Three interesting articles in todays Homes edition of the MEN, including snippets of interesting info about present and possible future developments!

Includes a visionary 20 storey city centre needle thin tower!

(give us 10 minutes to upload them)

Sounds good.

wheyyyyy jrb!

Still uploading!

NTL/Photobucket going slow!

Cheers jrb, I haven't got time, due in work at 12. I'll have to break into a 50p and buy a MEN!

Most of the info contained in the first article we already know about!

Apologies about the slight delay!

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

In the secnd article Richard Leese predicts even more residential development!

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

The juicy interesting stuff!(won't spoil it for you!)

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

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

More interesting news! Is this the re-development of Victoria station we have all been waiting and hopeing for? :)

Please see second article below for possible location!(quote+bold)

Ken relishes a property puzzle

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/158.$plit/C_17_Articles_177478_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

PROPERTY development in Manchester is like a fiendish city-sized game of sudoku - and nobody plays it better than Ken Bishop.

Mr Bishop, 54, has spent the last 25 years puzzling out solutions to Manchester's property dilemmas.

And he's found some award-winning solutions.

Today he's advising the city council on how to get the biggest economic benefit from the BBC's decision to relocate to Manchester; on a massive one million sq ft redevelopment of the old Exchange Station site near Victoria and a string of other hush-hush plans in their early stages.

And last year he scooped one of the most difficult property deals the city has ever seen, transferring 350,000 sq ft of offices from the Royal Bank of Scotland to Manchester-based private property empire Bruntwood.

The difficulty for anyone developing in Manchester, says Mr Bishop, is that moving one piece on the board inevitably means moving a lot more. The RBS disposal is a case in point: he advised the bank on its move to 450,000 sq ft of new offices at Allied London's Spinningfield scheme. But that left more than a dozen former RBS offices around the city vacant. The disposal to Bruntwood was the imaginative solution.

"In this city there aren't too many potential buyers for a portfolio that size, so Bruntwood was an easy choice. But having found them there were a huge number of issues to be resolved, the bank wanted to have contingency plans in place, and we had to let some of the office space before we could hand it to Bruntwood. It took 18 months of negotiations and we're still working on transferring the freeholds of two properties," says Mr Bishop.

His crossword and sudoku skills - he plays in the evenings, a glass of wine by his side - were tested by the RBS deal which took three years to finalise. Yet he says it wasn't an exhausting experience.

"I found it very satisfying. When you've been in the business as long as I have you look for complicated instructions - it's where you can add value because whilst anyone can deliver straightforward solutions, not everyone can do the complicated stuff. Everyone needs a challenge to get out of bed."

Challenges

There were challenges enough in acting for the Department of Constitutional Affairs when they wanted to open a new 280,000 sq ft civil justice centre in Manchester. The striking building opens in 2007 following a deal with Allied London Properties. Fortunately Mr Bishop has the ideal puzzler's brain. " I'm not personally motivated by the money, but the truth is that whilst the money's nice, if you're not delivering the right solutions to the problems then its not satisfying."

According to Mr Bishop property development is a mix of chess and sudoku. Chess - because you're struggling to cope with an opponent's tactics, sudoku because there's a perfect solution out there if only you could find it.

"In a property deal you have the human challenge in dealing with people on the other side and finding out what their real agenda is can be a difficult. So it's like chess in that narrow perspective, but the broader perspective is to achieve a positive outcome by delivering what you were told to and that's where the sudoku analogy comes in because there are issues that need unlocking in the right order. It's a mental process and challenge," he says.

Mr Bishop arrived in Manchester in 1980. With a surveying degree from Newcastle University under his belt, and four years experience working for local councils in the south of England, he soon got noticed. Being a lofty six foot five inches tall certainly helped.

He won a reputation as one of the more inventive and thoughtful agents specialising in city centre and south Manchester offices, first at chartered surveyors Bernard Thorpe and then, after its merger, with national property consultancy DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, where he is a director.

But unlike the 1980s, today's property business leaves him worried that the new generation of property advisors may not have his questioning attitude.

"There's lots of unstrategic thinking going on in the property business - and one of the challenges for the industry is that the brighter people in surveying tend to spin off into development or property investment rather than staying in consultancy, like me."

Advisor

However, Bishop insists he's not tempted to follow many of his colleagues from the world of property consultancy to property development. "I've been happy to be an advisor - being a developer would be the natural place for me to move into, but I have a relatively low boredom threshold."

"I need the stimulus of having an number of things on the go at once - developers deal with less, but more deeply.

"You don't know what the future brings - I don't have a personal business plan that says do this in six months or that in three years - you react to what comes available."

There are half a dozen complex property puzzles on his desk: Exchange Station, where he is advising Network Rail, has already taken a year. Reeling in the BBC could also take years.

He is undaunted. "I've got a whole series of highly complex development instructions which are very involved and will need a lot of dealing with," he says - with evident puzzler's relish.

Originally a small single storey single platform building built in 1844 on Hunts Bank to serve the Manchester & Leeds trans-Pennine railway, by the 1880s Victoria Station had come to dominate the Long Millgate area and was one of the biggest passenger stations in Britain.
The original 700 foot long iron and glass train sheds still survive intact, thanks to sturdy design and construction by George Stephenson.
The present Edwardian building facade was built on in 1902 by architect William Dawes. It has a 160 yard facade, which still carries an iron and glass canopy bearing the names of the original destinations which it served. These were severely damaged by the IRA bomb which was exploded nearby in 1996. Fortunately, the glasswork has now been fully restored to its former glory.
Immediately adjoining the station used to stand the Exchange Station, which boasted the longest passenger platform in the world - but - severely damaged by wartime bombings, it was closed in 1969, and now survives largely as an unprepossessing carpark opposite the Cathedral.

Further redevelopment of Victoria Station took place in 1992 on the basis of a £35 million grant to upgrade the old station and to link it to the newly constructed Nynex Arena (now the Manchester Evening News Arena) adjacent to it on Hunts bank. This grant was to form part of the Govenment's commitment in support of Manchester's abortive bid to host the 2000 Olympics in the city.
Nowadays, largely serving destinations north and east of Manchester, it is the main terminus for the new Nynex Arena, and a major interface where the Metrolink train joins the streets of Manchester as an urban tramway. Also a major rail-bus interchange, the station is linked directly to Piccadilly Station by Metrolink.

Some very interesting articles there,jrb i think the "needle thin tower" is refering to Pall Mall.
Lots of developments in the pipeline to, Conran are in negotiations for a site near Deansgate , i smell a tower there :)

Some very interesting articles there,jrb i think the "needle thin tower" is refering to Pall Mall.
Lots of developments in the pipeline to, Conran are in negotiations for a site near Deansgate , i smell a tower there :)

Highriser this is getting me excited!

Today he's advising the city council on how to get the biggest economic benefit from the BBC's decision to relocate to Manchester; on a massive one million sq ft redevelopment of the old Exchange Station site near Victoria and a string of other hush-hush plans in their early stages.

One million sq ft!!! Thats one heck of a development for the heart of the city centre! Its either on the Greengate side of Victoria or the Cross Street side of Victoria! Either way, one million sq ft could easily include another tower!

As for the hush, hush developments? Only time will tell!

I also like the idea of opening up all the canals again!

V-V-Victoria?

V-V-Vector?

It sure is exciting mate, there next couple of years is going to be very hectic i sense in the property merry go round.

The old Vector site as been begging to be developed for so long now its only a matter of time before something is done there.

The MEN says ''As well as an eight storey extension on one of the original buildings he has designed a needle-thin 20 storey tower to sit on a slender site where the walkways used to be.''

Clearly the 8 storey extension is Pall Mall House. So we've another 20 storey, what were and where were 'the walkways' anyone?

Today he's advising the city council on how to get the biggest economic benefit from the BBC's decision to relocate to Manchester; on a massive one million sq ft redevelopment of the old Exchange Station site near Victoria and a string of other hush-hush plans in their early stages.

The Exchange Station site is the Cathedral Arches car park, NOT the Vector Site(although that sounds like it's probably in line for development too)

The long car park right of North Tower, note that the triangular site at the bottom of the site is currently have a lowrise block built on it. Also part of it is currently being strengthed to stop it falling into the road.
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/manchester/agts26.jpg

Didn't this site have 'broken piano keys' over it in the greengate masterplans? It's right on the other side of the tracks to the Canopus/Greengate site too. Interesting how they say Manchester Council are being advised on the economic benefit, this site is over the river!

Aerial of the site back in th'day
http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=59893

Thanks for posting those articles jrb. The interview with the chief architect from Conran and Partners was particularly interesting. Yes the "slender 20 storey" they designed must surely be Pall Mall House.

http://www.theprestigegroup.com/components/com_hotproperty/img/std/pall_mall_model.gifhttp://www.prestigeinternational.com//images/stories/press_release/pall%20mall%201.gif

I thought it had a look of quality about it - just over the road from Conran and Partner's 25 Church St and 38 High Street schemes (also excellent buildings but developed by Citylofts).

Interesting also that Conran and Partners are "in discussions" with Citylofts about a site near Deansgate. Wonder where that could be.

Also, who would have thought that the Conran designed, Citylofts tower at Salford Quays is the largest timber clad building in the UK? I find that slightly impalusible, but there you go.




All in all Im pretty confident that this unprecedented boom in construction activity is not merely a blip but will prove to be a sustained boom - we may see even greater levels of activity in Manchester as the present and forthcoming volume of schemes come to fruition.

By the way I really dislike the 'piano keys' style proposals for the Exchange Station site as proposed by the Fielden Clegg Bradley masterplan. A really, really messy solution IMO. If they can't find a creative and attractive solution to develop the viaduct and old platforms that properly integrates them within the cityscape, then they should be demolished and developed properly from scratch.

Thanks for posting those articles jrb. The interview with the chief architect from Conran and Partners was particularly interesting. Yes the "slender 20 storey" they designed must surely be Pall Mall House.

http://www.theprestigegroup.com/components/com_hotproperty/img/std/pall_mall_model.gifhttp://www.prestigeinternational.com//images/stories/press_release/pall%20mall%201.gif



If the slender 20 storey is PMH, what is the '8 storey extension to one of the original buildings?'

You can see the detail on the images I posted Caw. The old building with the stepped roof profile gets the extension (granted 6 storeys on those images as opposed to 8) and the 20 storey tower sits on a very slim site inbetween that building and the ones that front Church St.

There were walkways between Debenhams and the underconstruction apartments next to them over the road called bridgewater place. Its blocked at the high street end and has no function and should be pedestrainised if not built on.
To me, that sounds like the location but i dont understand how or why you would build there. the bottom 10 storeys would have no light apart from on the very thin ends.

Interesting also that Conran and Partners are "in discussions" with Citylofts about a site near Deansgate. Wonder where that could be.

Its either a vacant site near Deansgate, which there isn't as far as I'm aware, or a current building will have to be demolished! Anyone care to hazard a wild guess?

All in all Im pretty confident that this unprecedented boom in construction activity is not merely a blip but will prove to be a sustained boom - we may see even greater levels of activity in Manchester as the present and forthcoming volume of schemes come to fruition.

Sleepy! Not long ago we were talking about over supply and a possible slow down in proposed developments! Now every day brings more and more new developments! Manchester really is the boom city of the UK!

Can't wait to see the plans for NCP car park on Whitworth Street near the Gay Village!

Site on Deansgate,,,could be Premier House or even better it could be to replace Oversea's House :)

Site "near Deansgate" highriser which is developer speak for absolutely nowhere bloody near (eh LookingUp?!).

My guess would be somewhere down the bottom of Deasgate near Castlefield - Citylofts are primarily a residential developer after all.

Well in that case i'll go for one of those surface carpark's behind Deansgate station.

why have all them buildings to the left of that old picture been demolished?

to make way for a bloody car park!

I dont think they got demolished matey,,Adolf blew the fucker's up

evening all,

Can some1 tell me how the hell 2 put pics on this thing? coz i found some designs for the Whitworth street car park.

cheers

Depends if the images are already online or on your hard drive mate.

Hi uk2sd

I too tried to paste at first but as you´ve seen it isn´t possible. I don´t know if there´s an easier way but this is how I was told to insert images.

1. Set up a free image account on the web and upload the image (very easy and free). I use www.photobucket.com.

2. Once you´ve uploaded the image you´ll se a series of adresses underneath the thumbnail of the image. Copy the line that says "URL" (the top one)

3. Go to your skyscrapercity account and post a thread/reply (where you tried to paste before). Click on the "insert image" button. A new window will open. Paste the URL you copied from photobucket into the window and press "OK".

Your image should now be inserted. It´s not at all technical after the first time.

already? west only bought it a couple of weeks back!

Hi uk2sd

I too tried to paste at first but as you´ve seen it isn´t possible. I don´t know if there´s an easier way but this is how I was told to insert images.

1. Set up a free image account on the web and upload the image (very easy and free). I use www.photobucket.com.

2. Once you´ve uploaded the image you´ll se a series of adresses underneath the thumbnail of the image. Copy the line that says "URL" (the top one)

3. Go to your skyscrapercity account and post a thread/reply (where you tried to paste before). Click on the "insert image" button. A new window will open. Paste the URL you copied from photobucket into the window and press "OK".

Your image should now be inserted. It´s not at all technical after the first time.

Re. Number 2. On photobucket you can simply copy the 3rd line right into skyscrapercity; the 3rd line has the tags around the URL.

hey,

cheers guys 4 that, i think i got it. these r the renderings for whitworth street

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/uk2sd/withworthstreet.jpg http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/uk2sd/whitworthstreet2.jpg

sorry they'r a bit small, but its my 1st time

Thanks for those, where did you get them from?

This must be ASK's development.

Thanks for those, where did you get them from?

This must be ASK's development.

As KITR says this must be West Properties' next venture in Manchester. It was mentioned in yesterday's article on Conran and Partners that they designed the scheme on Whitworth St for Petros who sold in on to West Properties.

Unfortunately I didnt think of checking Conran and Partners' website as there wasn't much of interest last time I looked. But low and behold, there it is.

http://www.conranandpartners.com/index2.html




http://tinypic.com/ejepzc.jpghttp://tinypic.com/ejes02.jpg

As KITR says this must be West Properties' next venture in Manchester. It was mentioned in yesterday's article on Conran and Partners that they designed the scheme on Whitworth St for Petros who sold in on to West Properties.


Ack, Don't know my arse from my elbow these days!

Don't like it. Looks very average. I love the fact that I can walk down Whitworth Street and not see a single modern building!

Well every Conran designed scheme in Manchester has been top quality so far and goodness knows this location demands something top drawer. I think it looks quite refined apart from yet another fussy looking roofline.

Im more concerned about the loss of open space, the loss of some incredible views and the potential impact on the Canal St economy of more residential units so close by.

Ack, Don't know my arse from my elbow these days!

Don't like it. Looks very average. I love the fact that I can walk down Whitworth Street and not see a single modern building!

That would be a real waste of that space. Let's hope it doesn't get off the drawing board. It's so boring I'm gonna have to go off for a snooze!!

What would you like to see instead skyman? I bet 38 High St, Vantage Quay and the Citylofts Tower at Salford Quays all look boring in the extreme in the form of a 2D sketch but the reality is often very different. In fact I remember Vantage Quay being slated - myself included - the renders were horrific but it has turned out to be one of the very best new build apartment blocks in Manchester IMO.

I have sufficient faith in Conran & Partners and their track record such that Im fairly confident it will be a success. What Im worried about about is the complete change in character that any new building here will have on the locality.

What would you like to see instead skyman? I bet 38 High St, Vantage Quay and the Citylofts Tower at Salford Quays all look boring in the extreme in the form of a 2D sketch but the reality is often very different. In fact I remember Vantage Quay being slated - myself included - the renders were horrific but it has turned out to be one of the very best new build apartment blocks in Manchester IMO.

I have sufficient faith in Conran & Partners and their track record such that Im fairly confident it will be a success. What Im worried about about is the complete change in character that any new building here will have on the locality.

Vantage Quay is good, but can't say I think much of 38 High Street or Cityloft Tower at the Quays (I'm sure the interiors are the biz though)

As regards Whitworth street, I was hoping to see a revival of the scheme that had most of the space as a formal square, with one high tower (maybe 30 stories) right next to converted warehouse building on the corner of Whitworth Street and Sackville St (can't remember the name but it was a good deli at the bottom). With all the high buildings going up around Aytoun Street it wouldn't look that odd to have a high building there and it would leave a nice open space, just as we have now. The car parking was gonna be underground as well.

This new design is bland and takes up the whole site, which will hem in the canal there, spoil the views and won't help the Village.

I'm sure someone else would have posted this sooner or later but what the heck, in keeping with the title of the thread something we all knew anyway


City centre dwellers set to double
David Ottewell
MANCHESTER is streets ahead when it comes to city centre living, a new report reveals today.

The number of people living in the heart of the city will double from 12,000 to 24,000 by 2015. It has already increased 466 per cent in the 10 years to 2001.

The report, by real estate experts Knight Frank, shows the city has more city centre dwellers than other major northern cities such as Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle.



The study claims the trend towards city living will continue, with Manchester ideally placed to accommodate a new generation of "urbanite families" as well as young professionals.

John Broadbent, spokesman for Knight Frank, said: "People's attitudes are changing and they want a less stressful lifestyle. The biggest thing is the economic draw and vibrancy of the city centre."

Green space

He said the city's only drawback was a lack of green space.

The new report claims £3bn will be invested in city living in the north of England over the next decade with a population "explosion" in the biggest urban areas.

By 2015, one in 20 Manchester residents will be city centre dwellers and urban living is predicted to be driven by 50 and 60-somethings and younger families.

Manchester council is already trying to accommodate the changing face of the average city dweller, with the new Macintosh Village scheme including a creche and larger properties aimed at families.

Jim Battle, deputy leader of the city council, said: "Manchester is ahead of the game. We have got to ensure that people don't have to put up with noisy bars and clubs and that enforcement on issues like that are as tough in the city centre as anywhere else."



credit to www.manchesteronline.com

I think Skymann's point is a much understated problem with lowrise. Because of the economic need to make up for height, they do tend to utterly fill their whole plot, and the end product can be very claustrophobic and cramped.

Towers and squares equals a lot of wind.

Vantage Quay is good, but can't say I think much of 38 High Street or Cityloft Tower at the Quays (I'm sure the interiors are the biz though)

whaaat? I think 38 High Street is stunning! (thanks to Chris Charlton for the pic).

http://chris.charlton.net/tube/23churchst.jpg

As regards Whitworth street, I was hoping to see a revival of the scheme that had most of the space as a formal square, with one high tower (maybe 30 stories) right next to converted warehouse building on the corner of Whitworth Street and Sackville St (can't remember the name but it was a good deli at the bottom). With all the high buildings going up around Aytoun Street it wouldn't look that odd to have a high building there and it would leave a nice open space, just as we have now. The car parking was gonna be underground as well.

This new design is bland and takes up the whole site, which will hem in the canal there, spoil the views and won't help the Village.

Mmmm, its a difficult one isn't it? Personally I don't think a large tower is right for this location - its halfway up a hill, halfway along a street and no towers nearby - Aytoun is too far - a large tower here will only add to Manchester already fractured skyline.

On the other hand a tall building of some description as you point out would mean we are better able to incorporate some quality public space along the lines of the Great Northern Square for instance and perhaps also lessen the liklihood of any negative impact on Canal St. I see what you mean but 30 storeys is way too high in this location. Probably. Or perhaps I could be swayed if the architecture and urban design was phenominally good leaving significant and good quality public open space and all that nice light that we enjoy on that junction.

BoNY want even more staff for their new Manchester office, and MIDAS to lure even more American investors to Manchester!

Big Apple bank comes to town

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/656.$plit/C_17_Articles_177816_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg


Jackie Williams and Gerald HassellAMERICA’S biggest bank made a long-term commitment to Manchester as it toasted its arrival in the city.

The Bank of New York held a champagne reception and announced there will be additions to the 350 jobs already announced.
Global president Gerald Hassell laid out the reasons why the bank has moved into Piccadilly Gardens.

Addressing some of the city’s leading business people, Mr Hassell said: “People ask me, ‘Why Manchester?’

“First and foremost it was the supportive community, the city council and MIDAS, that made us feel really welcome.

“Clearly the universities and talent pools that exist in this market give us tremendous potential to employ hundreds of people.
“The transportation system allows us to get in and out of the major cities across Europe and the great rail system means employees can get here easily.

“There are 350 people earmarked to be here within a year, but I suspect I’ll be here a year from now announcing even more than that. If we could bottle the energy of our latest recruits and harness it, we would have a %company around the world that would be unbeatable.

“It is always exciting for employees to be the foundation for great growth prospects. We have a real long-term commitment to Manchester and we want to be part of the fabric of this community and make the business successful for everyone who wants to join us.”

Vibrancy

Head of Manchester operations, Jackie Williams, spoke about the vibrancy of her latest team and thanked the Manchester business community for its support.

She said: “We’ve been so impressed by the talent of the new recruits, their enthusiasm and their drive is just exceptional. We know there are more out there just like them – during our recruitment campaign we had more than 1,000 applicants.

“We were helped in our campaign by our many new friends in Manchester and we’re really looking forward to working with you. We’re delighted to be in Manchester, we’re having a great time and we’re here to stay.”

To celebrate its arrival in the city, the bank has made a donation to the Community Foundation for Greater Manchester, which helps fund community-building projects.

MIDAS bid to lure Yanks to 'Cool City'

A TOP delegation of Manchester's business leaders is flying out to New York in a bid to woo potential investors to the region.

The group, led by investment agency MIDAS and the Bank of New York, will tell North America's key financial and professional movers and shakers why they should choose Manchester over London for their UK headquarters.

The Bank of New York, America's oldest and largest bank, is expected to address the chief executives of several high-profile US companies about its own success in Manchester and tell others how they can follow the bank's lead.

It is the first time that MIDAS has visited New York to promote Manchester and the group is hoping to build on the success it has already had in other major US cities like Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis.

Paul Duncan, vice president of North American operations for Manchester International Links and MIDAS's man in the States, said the organisation wants to showcase Manchester as an affordable window to the UK and Europe.

Partnerships

Mr Duncan said: "Real partnerships deliver meaningful relations - and we want to deliver jobs for Manchester. We are building and strengthening our links and finding out how to create job opportunities, both in the States and in Manchester.

"Existing partners tell me their research shows that Manchester has good transport links, good universiti's and a young population that is highly skilled."

MIDAS marketing director Colin Sinclair, who takes over as chief executive next month, believes the increasing number of direct flights to the USA, and Manchester's image as a "cool city", will help bring in business. "Where there is a new direct flight to Manchester, there is investment," he said.

"We have the biggest workforce outside London and the south east, our skills base is very strong and our airport is the biggest outside London. We are not competing with London, we are just encouraging international companies to think outside the capital."

The Bank of New York, America's oldest and largest bank
Methinks someone's been on the loopyjuice. Have they never heard of Citigroup, the people with the big tower in Canary Wharf?

Overall, though, I'm amazed at the job MIDAS are doing. We've got ourselves a good set of quangos.

You just beat me to it jrb. Whats interesting is the prospect of an expansion to BoNY's operation here. Originally the requirement was for 150,000 sq ft but what with available grade A floor spec they seemed to have lessend their original requrement and filled the remaining floors at 1 Piccadilly Gardens.

If they do expand I wonder where? Argent will probably fight tooth and nail to lure them to Piccadilly Place but this would mean a split-building site. Sooner or later if their operation is a success they will want a larger, bespoke building to themselves maybe??

You just beat me to it jrb. Whats interesting is the prospect of an expansion to BoNY's operation here. Originally the requirement was for 150,000 sq ft but what with available grade A floor spec they seemed to have lessend their original requrement and filled the remaining floors at 1 Piccadilly Gardens.

If they do expand I wonder where? Argent will probably fight tooth and nail to lure them to Piccadilly Place but this would mean a split-building site. Sooner or later if their operation is a success they will want a larger, bespoke building to themselves maybe??
Or a plot in a large "landmark" tower maybe. Hardman Square?

As KITR says this must be West Properties' next venture in Manchester. It was mentioned in yesterday's article on Conran and Partners that they designed the scheme on Whitworth St for Petros who sold in on to West Properties.

Unfortunately I didnt think of checking Conran and Partners' website as there wasn't much of interest last time I looked. But low and behold, there it is.

http://www.conranandpartners.com/index2.html




http://tinypic.com/ejepzc.jpghttp://tinypic.com/ejes02.jpg

Personally I would like to see four midrise blocks, one on each corner of the site, with a square or plaza in the middle, accessable from each side, with a bridge linking the square or plaza to Canal street, with shops at ground level and small intermate bars below ground level! (If you've been to Ibizia Town you'll know what I mean!)

Bank of NY employee here! It is the oldest bank in the US! what the president of the bank had to say yesterday was v.promising! atm we only have 2 departments in mcr, but he said that he would like to see the same number of departments here as in london (i.e. at least 10). By all accounts it does seem as if the bank are goin to expand greatly in mcr over the comin years. The city needs to attratct other such organisations now. my dream is for us to expand greatly and then take up occupancy in 1 hardman sq, with my desk givin a great view over the city! :)

i will keep u updated with any bny news! (e.g. if we are looking to move into new offices etc) ;)

BTW, taken from Invest In Manchester:

Speakers

The event's keynote speakers will be:

Donald R. Monks, Senior Executive Vice President with global responsibility for Operations, Technology & Software Development, The Bank of New York.

Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council.

The Manchester in New York Partnership

Representatives from a number of key companies and organisations in the Manchester area have already confirmed their attendance, including: Allied London, Argent, British Airways, Bruntwood, BT, CB Richard Ellis, Chamberlink, Davis Langdon, Deloitte & Touche, Dunlop Haywards, Eversheds, FDI Magazine, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, GVA Grimley, KPMG, Manchester City Council, The Manchester Evening News, The Manchester International Festival, Manchester: Knowledge Capital, Marketing Manchester, pro.Manchester, Savills, Spin Media, Tameside MBC and the University of Manchester.

This New York thing is much bigger than I expected and yet again Tameside MBC are actively working hard to be considered a part of Manchester.