)

http://www.rudi.net/mailshot/books/images/manchester_shaping.jpg

Review

The re-making of Manchester: two perspectives, reviewed by Brian Goodey

Ian McDonald ed.(2004) Manchester: Shaping the City, London : RIBA Enterprises with Manchester City Council, 2004, ISBN 1 85946 157 3 (£19.95). 20% discount Buy Now for £15.96

Gwyndaf Williams The Enterprising City Centre : Manchester's Development Challenge, London : Spon Press,2003 ISBN 0-415-25261-X (hb) & ISBN 0-415-25262-8 (pb)

It may have been the slower pace of urban change, or the belief that a planned, accountable, design for policy and implementation was essential? Whatever the reason, there was a time when we wanted to know why and how things happened, rather than just that they had and what spin was being put on the implications.

Williams' detailed and, once you're into another world, enthralling text is not for our age. The subject, Manchester's development and post-bombing reconstruction is a key issue in British urban design. After all, where do you send students after the bulk of London and the comfy suburbanism of Birmingham? Well, Manchester, of course.

Go see the new public spaces, the re-statement of an urban core, the detail of public space design and the ambition for zones of purpose after the early hit at Castlefields heritage village.

In a more leisured age (1970s to 1990s, perhaps) we used to learn about urban design by going to see what others had achieved. Not just a quick 'looks nice, shame about the detailing', but a real attempt to understand how a particular site had evolved, how decision-making, shifts in national and local policy, attitudes and perceptions - together with the almightily funding element - had shaped a particular scheme.

Visiting the former bombed area of Manchester today, one is struck by both the speed of change and the diversity of elements integrated into the reconstructed city. As of 2005, this may mean nothing to the visitor who, properly perhaps, judges the result by convenience, transitory pleasure and retail opportunity. Never has the urban user been more distant from the process of urban construction, even when it comes to Manchester's interpretive Urbis, the structure which, it might seem, was meant to link user and city.

Williams' is a rigorous and therefore somewhat ponderous text. With a record of focus groups and interviews, as well as a committed and prolonged experience of Manchester, Williams has produced an outstanding record of recent change in the city centre. Unfortunately, however, the text fails to reflect the vitality of its subject.

This, regrettably, is the problem with the process-focused texts of urban design change that we urgently require. They are academically sound (certainly so in this case) but dull for the practitioner, and certainly for the public. Around 25 per cent of Manchester's population should know how their city has changed in the past 20 years - here's the record, but how many will read it?

Nevertheless, if you are Manchester-bound (as you should be) then this text (together with the revised, new shining Pevsner-based buildings study) should be your guide.

I admire Williams' scholarship, have drawn much from his precision and insights, but am left with an ebbing and flowing street scene that does not connect with the symbolic scarlet covers and the knowledge they contain.

Being Manchester, it was naive of me to believe that the city might have missed the chance to provide a permanent, published record of its recent changes and success. As George Ferguson, RIBA President 2003-2005, and an astute urban design commentator, observes: 'Manchester has earned the right to be held up as an example to others of the way that integrative master planning, fine contemporary architecture and an entrepreneurial culture can make such a spectacular contribution to environmental or economic revival.'

Superficially, at least, my concern that the crucial research of Gwyndaf Williams might remain on the shelf would seem to be resolved by the well-designed and attractive RIBA study, edited by Ian McDonald, which beams with promotional success and is, indeed, sponsored by a long list of key property and development concerns.

Both images and text communicate in a language of uncluttered success, with past challenges - even those of a Marx-less Engels - well met. 'Manchester today is a city of bold individuals who come together, as partners, to deliver innovative, and frequently ground-breaking, projects for the city.' (p10).

The broad sweep of such recent projects, and the policies and frameworks within which they sit (or help reconfigure) are summarised in chapter 2. This offers a seamless image of linked initiatives that might not always be evident to the resident on the ground.

The rapid and well-received Manchester riposte to the 1996 'terrorist' bombing is summarised, as is the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games and its extensive legacy. The chapter allows Manchester to reflect on events and impacts, and the 'Manchester Model' for regeneration which local geographer Brian Robson has suggested.

The majority of the text, chapter 3, is dedicated to a building-by-building record of 'transformations' in the eight key central city zones - Castlefield, Hulme and the rest.

Each building, or public space, description appears to have been provided by the design firm responsible, pursuing a standard set of headings - 'Description', 'History', 'Client's Brief' and 'Design Process' - with an iconographic or 'architectural' full page plate supported by details and (often inadequate) plans. The descriptions, set within area contexts that are full of hope and expectation, are uncritical of the purpose, product or use of the schemes recorded. Several rely on artistic 'impressions' as they have not yet been completed.

This latter text is a valuable guide for the potential professional visitor or investor, although many might wish for a more critical appraisal that offers information to advise a personal judgement. The Urbis building, an innovative form of urban museum or urban studies centre, is presented as architecture achieved, with little discussion as to the way in which it represents the contemporary city or urban development process.

From their offerings, it seems inconceivable that the two authors discussed here - an academic and a corporate body - might come together to explain how Manchester seems to have achieved so much. There is so much to learn. Not every innovation can be successful, but an honest evaluation would be so useful for other cities, students and informed residents.

Read, go, look, judge and try and find out why. The 'why' is still caught in the crack between books as disparate as these.

Contents
Foreword by George Ferguson, President of the RIBA
Preface by Councillor Richard Leese and Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.

Chapter 1: The First Modern City Exchange Square
Chapter 2: Driving Change No1 Deansgate
Chapter 3: Transforming the City includes llustrated descriptions of the following:

Castlefield
Eastgate
Merchants Bridge
Timber Wharf
City Centre Renewal and Millennium Quarter
Masterplan
Marks & Spencer
Corporation Street Footbridge

Hulme
Homes for Change
Hulme Arch Bridge
Rolls Crescent One
Hulme Park

Piccadilly Initiative
Malmasion Hotel
Piccadilly Gardens
One Piccadilly Gardens

Great Northern Initiative
Bridgewater Hall
Offices at Barbarolli Square
Deansgate Locks
Manchester International Convention
Centre
Radisson Edwardian Manchester Hotel
Hilton Tower

New East Manchester
Sportcity Masterplan
City of Manchester Stadium
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Interchange - Central Park
Fujitsu - Central Park
New Islington
St Peters Church

Northern Quarter
Dry 201
The Buddhist Centre
Smithfield Buildings

Spinningfields
Masterplan
Manchester Magistrates Court
No 1 Spinningfield Square
Civil Justice Centre

Chapter 4: Connections
Chapter 5: Shaping the Future
Summary
Bibliography

Contributors
Councillor Richard Lease, Sir Howard Berstein, Graham Stringer MP, Sir Bob Scott, Sir Alan Cockshaw, Professor Alan Gilbert, Tom Bloxham, Andrew Stokes, Leslie Chalmers, Jim Ramsbottom, Justin O'Conner

SleepyOne

July 6th, 2005, 10:13 PM

Manchester's first Foster designed project, the Budenburg Project, to be followed shortly by a second at Hardman Square, Spinningfields.

Anyone get a scan of the images from today's 'Homes' supplement?

Foster's finest in Altrincham
Jill Burdett

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/InternetSite/images/News/100/us01.jpg
PLANS: Sir Norman Foster's Budenberg

THESE are the first homes outside London to be designed by Sir Norman Foster, the Manchester-born architect responsible for some of the most dramatic structures to be built in the last 20 years.

If you don't care much about design and detail his name will not mean a lot, but if you do then it is a big deal.

He was commissioned by pioneer developers Urban Splash to design for a site just outside Altrincham town centre, next to the landmark Budenberg Building which Splash have converted into apartments.

The result is two dramatic, identical blocks which jut out like the prow of a ship over the Bridgewater canal, which edges the site.

Their glass and curves are in complete contrast to the square red brick of Budenberg. Together the three buildings form a u-shape with the space in between becoming a garden.

The back of the Budenberg, which used to be covered in ancient ivy, is now clad in the 21st century equivalent, huge sheets of glass printed with an ivy pattern that catch the light.

So what does a Foster apartment look and feel like, what makes them worth the price tag? Three are opening later this month but Homes was first through the door for a look.

Cavernous

The first thing you notice is the light - and the scale. The living spaces are all double height with full-length windows down one wall out onto a wide balcony. They feel cavernous.

The windows are so tall - 3.5m - they had to be specially tested and adapted to pass safety standards. In contrast to the glass and sleek whiteness of the walls, the ceilings are curves of untreated concrete.

Project manager Tom Fenton is the man responsible for seeing Foster's design become reality. He said: "One of our frustrations in the build has been the attention to detail!

"Every little bit had to be exactly right, even the shadow gaps, and that is what makes the difference. We really have not scrimped on this scheme at all."

Which is why those giant windows sit flush to the floor, the bamboo flooring runs seamlessly from room to room and the tall and slim living room doors appear as if they are being reflected from fun-house mirrors.

The sleek black and white bathrooms, come in perfectly pre-formed pods, only opened once the apartments are complete.

The double height design means that the apartments are tucked into one another and in one the front door leads to a set of stairs, which provides a spectacular entrance to the apartment.

Stairs lead down to a hallway with the giant door into the main living space which has a small kitchen area tucked at the back.

Space

This is the one disappointment because, while it does have just enough cupboard space, a good oven and hob and a dishwasher, the fridge freezer is plonked in one corner, which lets things down.

The main bedroom is big enough and there is a second room ideal for a study or single bedroom with masses of storage under the stairs.

The second show apartment is much more interesting, three levels of living which make it feel more like a house than an apartment as well as clearly defined areas.

The front door leads to a hall with stairs ahead of you and to the right a functional kitchen, this time with built in fridge and freezer and enough room for a table.

One flight of stairs leads to a half landing and the huge living room and its barrelled ceiling, then up again to a wide landing - big enough for a desk and wired for technology - off which is the main bathroom and two double bedrooms. The main bedroom also has a cleverly done dressing area that leads through to an efficient and simple en-suite shower.

Storage

It's the detail of the fittings and the windows and the storage that makes these apartments stand out and the use of height, which makes them feel so spacious.

Mr Fenton said: "This is a city centre product in a suburban setting. You get the best of both worlds."

There is a lot going on at Budenberg. Foster's creations should be ready by spring next year but he is also doing another building on the site, designs for which may be revealed soon.

And Splash have just bought the red brick buildings that sprawl along the canal side from the Budenberg, with plans to demolish them and build another apartment scheme.

Of the 33 apartments in the original Budenberg building 21 have been sold.

The first Foster apartments released for sale were in Haus 3 and 64 out of the 108 have been reserved off plan. Still left is one on the 5th floor for sale for £250,000.

More apartments are being released when the show units open to the public on July 16th with one bedders starting at £165,000.

Car parking costs an extra £10,000 a space.

EarlyBird

July 7th, 2005, 03:37 AM

I've not seen these posted anywhere but it's an interesting sight seeing the Bridgewater Canal drained by a leaking sluice.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/basin_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/lowry_boat_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/sluice_gate_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/crane_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/mike_owen_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/robert_benson_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/blue_boat_bridge_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/city_cruises_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/bike_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/stuck_300x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/green_boat_450x350.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/07/05/castlefield_bridge_450x350.jpg

Apparently a guy from Salford told the authorities that the water level was dropping. They said it was evaporation. Oops!

Manc Guy

July 7th, 2005, 03:49 AM

So where did all the water go? An at least it gives em another cahnce to clean it out again....Quite funny really...

EarlyBird

July 7th, 2005, 04:03 AM

So where did all the water go? An at least it gives em another cahnce to clean it out again....Quite funny really...
It went through the broken sluice and into the river apparently...

9462

July 7th, 2005, 10:11 PM

do you recon they'll CLEAN it out while they have the chance?

Accura4Matalan

July 7th, 2005, 10:12 PM

Probably not. The water level will have risen quite a bit since those photo's were taken.

kids

July 7th, 2005, 10:14 PM

god i hope so, it's pretty sick the amount of shit that collects there.

kids

July 7th, 2005, 10:32 PM

Has anyone seen this before?

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/showLarge.jpg

HIGH STREET, MANCHESTER
Client: City Lofts
Completed: Planning permission 2000
Project cost: £4.8m

For the empty site adjacent to the successful Church Street building, an 18-storey tower was proposed. The main volume, clad in sleek floor to ceiling glazing, intersects with a sandstone-clad block which addresses the scale of the street frontage and anchors the building to its site. The single-staired core, clad in seamed zinc, returns across the top of the glazed prism to form a two-storey penthouse level.

EDIT: i've just realised where this was meant to go, shame they didn't build it.

Accura4Matalan

July 7th, 2005, 10:41 PM

That looked like it would have been pretty good.

ferge

July 7th, 2005, 11:14 PM

So its deffo not bein built? Pity that, Really like it

caw123

July 7th, 2005, 11:49 PM

Project cost: £4.8m?

Very cheap. Probably would have been crap. Pall Mall is getting built across the street from this site anyway.

ferge

July 8th, 2005, 12:55 AM

Oh is it on the site where that 8/9 storey black/gray slate apartment block is??

caw123

July 8th, 2005, 12:57 AM

Aye.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/P1060027.jpg

ferge

July 8th, 2005, 01:08 AM

Well in that case thank God it werent built, lil beaut that one is..

Accura4Matalan

July 8th, 2005, 04:14 PM

Yeh, thats definately one of the best apartment blocks in Manc :)
On a second look, the tower base looks like one of those rubbish red brick car parks you see in East Lancs :(

highriser

July 8th, 2005, 05:05 PM

The wrappers are coming off 1 Portland St, and i must say ,Bruntwood have done an excellent job,,it looks very nice

highriser

July 8th, 2005, 06:00 PM

So this is what's happening to Castlefield House

City Centre Ward 076027/FO/2005/C3 01/07/2005 Land And Building At Castlefield House Liverpool Road City Refurbishment of the existing building to provide offices (Use Class B1) throughout comprising change of use of the existing ground floor retail unit and undercroft parking area to offices; re-cladding of the external elevations; new reception area; roof top plant; car parking; landscaping and other related works

I take it ,this is that huge carpark in between Grand Island and the ATS site?

City Centre Ward 075767/JO/2005/C3 01/07/2005 Land Bounded By Albion Street Phase 2 Grand Island And The Railway Viaduct To The South Of Whitworth Street West City Renewal of permission granted for application 058549/FO/CITY3/00 for mixed use development comprising Class B1 (office) classes A1/A2/A3 (shop/financial and professional services/ restaurant or cafe) with ancillary parking and landscaping

Accura4Matalan

July 8th, 2005, 06:03 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
They're not demolishing it! :cry: Reclad is better than nothing I s'pose...

highriser

July 8th, 2005, 09:12 PM

Forgot to mention ,the cenotaph as been totally reopened,and all the scaffolding is coming off the Midland,it's looking very nice indeed around St Peter's Sq,,,just that heap of shite Elizabeth House needs sorting out

Diggler

July 9th, 2005, 06:46 PM

Just been down to town taking some pictures with new K750i phone camera - and Piccadilly Station was evacuated and roads closed around it, due to a security scare.

Accura4Matalan

July 9th, 2005, 08:34 PM

Its true. I was at Preston Station today and all trains to Manchester Piccadilly were cancelled for the time being. There were 4 trains sitting idle in the station waiting to goto either Manchester Airport or Piccadilly. I was pretty worried so i checked the news on my mobile to see if there had been a bomb in Manchester. Luckily there was nothing :)

caw123

July 9th, 2005, 08:46 PM

Someone left their briefcase unattended apparently.

Mez

July 11th, 2005, 02:18 AM

Has anyone noticed the story about windturbines going up on New Century House's roof?

future.architect

July 11th, 2005, 04:51 AM

piccadilly gardens was heaving with people enjoying the sun today (sun),untill half 7 ish when the police decided to evacuate the gardens, it was only for about 10 minutes but it did seem to scare the woman who was in the que in front of me in burger king.

the end

caw123

July 11th, 2005, 12:20 PM

Has anyone noticed the story about windturbines going up on New Century House's roof?

It's the Portland/Sackville Street CIS building that's getting them not New Century. There was some stuff about it posted a few pages back in this thread.

kids

July 11th, 2005, 03:39 PM

I think i've found some more info on Pall mall house:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/pallmallmodel.gifhttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/pallmall2.gif
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/pallmall1.gif

Pall Mall Hse

NORTHERN QUARTER
MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE, Manchester
United Kingdom

Originally made up of 3 individual buildings, Pall Mall House is being carefully refurbished into one ultra-cool apartment complex in a continuation of the renovation of Manchester's Northern Quarter and Piccadilly Gardens. Ongoing development is regenerating this once busy commercial area to produce a distinctive creative quarter for urban, hip city living.

Consisting of 169 exceptionally priced residential apartments and 1668 square meters of commercial space, Pall Mall House will re-shape the changing landscape around Piccadilly Gardens. The tallest section of the building, a 19 story tower standing 67 metres high, will hold its own as one of the most imaginative tall buildings in Manchester city.

Established as one of the most charismatic and unique areas in the city centre, it appeals to the young and trendy, with Afflecks Palace as the Quarters focal point, set within one of Manchester's most historic buildings and specializing in clothing, hair salons, record stalls, clairvoyants and cafes. New bars and restaurants are opening around the Quarter, helping to boost rental income.

Manchester is seen as the commercial, education and cultural capital of the UK's largest economic region outside of London. Many industries have moved North to relocate in Manchester, bringing with them a young professional workforce. This has ensured that residential demand levels keep rising giving exclusive opportunities for investment.

The Piccadilly Gardens area, within the heart of Manchester city centre, links the major retail and commercial areas of the city and is known as one of the most important gateways into the regional centre through its function as a key transport interchange.

And Pall Mall House will benefit from Manchester City Council's decision to transform Piccadilly Gardens into one of the most exciting public spaces in Europe and provide links with surrounding areas. Piccadilly Gardens includes one of the biggest walk-through fountain plazas in the world, attracting further tourism and business in to the area.

caw123

July 11th, 2005, 03:46 PM

Read that before I think but that 3rd render I haven't seen. Hope they've down their calculations and that building can handle 10 storeys of steel and glass atop it. :tongue2:
http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/ManNQtrPiccTibStVw4424.jpg

Should be starting soon, I hope.........

ferge

July 11th, 2005, 03:55 PM

"19 story tower standing 67 metres high, will hold its own as one of the most imaginative tall buildings in Manchester city"

Glad this is still on the cards, whilst its hardly breath-taking, I think its not a bad design.. although wouldn't exactly say its as good as the quote suggests, lol.. 67m for that location is superb though.. Should help bulk the CBD midrises from many angles I'd imagine.. Just what it needs..

Gavin

July 11th, 2005, 04:18 PM

To me it looks a little messy but these are small renders and the finished product will be different i'm sure. In a way its good that its not neat and tidy cos thats not the style of this area. 67m is a good hieght too and again, any taller would not be in the character of N/4.

with the new arndale frontage and this project along with the new apartments behind and hopefully the redevelopment of the horrid concrete 60's trach on High St around the corner, this area could be one of our best.

9462

July 11th, 2005, 07:51 PM

Hope they've down their calculations and that building can handle 10 storeys of steel and glass atop it.

not if theres strong renforced cores./pillars and steel framing. (My dads a builder/joiner)

This looks like a great renovation. Im glad they've kept that old building, it looks great underneath the extension.

Reminds me of that new york hotel in las vegas.

highriser

July 12th, 2005, 04:42 PM

Very interesting article in today's MEN , this building (former GUS HQ)is huge,i think over the next couple of years we will see a lot of developments in this corner of the city,there is masses of land around here,its about 5 mins from Piccadilly station and right of the edge of all the New Islington developments,

Tuesday, 12th July 2005
Barclays sell former GUS HQ

THE reclusve Barclay brothers, owners of the Scotman and Daily Telegraph, have taken advantage of Manchester's red-hot property investment scene to sell a landmark office block.

Arndale Properties, controlled by multi-millionaire twins Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, has sold Universal House, once famous as the headquarters of Manchester-based home shopping giants GUS. The £10m deal sees the 280,000-sq ft property acquired by Frogmore Investments.

Frogmore has long had interests in Manchester including, at one stage, the Corn Exchange and Bridgewater House, Whitworth Street.

Frogmore is now expected to refurbish the property, where about 160,000 sq ft is vacant.

The existing tenants will be leaving in the next five years.

Jerv

July 12th, 2005, 08:17 PM

Where is this? Pictures anyone?

Trammy

July 12th, 2005, 08:24 PM

This is the disgraceful derlict building on the left as you approach Piccadilly on the train from Stockport.

Good news if this is to be improved - it is one of the first city centre buildings people see when coming to Manchester on the train.

highriser

July 12th, 2005, 08:25 PM

Jerv do you mean the GUS building ??? if so its on Devonshire St it's at the side of the Ellen Wilkinson Sch in Ardwick Green,if you come from the other direction just follow Gt Antcoats St and it will lead to it.

Im taking some pics this weekend i'll get one of it for you.

SleepyOne

July 12th, 2005, 08:39 PM

Is it the warehouse type building they've bought or the concrete 60s thing opposite?

Here's a picture of that apartment block thats going up on Blackfrairs Street just before the Manchester-Salford viaduct and Dandara's 'Spectrum' scheme.

http://timetide.users30.donhost.co.uk/images/uploads/The%20Approach.jpg

THE APPROACH AT BLACKFRIARS, MANCHESTER

Situated only yards from Deansgate and now 24-hour city centre of Manchester. The approach at Blackfriars is a development of 54 apartments, underground secure parking and managed office space to the ground floor. Now under construction watch with anticipation as another development by Time & Tide springs out of the ground.

Jerv

July 12th, 2005, 09:48 PM

highriser

July 12th, 2005, 09:54 PM

Sleepy i presume its the 60's office block,cos that was GUS's HQ, it is bloody horribe,my sis used to work in there.

WeasteDevil

July 12th, 2005, 10:08 PM

Considering that Salford City Council Planning department last week rejected the proposal for outline planning permission for the construction of a new magistrates court behind the town hall in Swinton 49808, does this suggest that the planning deparment might prefer this development to remain close to where the current magistrates court is, and possibly closer to the CJC and crown courts on the Manchester side of the Irwell?

Salford’s existing magistrates' court is in Bexley Square, off Chapel Street. It was built in the 1800s as a town hall, and now hosts thousands of court cases each year.

The listed building is expensive to run and maintain. We urgently need a new building, and clearly need to plan for the longer term. Salford will continue to need a court building well into the future, and we need to make sure we provide the best facilities that will meet those needs.

Court facilities have to be provided somewhere in the city where they will be very accessible, and the number of potential sites is limited.

Swinton town centre – Salford’s civic heart
This proposal is part of a wider plan for Swinton town centre that will bring together all the city’s public services to form a new civic heart for Salford.

We need justice, police, courts, social services, education, NHS and voluntary sector agencies working as closely as they can to provide the best possible services for local people.

A new police station is already complete, and Salford’s civic centre together with Crompton House and Minerva House are already home to more than 4,000 Salford City Council staff. An ambitious LIFT project will bring a number of public services together under one roof on the site of the existing Lancastrian Hall starting later this year.

The idea is that a new magistrates court will be purpose built right next to these buildings, enabling the key personnel involved to more easily work together.

The proposal was put forward last December by their own Property & Development Department and Her Majesty's Court Service, not to mention the fact it is quite visible on their own web pages (http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/planning/planninglist/magistratescourt.htm), and was for outline planning permission to consider wheather Swinton is the right place.

Why this application, and why now?
This is an outline planning application. It is designed to establish whether or not this site is the right one for a new court building. This helps attract appropriate funding, and is an important first step in the planning process. However, the full details of the scheme have not been put together yet, and don’t need to be provided or considered at this stage.

A detailed planning application will need to be drawn up which addresses all these issues. This application will need to account for all issues, including access to the new building for pedestrians and drivers, parking, disabled access, construction materials used, and hours of working on site.

The building proposed in the PDF is for a 3 storey building with basically the same footprint as Salford Civic Centre, but I think that it would be a lot taller if it was placed just off Trinity Way/Chapel Street.

Swinton might be a better location for council workers to be able to collaborate, but surely a site close to the regional crown courts and the CJC, maybe even sharing a building with Manchester for a Magistrates courts would be the better solution for legal staff and the GMP.

Sorry, but I cannot find any explanation for the proposal to be refused outline planning.

caw123

July 13th, 2005, 12:01 AM

Rossetti number 2 on the rise, completed with staring construction worker.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1353RossettiPlacePhaseII_pic3.jpg

Dandara 360 which seems to have been under construction forever
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/P7120051.jpg

Re. The GUS HQ, is that the building that was used as a go karting place?

my sis used to work in there.

Lol, so did my mum.

Diggler

July 13th, 2005, 01:49 AM

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/derekjbates/images/manchester/misc/05-07-12FireMill.jpg

Fire at a mill behind Murray Mills this evening (don't think it's Murray Mills) - picture taken around 10.30pm.

And for those with QuickTime - a video (poor quality!)

Mill Fire Video (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/derekjbates/images/manchester/misc/05-07-12FireMill.3gp)

sprouty76

July 13th, 2005, 01:54 AM

Wow, great pic. What's that building used for? I'm afraid I'm totally clueless about Ancoats.

highriser

July 13th, 2005, 02:04 AM

What a dramatic pic that is, i wonder if this is the mill that got half burnt down on Carruters St ,it was due to be demolished anyway, i hope its that one and not Murray Mills

Diggler

July 13th, 2005, 02:04 AM

Wow, great pic. What's that building used for? I'm afraid I'm totally clueless about Ancoats.

Cheers - one reason I got the new Sony Ericsson K750i - phone with 2megapixel camera - always have decentish camera with me for such situations.

Anyone thinking of a new phone - I recommend this one - small, light, nice keyboard and display!

As for building use, not sure. I thought it looked deralict - but this could be that it was just burnt down so no windows etc.

Tried to find it on Google Earth image - but cannot see a large mill with a tower in the corner and a bit that sticks out (the bit on the left of the picture)

Diggler

July 13th, 2005, 02:19 AM

What a dramatic pic that is, i wonder if this is the mill that got half burnt down on Carruters St ,it was due to be demolished anyway, i hope its that one and not Murray Mills

Looking in more detail at google maps, I went from Oldham road, down Sherrat Street, and turned left into Loom Street.

I therefore think it is this mill circled in red:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/derekjbates/images/manchester/misc/05-07-12FireMillMap.jpg

sprouty76

July 13th, 2005, 02:24 AM

Yeah, you can tell it's a camera phone but it's still pretty good quality. The subject matter more than makes up though.

Glad to hear peoples homes / businesses weren't affected.

highriser

July 13th, 2005, 02:27 AM

Diggler

July 13th, 2005, 02:34 AM

Im still non the wiser, there was a huge fire about 6 months in that area they demolished most of it, but left the other half and its been derelict since,it's the one at the top of Pollard st i was hoping it was that one, cos it was a feckin eyesore anyway,i hope this is not one of the best ones thou

Definitely not that one. This one was on the opposite side of the canal and retail park - behind Daily Express building, and next to Murray (Royal) mills.

Think it's the one in the square surrounded by:

Naval Street
Radium Street
Jersey Street
Bengal Street

See Multimap link (http://tinyurl.com/7ssm7) and move mouse over image.

9462

July 13th, 2005, 03:21 AM

its just hit me

:eek2:

The AMOUNT OF HIGHRISE developments planned for MANCHESTER and SALFORD QUAYS ARE FUCKING UNBELIEVEBLE.

EarlyBird

July 13th, 2005, 03:28 AM

its just hit me

:eek2:

The AMOUNT OF HIGHRISE developments planned for MANCHESTER and SALFORD QUAYS ARE FUCKING UNBELIEVEBLE.
:ohno: A little slow are we deary? Tim, nice but dim... ;)

caw123

July 13th, 2005, 11:49 AM

60 firefighters fight mill blaze
A disused mill was completely destroyed as firefighters fought to stop a blaze spreading to offices and a nightclub.

Firefighters were called on Tuesday evening to the five-storey mill on Bengal Street, Ancoats, Manchester.

Its roof collapsed and 60 firefighters had to work quickly at its height to protect the Beehive Mill next door which houses offices and a nightclub.

Water had to be pumped from the nearby Rochdale Canal. Firefighters were damping down on Wednesday.

An investigation is under way into its cause.

Damn. Too many of these old mills meet a fiery end. The council shouldn't just leave these things to crumble.

Accura4Matalan

July 13th, 2005, 11:58 AM

its just hit me

:eek2:

The AMOUNT OF HIGHRISE developments planned for MANCHESTER and SALFORD QUAYS ARE FUCKING UNBELIEVEBLE.
:bash:

Jerv

July 13th, 2005, 02:42 PM

Damn. Too many of these old mills meet a fiery end. The council shouldn't just leave these things to crumble.

A lot of them are structurally unsound and not safe anyway. It would be inhibitively expensive to bring them up to standard. As many of them are listed or protected, it makes sense to leave them until they can be condemmed. This way they can be redeveloped without having EH get in the way. In any case, they are ugly in my opinion. Even the better examples such as the Ducie street Apart-hotel (the Place) are pretty bland.

kids

July 13th, 2005, 04:10 PM

i've got a picture of the smoke over the skyline, i'll post it tonight.

9462

July 13th, 2005, 08:01 PM

A little slow are we deary i dident mean it literally, if ya know what i mean (i aLREADY FUCKING NEW OBVIOUSLY) STOP TAKING EVERYTHING I SAY SO SERIOUSLY!

YOUR ALL CRAZY

LET ME DO IT AGAIN

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

MWAHAHHAAHA. BET THAT GAVE U A FUKIN HEART ATTACK

:cheers: NOT.

EarlyBird

July 13th, 2005, 08:09 PM

i dident mean it literally, if ya know what i mean (i aLREADY FUCKING NEW OBVIOUSLY) STOP TAKING EVERYTHING I SAY SO SERIOUSLY!

YOUR ALL CRAZY

LET ME DO IT AGAIN

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

MWAHAHHAAHA. BET THAT GAVE U A FUKIN HEART ATTACK

:cheers: NOT.
Don't take anything you say in future seriously... Gotcha.

9462

July 13th, 2005, 08:27 PM

kiss my ass

EarlyBird

July 13th, 2005, 08:41 PM

I can't believe nobody has posted this...

Courtesy of the MEN (http://eb.cx/4y):

Bomb scare causes traffic chaos
Nicola Dowling

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/187.$plit/C_17_Articles_165776_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

A BOMB scare caused massive disruption to motorists today after a main route in and out of Manchester was closed.

Police and a bomb disposal squad were called just before the rush hour when security guards saw an abandoned suitcase in a car park on Oxford Road under the M57 Mancunian Way flyover.

Nearby Manchester Metropolitan University was evacuated as a precaution.

The short stretch of motorway goes from London Road near Piccadilly Station to the Chester Road roundabout and Regent Road, Salford.

It was closed shortly after 7am between the Cambridge Street roundabout in Hulme and Ashton Old Road.

Oxford Road was closed between Grosvenor Street and Whitworth Street.

Congestion

After a controlled explosion by bomb experts at 10.22am, it took some time for the congestion to clear because queues stretched back for miles.

At the Piccadilly station end of the motorway, police reported standing traffic as far back as the City of Manchester Stadium.

Oxford Road was also extremely busy with traffic trying to get into the city centre.

Among those facing delays were United Utilities engineers trying to get to Salford to fix a burst which left scores of homes near to Salford Cathedral off Salford Crescent without water during the scorching heat this morning.

Before the controlled explosion today police said they did not think the suitcase posed "a specific threat" but that it was being treated with caution in light of the bombings in London.