:banana:
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/5425/eastgate9uz.jpg

Beautiful...... and I usually go for petit girls.

I LOVE this building - it will be one of the best talls in the UK :)

Reminds me of a scraper in San Fran, cant rememder which but it looks about the same height too.

There is an unpleasant one that stands out oscar - much less elegant than this one and mostly concrete - it is on the ridge the other side of the Transamerica Pyramid (when viewed from Golden Gate Bridge).

Is that the one?

Is this the Official thread or the Eastgate thread? ;)

Yes it is unpleasant, very similar shape as well. Eastgate in manchester will be 14m taller though.
Click on the link below the picture gives a good idea on the height when completed but im sure Eastgate wont look as plain and boring

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=213931

^^ ah - that's down by the waterfront isn't it (near the bow & arrow?)

That wasn't the one I was thinking of - it was worse than that!

Lets just hope Eastgate is really purple.

blimey thers one more boring than that (i thought arndale tower was bad), well at least that shouldnt be the case for Eastgate

Brilliant recent aerials from webb aviation
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1719-1/manchester-aerial-img0362.jpg
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1715-1/IMG_0358.jpg
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1758-1/central-library-mg1197.jpg
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1743-1/_MG_1153+_1_.jpg
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1745-1/_MG_1167+_1_.jpg

Lovely...

£40m new look for shops centre

WORK has begun on a major retail development which aims to transform Altrincham into a new-look shopping haven.

Up to £40m is being spent on redesigning the outdated Stamford shopping centre on George Street, Stamford New Road and Brewary Street.

The centre, built in 1976, is being partially demolished, revamped and then re-launched as the Stamford Quarter.

The start of demolition work comes just days after another developer said it had finalised contracts for a £150m project nicknamed Station Location, which will include an extreme sports centre, a hotel, shops and a new ice rink.

Coun Susan Williams, leader of Trafford council, said: "I am sure the results will be superb."

The Square shopping centre at Sale has been sold for £40m after a £7m refurbishment.

Newcomers to the centre include New Look, Costcutter, Toykingdom and Wilkinsons.

Where's your new City Inn going?

:drool: Eastgate looks absolutely stunning! I absolutely love it, if it looks like that when it's built then it'll easily be one of the best skyscrapers in the whole UK (inc London), I put it up there with Swiss Re. Beautiful! Those are some awesome aerial shots of Manchester as well. I'm lovin webaviation, they produce some stunning aerials. Looking at them Manchester centre looks so dense though, doesn't look like there's much room left for many more skyscrapers.

The only way is up!

Yeah, guess so. Hopefully it's the case of the denser it is the higher they will build.

Is anyone else watching the architecture program on BBC World dedicated to Manchester? Good stuff.

when's it on?

NOW

"Designs For Living
Nick Higham visits some of Britain's most exciting modern buildings to discover how architects are making their buildings greener, and using architecture as a tool of social engineering and urban regeneration."


Might be on again - found it by chance. Had central manchester developments, New Islington, Salford Quays....

Appropriately for Manchester (and putting aside the headline grabbing skyscrapers for one moment) we have one of the most pioneering apartment blocks in the country in our midsts - the MOHO development in Castlefield. As the following article proves it continues to quietly make waves...



The prefabs are sprouting

A marriage between architects Shed KM and Yorkon, the modular buildings manufacturer, might seem like an unlikely match.

Yorkon produces a range of prefabricated units, including MacDonald’s drive-ins and Shed KM designs highly controlled and elegantly simple housing in which every detail counts. However, the award-winning Moho (short for ‘modular housing’ ) project at Timber Wharf in Manchester combines the skills of both parties to maximum effect.

http://www.shedkm.co.uk/projects/brit/brit-sect.jpg

Describing his first meeting with Yorkon, James Weston, project director at Shed KM, recalls: “I walked into a giant hangar and there are five McDonalds in various stages of assembly, complete with chairs and tables. At the end of the manufacturing process, you are given one last choice – is it buff brick or brown brick. That is how choice has been exercised in the past.” Shed KM has taken the best from the manufacturing process and extended the range of choices to create homes that are relevant for the highly-discerning housing market serviced by Urban Splash.

Moho is the first private sector multi-storey development incorporating prefabricated modular units in the UK. The design process was more demanding and time consuming than designing traditional house-types but, once the design was fixed, Yorkon produced six modules a day and it took just 18 days to completely fit out each unit. It’s not the first scheme of its kind, but previous schemes have been produced by social landlords such as the Peabody Trust and have been seen as experiments in new procurement methods rather than commercial propositions. Urban Splash has already sold 60 per cent of the Moho units in a rather sluggish market, so the project is likely to be a commercial success.

The building was the product of a competition organised to meet the demand for affordable housing that could be brought to site quickly. Shed KM made one very simple but important design move; to abandon the convention of stacking units together like fish fingers in a pack and to put them end to end, creating a long external wall that could be glazed and allow light into every room in the module.

“Our contribution was turning the unit by 90 degrees. I think this is now an accepted principle. Splash like to do units short side on, but they can see the benefits of placing units longways – as long as you can get the density you are looking for on the site,” says Weston.
The flats are small, a one-bedroom flat is just 38 square metres with a long balcony clipped on, which adds an extra ten square metres – the larger two bedroom units are about 54 square metres. Each flat is contained within a single module, but there are optional clip-on dining pods that sit besides the balcony.

A wet core in the centre contains a gallery kitchen overlooking the balcony and a bathroom with a bath accessed from one end. The approach has allowed the architects to create an airy, open-plan feel in a very tight space. The design team produced a full-scale model to study the location of all fittings and, as a result, the units are unbelievably clean-cut and seamless. Each module is made up of a highly insulated lightweight steel frame, which is shipped to site and then slotted into a steel frame structure that supports the deck access and provides rigidity to an independent frame that supports the balconies. The fit-out design is more akin to boat building or product design than architecture; most things are built in. The units, which went on the market at £131,000, are furnished with fitted cupboards and furniture supplied by Mooch.

The organisation of 102 units on the site follows the EDAW master plan for the area. The £9 million U-shaped building with a central court is accessed through the middle of the main elevation. A lobby at ground level opens into a courtyard that slopes up to the first floor. A circular concrete drum contains a lift and stairs that provide access to the deck access walkway on every floor. From the court the building feels like a liner. Exquisitely detailed handrails and uninterrupted glass balustrades banish any association with the recently demolished deck access concrete blocks of nearby Hulme. On the two wings of the U-shape the units are double banked, but again the corridor between units is open with some light borrowed from above, an approach that avoids the misery of the sterile dark residential corridor. The client has even been bold enough to install a rubbish shoot, one of the old emblems of the failures of post-war social housing and collective living.

The prefabricated approach may save time on site, but is not a way to save money; as a rule prefabricated units come in up to 10 per cent above the cost of traditionally constructed units. The benefits of the system could only really be gained in the quality of finish provided to the end user, time saved on site to the designers and clients, time saved over snagging for clients and contractors and in the long run through economies of scale.

Chris Stalker, the project director for Urban Splash, estimates the construction cost of the modular building is estimated at about 5 per cent more than traditional construction. Urban Splash is still evaluating the benefits of this approach and may engage in a more in-depth study of the merits of this approach. They are in a particularly good position to do this, as they have built a scheme with a very similar brief, designed by Glen Howells and built using traditional construction methods, on the site next to Moho. Moho probably cost about £1 per square metre more than Glen Howells’ building, “but pounds per square metre is quite an unscientific way of thinking about buildings“, says Weston. “We would hope to use the idea again hopefully with Splash. There was a learning curve with this project. Our understanding is that the design rests with us,” he adds.

To date, most prefabricated housing has been dubbed ‘McHomes’ and been understood as a compromise. The prejudice that you can’t make gains at the level of build quality and programme without having to make sacrifices in terms of design quality, external appearance and relationship to context is strong. One of the cultural barriers to prefabrication, apart from the association with the failures of Sixties and Seventies social housing, is that the systems tend to be hard to adapt and therefore rarely capable of providing a contextual response and the absence of separate cladding systems tend to create buildings that look dull and lightweight.

http://www.shedkm.co.uk/projects/brit/brit-3d.jpg

At Moho there was an unusual amount of finishing on site to tie the projects together. “Moho sits strongly in the place. It’s a very urban building; it looks robust and appropriate, the reddish timber cladding which reflects the surrounding industrial mills buildings,” says Weston. “The thing with these types of offsite schemes is that very little is done on the outside and as a result they tend to look thinner, but Moho is very robust; there are layers and depth to the elevations. The work and time spent on site is valuable. I personally think that prefabricated should be understood as one component in the process. I prefer that approach to the idea of that rather utopian vision that everything has to be finished in the factory.”

Weston admits that it took a while for his practice to get to grips with the parameters of designing for prefabrication and for the manufacturers to appreciate the level of design detail that he was looking for. However, he thinks one of the biggest culture shocks was for Urban Splash. “The client had to freeze the internal unit design very early on in the process, which they would not normally do. They had to say, ‘yes, this is the specification’ and then they couldn’t change their mind. I thought that was really good,” says Weston.

There is also a question as to whether the industry as a whole is able to adapt to this kind of working. “This kind of system is only as good as its weakest point in the process,” says Weston. “If you want to build a scheme like this to shorten the construction period then you have to be prepared. If all the units arrive on site at once then the enveloping process needs to be manned up accordingly, to maintain the benefits. If you have a meeting with the sub-contractors on site a month before the units arrive and say, it will all be ready in a month, they find it hard to believe.”

More MOHO 'medals'

Off-site Scheme in Manchester Wins String of Awards for Design, Architecture and Innovation

24 October 2005

http://************/fvbgna.jpg

A ground-breaking project built by off-site construction specialists and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has now won five prestigious awards for innovation, design and architecture.

Moho, which was developed by Urban Splash, is the first apartments scheme in the private sector to be built off-site. Designed by Shedkm, this pioneering development has won the awards for Best Innovative Technology in the National Homebuilder Design Awards, Best Major Housing Development in the Building Awards and Best Starter Home in the Manchester Evening News Residential Property Awards. It has also won the awards for Best Housing Project and the Architecture Grand Prix at the Roses Design Awards.

The Urban Splash/Yorkon team was also shortlisted for the Best Partnership with a Supplier category in the Housebuilding Innovation Awards.

According to the judges of the Building Awards, "Before Moho, prefabrication was merely the sustainable alternative to traditional construction. But now, Urban Splash is showing the world that, done properly….it can be even better than its conventional counterpart. It has given off-site manufacture a fresh image."

Chris Stalker, Development Manager at Urban Splash, said, "We’re delighted to receive these awards for Moho. The scheme looks and feels fantastic and is a credit to all involved. It is satisfying to know that Moho is recognised nationally as a success on a number of different fronts."

"This scheme is a major step forward in the use of off-site construction, helping to address issues such as quality control and the shortage in skilled labour", said Keith Blanshard, a Director of Yorkon. "The design positively embraces and celebrates the latest innovations in building technology, and maximises off-site working. It is a great example of just what can be achieved with imaginative design, a forward-thinking approach and modern methods of construction."

These latest awards follow Yorkon’s success in winning the accolade for Off-site Manufacturer of the Year for the second consecutive year, at the Specialist Contractor Awards.



Somebody posted an excellent picture of this development some time ago. Any chance it could be resurrected?

My mate has been up premier lodge tonight and has photographed the whole thing. I'll try and get him to post some pics of it.

The only way is up!

Bur remember the city centre roads arent wide enough for enough cars in 1 place. eg, nyc has 4 lanes going one way most of the time, so what can manchester do? make the road in to 3-4 lanes and knock down all the existing buildings? no. So what is the solution for this???

The solution is to stop being so car dependant.

My mate has been up premier lodge tonight and has photographed the whole thing. I'll try and get him to post some pics of it.

Was this another sneak-up job or did he get some official permission? :?

The solution is to stop being so car dependant.



Was this another sneak-up job or did he get some official permission? :?
Sneak up job. Its the only way.

http://www.twinning.org.uk/uk_twinnings.htm

Found this website of UK twin cities. Manchester has a good list, but I reckon we could twin ourselves with some more high profile cities. It would really boost our reputation i think.

Birmingham's list is far better than Manchester's

A bit on the quiet side on here today, nobody been out with their Camera's? ;)

I was comtemplating shooting down to Manchester today, but I ain't feeling to good. The thought of hanging around in the cold, relying on the Sunday bus service, didn't sway it for me, I'm afraid.

Visibility probably not too good for updated pics today, anyway?

Yeah your right there Jerv. I reckon we should try to twin with Los Angeles, that might just beat your Chicago.

The man is truly an awful comic but it's a record for the MEN, none the less.


Comic Evans breaks crowd record
Lee Evans
Lee Evans first hit the big time as a Perrier Award-winner
Comedian Lee Evans has set a world record for a solo act performing to the biggest comedy audience.

Evans put on a show for 10,108 people at the Manchester Evening News Arena, breaking the previous record of 8,700, set by fellow comic Eddie Izzard.

Yeah your right there Jerv. I reckon we should try to twin with Los Angeles, that might just beat your Chicago.

What's this obsession with the USA ?

Its big and rich. Think about it, if we were twinned with a big American city, their newspapers might report it and run a section on Manchester. Then hopefully, lots of American tourists will flock to their new twin and spend lots of $$$.

Its big and rich. Think about it, if we were twinned with a big American city, their newspapers might report it and run a section on Manchester. Then hopefully, lots of American tourists will flock to their new twin and spend lots of $$$.

Not when most of them don't have passports. And those that do will be well pissed off when they can't find Big Ben.

Have you read a US local paper. You will be hard pushed to find any news from outside the state never mind the country.

Good point. Alright, lets twin with Tokyo, lots of Japanese with lots of Yen to spend.

The fog we've had today is by far the thickest I've ever seen, it's something else.

The fog we've had today is by far the thickest I've ever seen, it's something else.

I couldn't even see the top of the CJC today!
I wish I had a camera - there were some very strange views around.
From the G-Mex it looked like someone had stolen Beetham.
Oddly enough up here in the hills it's totally clear.

What's happening with that church on Upper Brook Street by the way?
It's the one that's supposed to be one of the oldest churches in Manc i think.
Was last being used as a mosque...well anyway, half of the roof is off, so i'm hoping that it's being done up and not demolished as i'm sure it had listed status anyway.

Anyone got any info?

Ey Bim there was an article in the MEN about that church last week saying something should be done with it .

Some fog photos from today, my hands were frozen red lumps after I took all these and my lungs hurt from all the freezing smog. :runaway:

Cranes
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2831SixPiccadillyPlace_pic2.jpg

Cathedral
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/448ManchesterCathedral_pic4.jpg

Urbis
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/181Urbis_pic15.jpg

Whitworth St
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/PB210007copy.jpg

CIS
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/PB210041copy.jpg

I was not at all impressed with todays fog. It just clogged up the roads and made our college buses 20 minutes late.

:laugh: Accy you sound like Victor Meldrew sometimes

Anyone know what't going on with the Chinese Arch? Wasn't too long ago that this was cleaned and repainted. Surely it doesn't need this job doing again so soon?

You gotta love the fog, makes everything seem weird and other-worldly. I was doing a walk in the park earlier, coud've sworn it was Middle-earth.

Am in town like everynight now. The fog is mad, Beetham just dissapeared into fog. :)

From bbc website
Manchester 'setting an example'
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41044000/jpg/_41044202_onedeansgate300.jpg

The regeneration of Manchester is an example to the rest of the country, the head of the Urban Task Force Lord Rogers has said.
A report has praised the city's innovative schemes as among very few in the UK which had international stature.

About 25,000 people now live in the city centre, many in converted warehouse apartments, compared with just 70 inhabitants in 1990.

Regeneration after the Commonwealth Games was also praised by Lord Rogers.

Following the IRA bomb in 1996, large areas of the city centre have been rebuilt, while areas near the Games stadium in east Manchester have also been revamped.

"About 10 years ago there were vast areas of Manchester, east Manchester for instance, which were really derelict - some of those areas were 80% derelict," he told the BBC.

"Everyone moves out except for the poor and the only chance you've got is to bring people back.

"Manchester has got not only an extremely successful centre but really has done a whole series of regeneration programmes which have been an example to us all."

Lord Rogers' report also warns that middle class families leaving inner cities could lead to "polarisation".

But the minister for housing, Yvette Cooper, said the trend was being reversed because of economic regeneration, changes to planning policy and new investment.

Wheeeyyy! Nice banner!

RIP Maths tower.

have to say that this banner is tres bien! (why speak french?)
i think this picture taken again with the jux taposition of the modernistic/brutalist architecture to the right and the modern/contemporary on the left will look 'world class' ;) cooool!

:banana:
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/5425/eastgate9uz.jpg



I just saw this.


You T*at.


You said 'Don't Make a new manchester thread, let them get past 1000 replies.'


When you just wanted to do it for yourself :bash:

I just saw this.


You T*at.


You said 'Don't Make a new manchester thread, let them get past 1000 replies.'


When you just wanted to do it for yourself :bash:

I think he did it to put an end to the petty 'my city is better then your city' argument that had damaged the thread.

I look forward to a future Manchester banner when the buildings on the skyline are younger than me.

I think he did it to put an end to the petty 'my city is better then your city' argument that had damaged the thread.

Maybe next time then.


And yes Farsight, I was looking at it thinking 'In a few years it will look alot different'

Too bad that pic is too old to have a big beetham in it....Just barely see the top of the DOKAs


Here is a manc banner I made...

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/5917/bannermanchester7hc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Good one eddie.

I just saw this.


You T*at.


You said 'Don't Make a new manchester thread, let them get past 1000 replies.'


When you just wanted to do it for yourself :bash:

I would have let it run to 1000(even though we are supposed to kill them off at 500 because apparently once they get over that limit the serve suffers, how will a single 1000 post thread harm the server more than 2x 500 posts ones I do not know - if bandwith needs saving trim the garbage skybars) were it not for Earlybird and Birminghamculture sowing the seeds of YET ANOTHER big spat. The thread was already past 700 and was heading downhill so I shut it and opened a new one so that we don't have to be subjected to yet more pathetic Manc V Brum arguments especially in our decent threads - it makes the place unbearable.

I wanted it for myself? Wanted WHAT for myself exactly? The privilage of starting a thread? Oh golly, the experience of pressing a few buttons is pratically orgasmic edward. I've done this particular thread about 12 times now - what am I getting 'for myself'???!? The name of the thread starter is completely i - fucking - relevant in my eyes, I've no idea why you care at all.

Well said CAW

Caw, your such a sad man

Caw, your such a sad man


you're.

Here is the banner for future reference.

http://skyscrapercity.com/images/forumheaders/23.jpg

how will a single 1000 post thread harm the server more than 2x 500 posts ones I do not know.

It probably has something to do with time spent accessing the database.

you're.

:lol:

I would have let it run to 1000(even though we are supposed to kill them off at 500 because apparently once they get over that limit the serve suffers, how will a single 1000 post thread harm the server more than 2x 500 posts ones I do not know - if bandwith needs saving trim the garbage skybars) were it not for Earlybird and Birminghamculture sowing the seeds of YET ANOTHER big spat. The thread was already past 700 and was heading downhill so I shut it and opened a new one so that we don't have to be subjected to yet more pathetic Manc V Brum arguments especially in our decent threads - it makes the place unbearable.

I wanted it for myself? Wanted WHAT for myself exactly? The privilage of starting a thread? Oh golly, the experience of pressing a few buttons is pratically orgasmic edward. I've done this particular thread about 12 times now - what am I getting 'for myself'???!? The name of the thread starter is completely i - fucking - relevant in my eyes, I've no idea why you care at all.


CAW, if anyone YOU should of known I was messing around.

Anyone know what't going on with the Chinese Arch? Wasn't too long ago that this was cleaned and repainted. Surely it doesn't need this job doing again so soon?

Adding a few more knobby bits on the top to make it taller than the one in Liverpool??

HOT on the heels of its successful trip to New York, Manchester's inward investment agency MIDAS is wooing major financial institutions in the City of London.

The event at the Capital Club, which is over- subscribed, will outline Manchester's credentials as the UK's leading financial services centre outside the Square Mile.

Speaking at the event this evening will be Andrew Hill, financial editor of the Financial Times, Richard Bailey, managing director, of NM Rothschild's northern practice and Derek Tullett OBE, Director of the London Capital Club.



Around 130 people will attend. Guests include representatives from HSBC, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Cazenove and Goldman Sachs.

Neil Fountain. MIDAS chief executive said: "The objective of this event is to raise the profile of Manchester as a `deal-making' city." Marketing director and chief executive designate Colin Sinclair added: "The New York event was a big success and we are determined to maintain the momentum. Manchester has a very positive story to tell and there is a perception now of it being a can-do, deal-making city."

I dont like todays the banner. It looks very out of date. Theres no Beetham, no GN and No CJC Also City tower and CIS Tower havent had their half done make overs.

Keep an eye out.


EarlyBird has been speaking to me.


He plans to make a new account, come back to SSC, be really good and become a mod.

anyway, more good news

Now city hoping to woo Microsoft
Ian Wylie


THE BBC is to narrow its search for a new site in Manchester or Salford within weeks - and could share a future home with computer giant Microsoft.

Manchester city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein has revealed talks are to be held with the global software company. The council is trying to attract technology companies to link up with the BBC in a proposed media zone.

Four sites - two in Manchester and two in Salford - have been examined by the BBC for the move of five departments and 1,800 staff posts in 2010. Two are expected to be shortlisted before Christmas with BBC governors expected to announce the chosen location in March.


A House of Lords select committee on the BBC Charter Review heard the £600m cost of the move has been reduced to under £400m - although that figure could still rise.

In a day-long hearing in Manchester, eight peers heard about the massive benefits the project would bring to the region.

Salford city council chief executive John Willis said it would further develop Greater Manchester, which had created 45,000 jobs over the last five years. Granada managing director Susan Woodward said Manchester could become "the UK's premier creative city" and hoped the BBC would relocate to vacant land at Granada's Quay Street site.

Gravitational

BBC Director of Nations and Regions Pat Loughrey said the move had to provide licence fee payers with value for money but cost-cutting was not its main aim.

He said the BBC was "completely committed" to the move - escaping the "gravitational pull" of London - and keen to get on with the project. He said: "There is a sense of urgency," although it is still dependent on final approval by the governors and a satisfactory licence fee deal from the government.

A spokesman for Manchester city council said: "Microsoft is one of a number of technology providers to whom we are, and will be, talking to.

"Manchester is committed to becoming a world class centre for knowledge-based economy. We are always keen to investigate opportunities for attracting extra jobs and expanding the city."

843 stunning images of a new Manchester! :)

Some seriously good pictures!

http://www.view.captureweb.co.uk/imindex.php4?cat=basic&basic=manchester&searchmode=1&Submit=Search&ReturnUrl2=

Keep an eye out.


EarlyBird has been speaking to me.


He plans to make a new account, come back to SSC, be really good and become a mod.
When did he get banned? I was wondering why he wasnt posting.

MICROSOFT COMIN TO SALFORD? never would have though that in my lifetime

Midas turns attention to City

HOT on the heels of its successful trip to New York, Manchester's inward investment agency MIDAS is wooing major financial institutions in the City of London.

The event at the Capital Club, which is over- subscribed, will outline Manchester's credentials as the UK's leading financial services centre outside the Square Mile.

Speaking at the event this evening will be Andrew Hill, financial editor of the Financial Times, Richard Bailey, managing director, of NM Rothschild's northern practice and Derek Tullett OBE, Director of the London Capital Club.



Around 130 people will attend. Guests include representatives from HSBC, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Cazenove and Goldman Sachs.

Neil Fountain. MIDAS chief executive said: "The objective of this event is to raise the profile of Manchester as a `deal-making' city." Marketing director and chief executive designate Colin Sinclair added: "The New York event was a big success and we are determined to maintain the momentum. Manchester has a very positive story to tell and there is a perception now of it being a can-do, deal-making city."

Added to the above article posted earlier is this one - MIDAS's own press release.


MIDAS tells London: It's official, Manchester is the big deal

23/11/2005

http://www.investinmanchester.com/clientimages/bridgetater_gmex_200_120.jpg

Manchester-based firms have been responsible for servicing the majority of the £15 billion of mid-market deals that have been generated in the North of England in the last 12 months, according to recent figures. These latest figures demonstrate the strength of the city-region's deal-making activity and the opportunities in Manchester for corporate finance firms.

To promote Manchester's rise as the 'deal-making city' and to celebrate the success of the city's thriving corporate finance community MIDAS has organised an invitation-only event on Wednesday 23rd November from 6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. at London's prestigious Capital Club.

Speaking at the event will be Andrew Hill, Financial Editor of the Financial Times, Richard Bailey, Managing Director, Northern Practice, NM Rothschild and Derek Tullett OBE, Director of the London Capital Club.

Confirmed guests include representatives from HSBC, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Cazenove Ltd and Goldman Sachs.

Neil Fountain. MIDAS Chief Executive said: 'The objective of this event is to raise the profile of Manchester as a 'deal-making' city. Manchester is the UK's largest regional economy and is at the centre of the biggest corporate finance market outside London and the South East of England.

He added: 'The opportunities for Manchester corporate finance firms are incredibly diverse. Large acquisitions in the last twelve months include Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, Littlewoods Shops and Manchester United.'

Other top deals completed in the last 12 months include Umbro (IPO), Pets at Home (IBO), SSL International Regent Infection Control (IBO) and Topps Tiles (Minority Stake).

The region has also seen a growing number of firms listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and 48% of all AIM flotations are handled by Manchester firms. The AIM market is so strong that AIM North has been established in Manchester, with members including Brewin Dolphin, Halliwells, Altrium Capital, Ernst & Young and the London Stock Exchange.

Makes sense - getting excited over the New York thang when in fact we have a just as powerful city a mere 2 hours away from us.

Wowweeee Topps Tiles and Petes at Home! This really is the big time :-D

Just seen the great new pics taken from the top of Beetham in the Beetham thread. Got me wondering what people think - is Manchester better from above looking down, or from ground level looking up?

Ground up.

Wowweeee Topps Tiles and Petes at Home! This really is the big time :-D

Don't be so dismissive. The Pets at Home deal was worth £230m!

To put that in perspective I think a value of £150m was thrown about for the entire Beetham development.

But what about Pete?

I understand that Pete is instrumental in the attempts to get shami kebab's into the BBC complex. Apparently Abdul won't deal with anyone else.

Hello Guys,

Just wondering if you guys could help me.

I am currently conducting some research on City Centre living in Manchester.

Do any of you know where I can obtain a list of the number of apartments which are either fully occupied/built, under construction or at the planning stage in Manchester City Centre?

I would really appreciate your help on this.

Hello Guys,

Just wondering if you guys could help me.

I am currently conducting some research on City Centre living in Manchester.

Do any of you know where I can obtain a list of the number of apartments which are either fully occupied/built, under construction or at the planning stage in Manchester City Centre?

I would really appreciate your help on this.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=218804

This is a decent list, not complete though by any means and includes some apartments in Salford Quays.

Cheers Caw123. Much appreciated.

I was in Manchester last weekend and the level of development in the city doesn't fail to amaze me.

A truly fantastic City.

By the way, do you know if the council website contains detailed records regarding residential developments in the City Centre? If so, do you know where I can find it?

Just seen the great new pics taken from the top of Beetham in the Beetham thread. Got me wondering what people think - is Manchester better from above looking down, or from ground level looking up?

Looking up without a doubt, when you compare the views from Beetham to the Eiffel tower or London eye, you see just how small Manchester is. Great picture s though.

£3.95-an-hour car to ease city jams

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME?

A Citroen C3PAY-as-you-drive hire cars could be introduced to Manchester city centre in the New Year.

The "car club" vehicles, expected to be available for hire at around £3.95 an hour, would provide residents with an alternative to owning their own cars and ease congestion.

Manchester Council is in talks with car club operators about establishing a scheme in the city, similar to those already running in Leeds, London and Edinburgh.

WhizzGo runs a car club in Leeds using Citroen C3 1.4 litre Desires. Drivers pay £25 for a WhizzGo smart card and £125 insurance, which is refundable when membership ends, and then £3.95 per hour while using the car.

Buying a private parking space in Manchester now costs an average of £20,000. To rent a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week space in a multi-storey costs between £890 and £2,112 per year, but availability is limited.

There are waiting lists for spaces at all 20 Euro Car Parks in Manchester and NCP is introducing two new multi-storeys to increase capacity.

A council spokesman said: "There is usually some spare capacity within city centre car parks run by NCP Manchester Ltd.

"A new NCP car park opened in Chester Street recently with 212 spaces, and the new £12m Printworks car park will open in early December, bringing another 777 spaces.

"Finally, we are aiming to open a new 680-space car park at Spinningfields in February. We hope these developments will help underpin the continued improvements to Manchester city centre as a great place to work, shop or visit.

"In addition, motorists coming into the city from the south might like to use the free Metroshuttle bus service, which is now able to offer a weekend park and ride facility in its Medlock Street car park."

At the last count in June, 7,000 new flats were being built in the city centre and thousands more in the surrounding suburbs. Car usage is expected to increase by 26 per cent in the next decade.

As well as the car club, Manchester Council is introducing new parking arrangements for residents. These include discounts at off-street parking at NCPs.

On-street parking permits for all city centre bays are being offered for one hour (8-9am) in the morning and one hour (5-6pm) in the evening and all day Saturday, for car-owning residents who drive to work elsewhere. Costs vary from £116 to £347.

Cllr Neil Swannick, planning and environment chief, said: "We are keen to support people living in the city centre.

"They are, after all, pioneers of the city centre's repopulation and living proof of the city's continuing success story. We have worked hard to come up with a scheme specifically tailored to the needs of city centre dwellers.

"Manchester Council is constantly looking at ways of improving parking in the city within our overall transport strategy.

"These proposals are the result of an ongoing review into the parking needs of people who live, work or visit the centre."

Traders in the city centre were told last week that proposals to make parking free during the Christmas period, put forward by the Forum for Private Business, have not been accepted by councils in Greater Manchester.

Shopkeepers believe they will lose business to the Trafford Centre, which has 10,000 free spaces. Manchester Council is offering 777 free parking spaces between 6pm and midnight at the Printworks in December.
The parking matchmaker
ENTREPRENEUR Stephen Hall is the parking matchmaker.

Stephen's company, City Centre Parking, links car owners with city centre residents who have parking spaces they do not use.

But he says there are not enough unused spaces in Manchester to satisfy the demand.

He founded the business in Manchester two years ago and has now extended its reach to Liverpool and Leeds.

Stephen said: "Someone with a parking space to let in a city apartment block could be up to £1,300 better off over a year.

"This space is then made available, at a lower cost than long-term commercial contract parking, to a commuter or city centre resident."

* Car park guru Kevin Beresford has given the city's King Street West car park a firm thumb's down.

"It's dark, it's dingy and it's cramped and congested - just the sort of place to pick up a few bumps and scrapes," he declared.

Kevin, author of Roundabouts of Great Britain and self-styled head of the Car Park Appreciation Society, is travelling the country carrying out research.

He has been commissioned by AA Insurance to conduct scientific tests, measuring "tyre squeal", "bumper crunch" and "paint scrape" factors.

A spokesman for National Car Parks, which operates King Street West, said: "I've never heard of Mr Beresford or his society and I'd like to know what sort of scientific tests he used. We have 600 car parks and we spend millions refurbishing them for the comfort, convenience and safety of our customers."

Revamp in firing line

TRADERS and residents in Urmston can have their say on plans for the £40m regeneration of the town centre from Monday.

The shopkeepers were left disillusioned with the proposals earlier this year when they discovered rents would increase by 400 per cent and they would be competing against a new Tesco.

Bernard Murray, owner of delicatessen Quality Fresh Food, said he and several other traders were considering closing as a result.

The 1960s concrete shopping centre is being redeveloped by Ask Developments and architects Broadway Malyan.

The plans include 100,000 square foot of retail, leisure and office space, a new library and community centre and 94 flats.

The development is expected to create 700 jobs.

An exhibition showing details of the scheme will be at the former Urmstat Unit, opposite Farmfoods within the shopping centre, from Monday, November 28, to Saturday, December 3. Adam Higgins, development director at Ask, said: "Urmston town centre has a great deal of potential, which is yet to be realised.

"Together with Trafford Council, we are eager to contribute to the emerging vision of Urmston as a successful and thriving town centre. We look forward to hearing people's views on the redevelopment scheme and hope that by continuing to work with local residents, businesses and Trafford Council we will deliver a vibrant new centre that the people of Urmston can enjoy and will be proud of."

Cllr Stephanie Poole, regeneration boss at Trafford Council, said: "This is an exciting phase in Urmston's development. The proposed new plans for the town are key to the future success and vitality of Urmston.

"We hope that everyone with an interest in the town's future will come along and participate in the consultation."

Details are available on the web at http://www.askabouturmston.co.uk/

Residents queue for revamped Grove

http://www.metronews.co.uk/ContentResources/C_52_Article_1360_BodyText_TextSection_0_Image.jpg

REVITALISED: Cllr Tom O'Callaghan with some of the renovated houses in Grove Village

TENANTS face a waiting list of up to four years for a house on the Grove Village estate, just 12 months after there were 200 empty properties on the same estate.

Originally called Plymouth Grove, the estate straddles the A6 Stockport Road in New Brunswick, Ardwick and Longsight. It is being transformed by a group of private companies, the Grove Village Consortium, as part of a £100m private finance initiative.

A total of 436 council houses are being demolished, the remaining 663 homes refurbished and about 650 new properties built.

The consortium will sell the new properties and maintain the estate and remaining council houses for 30 years, even though the houses will still be owned by Manchester Council.

Cllr Tom O'Callaghan said: "There has been massive disruption for the people who live on the estate, but it's a very necessary project."

He added that the original design of the estate included a lot of back alleys and it suffered from crime and vandalism.

"PFI generates the money to completely redesign the estate, designing out the crime. It also means the consortium can build new homes which attract people in employment. When the estate was all council tenants it wasn't sustainable. We couldn't even sustain a supermarket."

Phase one of the PFI housing project - the first of its kind in the UK - is now complete. So far, 455 homes have been refurbished internally, 368 homes demolished and construction has begun on 62 new homes.

Construction of the Village Centre, which will provide 13,000sq ft of retail space and 80 flats, will begin in October next year and should be completed by the summer of 2007.

PFI is a government-backed partnership between public bodies and private companies.

The companies borrow from banks to fund projects, which councils are not allowed to do. The council then pays back the cost of this work to the company over the length of the contract, usually between 25 to 30 years.

They are being used to build everything from hospitals to prisons.

Cllr Eddie ******, housing chief, said: "There are 663 retained homes and in terms of investment the council will pay £35m, that's an average of about £53,000 per home. The total investment in the PFI project is £100m, which includes a government grant of £37m on the whole.

"The partnership means we can provide high quality homes for tenants and also create a mixed and above all sustainable community. A mix of residents, both owners and tenants, will attract services and facilities to the estate."

The Grove Village Consortium is made up of Gleeson Homes, Harvest Housing, Nationwide and Powerminster. The four-bedroom town houses being built cost upwards of £170,000.

Glorious revamp for Chinese Arch

MANCHESTER'S famous Chinese Arch has been restored to its original glory after being spruced-up in time for Christmas.

The great imperial archway has been the imposing gateway to the city's Chinatown for the past 18 years.

But time had taken its toll, and the monument - the only one of its kind in Europe - badly needed some tender loving care.

The arch has been shrouded in scaffolding since October when the £40,000 repair work began, but now the wraps are off.

One of the main problems was that a traditional Chinese mortar mix - said to include pigs' blood - didn't take kindly to Manchester's damp climate.

Over the years, it expanded and caused cracking to the ornate roof tiles, so it has had to be replaced with a more appropriate Manchester-friendly mix.

Other tasks carried out by main contractor Manchester and Cheshire Construction have included delicate repair and redecoration works.

The £350,000 arch, specially built in China, arrived in Manchester in three huge containers. It was then put together between Christmas 1986 and Easter the following year by a team of specialist craftsmen from Beijing.

It was the first Imperial arch to be built in Europe, painted in red and gold and adorned with dragons and phoenixes - traditional Chinese symbols of luck and prosperity - along with ceramics, lacquer and gold leaf.

Three years ago, the arch had to have a major £100,000 revamp after it was discovered that structural timbers had started to rot, and needed replacing.

Cheers Caw123. Much appreciated.

I was in Manchester last weekend and the level of development in the city doesn't fail to amaze me.

A truly fantastic City.

By the way, do you know if the council website contains detailed records regarding residential developments in the City Centre? If so, do you know where I can find it?

If you look on the council website manchester.gov.uk and search for "city centre population" I think the ecomomic stats section did some stuff on apartments. Main problem is
1) they aren't up to date
2) Manchester is made up of several boroughs and a big swathe of Manchester central actually pays rates to Salford (don't ask me why Mcr's split into stupid boroughs - think some dickhead fucked up royally in 1974) - anway they are loads of apartments along Chapel Street and Blackfriars that you won't find in the official Manchester stats. Same with the Cornbrook Island development which wil come under Trafford.
3) There are areas like Ancoats, parts of the Northern Quarter and Redbank, and even Castlefield (those with M15 postcodes) that aren't even classed as in the city centre ward. So once again these may be missing.

There are hints that this cutting up of Mcr may be addressed soon by the gov and all 1.3 million in the city proper will come under one authority. Certainly make the stats think easier and they will have to redefine a much larger Manchester Central area. Latest estimates on city centre pop was 28,000, which is higher than the official stats for the city centre ward, but I think they've included Chapel St/Blackfriars, Ancoats and other "de facto" parts of the city centre, that may not be included in the narrower definition.

Well, a little tale that some off us on here would not like admit, but the following is the god's honest truth...

Was in Madrid over the weekend, watching the Madrid v Barcelona match - got 'communicating' with a bus driver - I say communitcating since I cannot speak Spanish, and he could not speak English - however, we could make each other understood.

Were 'talking' about about Real Madrid, even though he wasn't much of a football fan (about how crap they were - they got beat 3 - 0 by Barca the previous night), got I basically said I was from Manchester and had a season ticket for OT - he basically didn't know which country Manchester was in, he thought it may be England, but was far from sure.
Bit of a reality checks really - much as we may think Manchester is moving up into the big league, the reality is, we are still quite small time on the European scene - until the bus drivers in Barcelona, Madrid, Lyon etc. have a vision of Manchester represents, then I'm afraid we cannot compare ourselves to such cities, and at present, from my experience over the weekend, we are far from that point just yet.


On a seperate point, Madrid has a population of 3m people, comparing what infrastructure etc that city has with that population, I think if you were to tell a Madridian (???) that Manchester has a population of 1.5m or 2m, they'd be seriously underwhelmed when they saw the reality of the size of our city - we'd appear to them to be a city of 400k (given the small size of city centre and total lcak of infrastructure).




Finally, before anyone from Leeds/Liverpool/Brum/Glasgow etc starts quoting from this post, or thinking in some way this 'bigs' their city up, I think you'll find the same is true for every city in this country outside of London.

From google:

The population of Madrid is 2,957,058 (city) with over 5,086,635 people in the metropolitan area. The city is spread over 236 square miles and is at an elevation of 2150' putting it at one of the highest elevations for a major European city. The climate varies according to season with warm dry summers and cool winters. Typical seasonal averages between 48F-90F (extremes can be colder or hotter) with many sunny days. Typical rainfall is less then 24"/yr. The predominant language here is Castellano Spanish. This is the language brought and taught in the Americas by the Spaniards. Similiar to other portions of Europe, many people also speak English.

Bit of a reality checks really - much as we may think Manchester is moving up into the big league, the reality is, we are still quite small time on the European scene - until the bus drivers in Barcelona, Madrid, Lyon etc. have a vision of Manchester represents, then I'm afraid we cannot compare ourselves to such cities, and at present, from my experience over the weekend, we are far from that point just yet.


I'd bet you a pound to a piece of shit that 95 percent of Europeans know which contry Manchester is in.

Were 'talking' about about Real Madrid, even though he wasn't much of a football fan (about how crap they were - they got beat 3 - 0 by Barca the previous night), got I basically said I was from Manchester and had a season ticket for OT - he basically didn't know which country Manchester was in, he thought it may be England, but was far from sure.
Bit of a reality checks really - much as we may think Manchester is moving up into the big league, the reality is, we are still quite small time on the European scene - until the bus drivers in Barcelona, Madrid, Lyon etc. have a vision of Manchester represents, then I'm afraid we cannot compare ourselves to such cities, and at present, from my experience over the weekend, we are far from that point just yet.

ONE bus driver in Madrid.... I reckon at least 90% of bus drivers in Madrid would know exactly which country Manchester was in purely because of United. You happended to find one of the very few that wasn't into football!

I do agree with your general point though.

Barcelona was similar to Manchester 15 years a go, just known by football fans for its football team. Now look at it. Don't think we'll reach the same point as Barca (don't have the weather, beach, Gaudi), but should be able to get close.

I'd bet you a pound to a piece of shit that 95 percent of Europeans know which contry Manchester is in.

Most Spaniards know very well where Manchester is.

To be honest I wouldn't have expected any different. Everytime I've spoken to somebody whilst abroad, I've been greeted with similar responses.

Well, a little tale that some off us on here would not like admit, but the following is the god's honest truth...

Was in Madrid over the weekend, watching the Madrid v Barcelona match - got 'communicating' with a bus driver - I say communitcating since I cannot speak Spanish, and he could not speak English - however, we could make each other understood.

Were 'talking' about about Real Madrid, even though he wasn't much of a football fan (about how crap they were - they got beat 3 - 0 by Barca the previous night), got I basically said I was from Manchester and had a season ticket for OT - he basically didn't know which country Manchester was in, he thought it may be England, but was far from sure.
Bit of a reality checks really - much as we may think Manchester is moving up into the big league, the reality is, we are still quite small time on the European scene - until the bus drivers in Barcelona, Madrid, Lyon etc. have a vision of Manchester represents, then I'm afraid we cannot compare ourselves to such cities, and at present, from my experience over the weekend, we are far from that point just yet.


On a seperate point, Madrid has a population of 3m people, comparing what infrastructure etc that city has with that population, I think if you were to tell a Madridian (???) that Manchester has a population of 1.5m or 2m, they'd be seriously underwhelmed when they saw the reality of the size of our city - we'd appear to them to be a city of 400k (given the small size of city centre and total lcak of infrastructure).




Finally, before anyone from Leeds/Liverpool/Brum/Glasgow etc starts quoting from this post, or thinking in some way this 'bigs' their city up, I think you'll find the same is true for every city in this country outside of London.


If a chap in Madrid is not a football fan why would he ever think of Manchester? Millions of people travel from the UK to Spain each year but it is not the other way round. We shouldn’t flatter ourselves thinking that other countries know anything about us, why should they? If you watch Spanish news there is more interest over there in what is happening in Argentina and Mexico than what is happening in the UK.

If a chap in Madrid is not a football fan why would he ever think of Manchester? Millions of people travel from the UK to Spain each year but it is not the other way round. We shouldn’t flatter ourselves thinking that other countries know anything about us, why should they? If you watch Spanish news there is more interest over there in what is happening in Argentina and Mexico than what is happening in the UK.

Wait a minute here, of course there is not more interest in SA than the UK or any other part of the world. The news reports what's in the news. Also, I've lived in Spain for 8 years now, a non tourist part of Spain I might add, and over 95% of the people do know where Manchester is. You'll probably find a taxi driver in Manchester that if asked where Granada was, he'd say Quay Street!

There is every chance the guy was just thick as pig shit, I've actually met someone in THIS country that didn't know where Europe was, a grown man in his mid 20's, so a bus driver in Madrid didn't quite know where Manchester was, so what. It means nothing IMHO.

Barcelona was similar to Manchester 15 years a go, just known by football fans for its football team. Now look at it. Don't think we'll reach the same point as Barca (don't have the weather, beach, Gaudi), but should be able to get close.

I don't agree with that.

I don't see any reason why Manchester can't reach the level or status of Barcelona, who needs a beach or Gaudi? I'm more than happy with Manchester's growth over the past few years into the funky vibrant city it is today. We all know that Manchester's never been pretty like Barcelona, but there's more to a city than how well its buildings look in the sunshine.

Do you know that Barça has a nickname in Spain?

It's called "The Manchester of Spain". Reason being is that it grew its wealth from the textile industry.

Do you know that Barça has a nickname in Spain?

It's called "The Manchester of Spain". Reason being is that it grew its wealth from the textile industry.

Thats very true, good point

i bet you lot that Manchester has a far greater wealth of everything than Barca.

Im sure GM is larger than Barca, more skyscrapers, and I can bet my arse there's a hell of alot more big business deals goin on here.

Anyones who's anyone has an office in manchester, from all of the forbes1000 to the Bank of somalia.

Once Eastgate and Albany crown are built, manchester will have one of the greates skylines in Europe, then that 1% of madrid bus drivers will take notice.

You are definitely taking the piss Metrolink.
Now lets just re-wind a bit to see what you said. We've got two blokes on a bus who can't understand one fucking word of each other but by some marvellous mysterious sign language you were both able to animate enough visual symbols to hold a conversation. And you extrapolated sufficient information from this one unilingual bus-driving non-football fan to conclude that the rest of Spain's 40 fucking million people must all have the same geographical intellect of this man who's language you couldn't understand.
You are either 1) a master of sign language communications. 2) a knob. 3) you drank far too much sangria (you gotta watch that stuff). 4) it's all just a crock of shit and you made it up.
With respect Metro, stick to what you're good at.....Trams.

You are definitely taking the piss Metrolink.
Now lets just re-wind a bit to see what you said. We've got two blokes on a bus who can't understand one fucking word of each other but by some marvellous mysterious sign language you were both able to animate enough visual symbols to hold a conversation. And you extrapolated sufficient information from this one unilingual bus-driving non-football fan to conclude that the rest of Spain's 40 fucking million people must all have the same geographical intellect of this man who's language you couldn't understand.
You are either 1) a master of sign language communications. 2) a knob. 3) you drank far too much sangria (you gotta watch that stuff). 4) it's all just a crock of shit and you made it up.
With respect Metro, stick to what you're good at.....Trams.

Fucking hell Miles! Thats a bit heavy! :shocked: :runaway:

No miles that's funny haha!!

Fucking hell Miles! Thats a bit heavy! :shocked: :runaway:
Yer right, it's a bit heavy. Metro didn't deserve such a mauling, it's only a bleeding skyscraper forum. Got carried away...... gulp....

can you imagine the city centre of manchester with all the new proposed buildings included within one giant 3D computerized model, that will run on a game console engine with the ability of unrestricted movement, possibly even with entrance into the proposals and full detailed interior design. just imagine that.............it already exists, under development


as this is relevant to this main thread (as posted in beetham thread) if u aint seen my pics from the Doka check them out in the beetham thread)

I predict eventually every city in the world will be model this way. then who needs to go on a weekend city break, when u can buy it on DVD rom. (or possibly check the destination first, prior to booking the flight.

the future is bright, but im afraid slowdown is forecast after 2008.

RIP George Best, the day the legend died, we will remember you for your football and the style icon you were.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/bestie.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/_41057710_younggeorge203pa.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/_41053336_george_best_203.jpg

The best football player on earth.

Interesting article..

The return of the city dweller
Regeneration breathes fresh life into the housing

By : Cheryl Taylor - Property Editor November 20, 2005

An estimated £3bn of mainly private finance will be invested in the residential development of cities in the North of England over the next 10 years, a report reveals. A large-scale population explosion in the region’s city centres is also predicted in the Future City study, compiled by estate agent Knight Frank.

By the mid 1990s, less than 1% of the population of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield lived in city centres, a total of just under 20,000 people. The largest city centre population was in Manchester, with more than 6,000 occupants, and the smallest Liverpool at below 2,500.

Ten years later, the population of the same five key northern cities has increased by nearly 140% to 47,000. Manchester has the highest number of city dwellers, at just over 12,000, followed by Liverpool at 11,000 – an increase of 90% for Manchester and nearly 400% for Liverpool.

By 2015, Manchester’s city centre population will have doubled, with 24,000 people enjoying city life. Across the Pennines in Leeds, the growth forecast is even bigger. Knight Frank says its city centre population will rise from 9,000 to 20,000 by 2015 – a 122% increase. Big population rises are also forecast for Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield, as more people are drawn back into city centres.

Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, says: “We estimate that there has been over £1.2bn of residential development in the five big Northern centres over the past 10 years.

“Looking forward to planned development, this investment can be regarded as the tip of the iceberg. We estimate that there will be a further £3bn invested in residential development over the next decade.”

Grown-up city living
The report predicts the future growth of urban living will be driven, not by young professionals, but by retirees and families. Britain’s ageing population makes the shift inevitable.

There are now 16m people in the UK aged between 20 and 30, and only around 12m aged 60 or over. By 2025, the situation reverses, with 14.5m 20 to 30-somethings and a retired population of 17.5m. The report forecasts that both groups will be enticed back into city centres as the facilities for them are put in place.

The pattern in city living to date has been that students stay in the centre after graduation, young professionals rent apartments with new jobs and once married and looking to start a family, they move out of the city and into the suburbs or country. However, not everyone yearns for a bucolic vista and the considerable advantages of having school, leisure, shops and workplace on the doorstep are more beneficial when raising a family.

Some developers are looking closely at these issues. Isis, the development arm of British Waterways, is leading an approach in Leeds at its Granary Wharf development that is looking at providing family homes. Liverpool and Manchester city councils are also attempting to encourage families back into the city by requiring developers to include more townhouses in their plans.

Knight Frank has highlighted a trend towards town houses and family-friendly developments in cities, with some developers incorporating convenience stores, crèches, primary schools and health centres into their schemes. Older people are also increasingly buying homes in city centres.

In the 10 years to 2005, over 16,000 city centre apartments were completed in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. Another 36,000 are anticipated between now and 2015.

The Future City report concentrates on the five main Northern city centres, but it says there is also a huge role for other towns in the region over the next decade, including Barnsley, Wakefield, Hull, Bolton, Doncaster and Lancaster.

The report also includes a survey of people already living in the North’s city centres. Most chose to live in the city because it is close to work and social life.

The high security and the low maintenance of new-build flats were also plus points. Most people wanted more open green space, improved health facilities and provision for car parking and better public transport.

Current market indicators
Investment purchases in northern cities have slowed this year due to the cooler market and reduced opportunity for speculation. Owner-occupiers have increased, partially as a result of slower investor activity, but also as a result of more mature market conditions, according to Knight Frank.

Outlook for 2006 and 2007
After no capital growth in many locations during 2005, Knight Frank expect property prices in the majority of northern regions to start rising again in 2007, but at much lower levels, between 2% and 3%. Prices in northern city centres are likely to see slower growth as new supply is brought to the market.

New homes market in Manchester
According to recent data from SmartNewHomes.com, the UK new homes web- site, prices of new homes in Manchester have risen by 13.6% in the past two years, compared with a fall of 5.2% for rest of the UK over the same time period. The north west has experienced an increase in new home prices of 34.6% in the past three years, compared to gains of 9.9% across the UK. However, the new homes market in Manchester has dipped over the past year, with prices falling 2.7%. This compares with a decrease of 5.3% in average UK prices.

Apartments still dominate the majority of new developments in Manchester, making up 64.1% of all new homes compared to 15.9% detached homes and 14.1% semi-detached houses. The desirable city-centre locations of these new high specification, low maintenance apartment schemes make them popular with investors, with some developers expecting yields of up to 7%.

David Bexon, managing director of SmartNewHomes.com, says: “Manchester has been the most significant example of successful regeneration in this country, reinventing itself as a modern, vibrant city. However, we have not seen the end of Manchester’s redevelopment and the future is looking just as exciting. The work on the Piccadilly area of the city is a huge project, as will be the Metrolink extension and there is also the anticipation of the BBC’s imminent move north; all will open up new areas of Manchester to developers, homebuyers and businesses.”
http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?The%20return%20of%20the%20city%20dweller&StoryID=0E770C6D-34FF-40E9-9822-F5866F089DAA&SectionID=BFA39CF0-29D3-4880-87CE-632DDBF00DDF

Good find. The office investment must be a scary figure as I would have thought the residential development would have been higher than £3 billion for the next 10 years. I recon £1.2 billion in the last ten years is also under what it should be. Manchester's Beetham was £150 million its own. I think the liverpool one was £90 million. But if the £1.2 billion figure doesnt include the areas towards castlefield etc then thats about right.

This is bollocks, Leeds has no where near 9000 people residing in it's city centre.

"By 2015, Manchester’s city centre population will have doubled, with 24,000 people enjoying city life. Across the Pennines in Leeds, the growth forecast is even bigger. Knight Frank says its city centre population will rise from 9,000 to 20,000 by 2015 – a 122% increase. Big population rises are also forecast for Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield, as more people are drawn back into city centres."

Indeed. I thought Leeds had more in the region of 4-5000 city centre residents.

I'd say there's more like 9.

There aren't many permanent residents in Leeds city centre. I've found the majority of people living in town are students who'll more than likely naff off after a few years. Flats are being sold here, but they're being rented out, similar to Manc.

tink this has been posted b4.. but here u are..

http://www.event-solutions.info/files/HD1036/tallbuildings.pdf

tink this has been posted b4.. but here u are..

http://www.event-solutions.info/files/HD1036/tallbuildings.pdf

It reckons I would have to pay £205 to go to it. What shit.

Good find. The office investment must be a scary figure as I would have thought the residential development would have been higher than £3 billion for the next 10 years. I recon £1.2 billion in the last ten years is also under what it should be. Manchester's Beetham was £150 million its own. I think the liverpool one was £90 million. But if the £1.2 billion figure doesnt include the areas towards castlefield etc then thats about right.

I would say it just depends on what they term 'investment' - is the £150m for Mcr's Beetham the actualy investment, or is it the market value for the building (I suspect market value as I can't see what all the money is being spent on).

It's still lots os money though! I read in a listing last week that there has been over £20billion-worth of construction contracts awarded to the major contractors in the last 12 months. That would equate to £50b in market value?

Well...this snow is a turn up for the books eh?
Now this is what i'm talking about...proper snow!
Ooh can't wait to go and roll in it in a minute!
Lol.

Congestion charging is on it's way - good news in my opinion...

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/189/189227_congestion_charge_trial_to_hit_city.html

ongestion charge trial to hit city
Ian Craig, Clarissa Satchell and David Ottewell.

JAMS: Morning hell on the M60.
JAMS: Morning hell on the M60.
DRIVERS could be forced to fork out £1 per mile as part of a congestion charging trial scheme in Greater Manchester which was announced.

Manchester will get £1.2m to draw up a plan to make motorists pay to drive along the most congested roads in the area, in a scheme which could cost some drivers up to £16,000 a year.

No timetable for the introduction of charging has been revealed, but transport bosses say the pilot will come within four years and it will be 2010 at the earliest before a full scheme is introduced.

Fonetastic

The scheme could include charges for traffic travelling on the M60 ring road.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced that Manchester was among seven areas to have successfully bid for funding to start the work into congestion charging schemes.

He made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industries annual conference where its director general Sir Digby Jones slammed the "decrepit" transport system.

Mr Darling said: "We need to pilot things like road pricing and seven councils - including those in Greater Manchester - will get extra cash to start the work. I want these councils to work up plans. Before we embark on such an alternative you need to pilot it in a fairly large area.

PROTEST: Not all welcomed the London charge.
PROTEST: Not all welcomed the London charge.
Gridlock

"Unless you look at that you would have huge problems - absolute gridlock in 20 or 30 years' time."

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities submitted the bid for the funding, which will come from the government's Transport Innovation Fund.

They are planning to submit a bid for more money to plug the funding gap for the Metrolink expansion, later in the year.

Mr Darling said he wanted the studies to explore the technical problems involved and whether charging motorists would influence their behaviour.

He said: "I am convinced that without more radical measures, including more effective demand management and actively managing traffic flows, road congestion will get worse.

"That is why I've been very clear about the need to look at road pricing and local and regional pilot schemes are essential if we are to explore and understand the possibilities of road pricing at national level."

The schemes will not only look at London-style zoning but also consider using satellite technology to bring in pay-as-you-go charging.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive has already commissioned a survey to map out the worst congestion hotspots in Greater Manchester, which could pave the way for future charging.

Workforces

Roger Jones, chairman of the passenger transport authority, said today: "We are not talking about congestion charging in the next five years, definitely not. But unless we can offset the amount congestion is predicted to rise by people switching to public transport, then I think it is the way we are going although I think it would be from 2010 at the earliest.

"We have to look ahead and many businesses are now saying that congestion is adversely affecting their workforces. This study will give us a chance to look at how congestion charging would work here. I would like to see us including the M60 ring road if we do go ahead with this."

However, the idea has already sparked opposition from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which says congestion charging would unfairly target business.

The CBI says it has surveyed 1,000 firms which revealed `widespread dissatisfaction' with Britain's transport system.

Sarah Johnson, policy executive for transport at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the funding but added: "The devil will be in the detail.

"Our members recognise that congestion is becoming a growing problem.

"Our plea would be that any scheme does not just focus on commuters and business users because, while they are part of the problem, they are not the whole problem."

This SHOULD pave the way for Metrolink funding...

Will continue discuss in Metrolink thread since it is more appropriate over there

I mentioned a while back about an article about Manchester appearing in the travel supplement of Spain's most important newspaper El Pais. I said I'd try to scan it and also translate it, but as my scanner is knackered, and despite trying to fix it in vain, I have now decided to bin it, thus I shall quickly and roughly translate the article and post a picture of it instead.

The article is from "El Viajero", the saturday travel supplement of El Pais, dated 22nd October 2005. Manchester and Newcastle are the two cities with an article dedicated to them in a front page feature called "The UK, the great low cost destination". Try not to dwell on certain inaccuracies. It starts like this:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/WeasteDevil/DSC00474s.jpg

Visit Manchester and Newcastle, 2 of the 22 british cities with low cost flights.

I shall now skip the blurb on the UK in general and also the article about Newcastle.

A City in the First Line - Manchester, the old industrial epicentre, is living through a profound urban change.

The first city of the industrial era, a model to copy or to correct for the emerging centres of the industrial revolution that changed the world during the second half of the 19th century. But why Manchester? Because of cotton. The soft and humid climate; the abundancy of rivers able to support mills; the closeness to the port of Liverpool from where the prime materials were brought from the Americas or the Empire.

The face of Manchester changed radically. The medieval framework of the gothic pinnacles of the cathedral, the houses, and the pubs were flooded under a blanket of brick chimneys, factories, italian style residential palaces (sorry, they are obviously not palaces, but I can't right now think of another word other than grand residences) of the masters of cotton, and great warehouses. In the factories three quarters of the workers were women and children that worked 12 hours per day; The museum of science and industry revives the lights and the shadows of that time. Engles, who came to take care of a factory in which his father was a partner, and lived in Manchester for 22 years, urged Karl Marx to come and have a look for himself at the working classes and their environment; The quiet corner of the library of the Chetham School where Max and Engles debated their ideas is conserved today as it was in their time.

After the first world war, the textile industry started to decline. The nazi bombs of the second world war devistated the centre. In 1996 a powerful IRA device opened up new holes in Manchester's urban heart. The aediles and the citizens however saw the positive side of the disaster; the challenge was to recompose the city. This time however, with urbanism and architecture.

Buildings with new uses
Whoever is interested in both things, Manchester has things to offer in abundance. Clearly dazzling are the gothic cathedral, the Chetham School, the important Neogothic Town Hall, and some palaces and warehouses put to new uses.

An interesting features are the buildings that survived the war and have been absorbed into new buildings. The old Stock Exchange for example, its Edwardian guts lodged inside a new experimental scene; another historic building, the Free Trade Hall, and a warehouse close by have been patched up into other great things, transformed into luxury hotels (Radisson and Malmaison). The Manchester Art Gallery, the Triangle (old corn store transformed into a comercial centre), or the building of an old newspaper now a leisure centre (again this should be centre of enjoyment) called the Printworks, are other examples of the coming together achieved between the old and the new. From whatever corner the contrast can be savoured, generally harmoniously, between stones or victorian brick and glass works of art, titanium scales or sophisticated textures that appear to break gravity, making the experience of a stroll pure diaphaneity and lightness.

The old warves of Salford (satellite city and harbour district) also have been the object of transfiguration. Daniel Liebeskind (Masterplanner of the site of the World Trade Centre in New York) has designed a War Museum that is a living monument to peace, and one of the most bold contructions, such that, that the building monopolises protagonism. Something similar occurs with the Lowry arts centre, placed in front, on the other side of the canal: the paintings of the local artist L.S.Lowry, temporary exhibitions, or cultural events do not take as much empathy as the structure devised by Michael Wilford. A short distance to the side of this cultural axis is the stadium of Manchester United, itself astonishing in its aesthetics.

Signature Architects
Right in the historic centre the prohibition of signature architecture seems to have opened. The Urbis building of Ian Simpson; the Trinity Bridge of Santiago Calatrava; the Hollings Library; The Bridgewater Hall auditorium; the offices or apartments designed by Simpson on Deansgate (I think they are refering to #1 here), or by Stephenson Bell at Chorlton Park; eveything they do in Manchester is a manual of creativity. The latest thing they are building is what shall be the tallest residential skyscraper in England (52 floors), designed by Ian Simpson, who as masterplanner of the urban plan of the city, is appreciated here as much as Norman Foster (he is from Manchester but has never worked in his city).

Naturally, if Manchester is located in the vanguard of urbanism and architecture it is because it has never given up being in the social vanguard. Not only did the Industrial Revolution start here, but also the suffragette movement, the labour union movement, the cooperative movement, vegetarianism, and the professinal football league. The cultural life is enviable, considering that all the metropolitan area does not reach two million people. The so called village is not exactly a ghetto, but it is the most fun borough of the city, revived by the gay community. There is, in August, epicentre of Gay Pride, with a big weekend including a procession of hundreds of thousands of participants. Manchester has freed itself from the industrial grime of long ago, and now shines in the colours of the Rainbow.

So, anyone who reads Spain's best selling and most important newspaper on a regular basis KNOWS where Manchester is!

Very complementary article that, especially coming out of Madrid. :runaway:

You get similar articles on Manchester, mainly in the travel sections of a lot of major newspapers all over the world. This El Pais one is probably one of the most concise I've read though.
Kudos to El diablodeweaste for his excellent translation. :applause:

nice one weasty, good article

Do you know what this snow calls for? A fourm meet up at Limepark. Sledging all the way. You should all take pics of your part of Manchester in snow. I have i'll get them up in a min........ its not very good snow but its alot for Manchester.

I mentioned a while back about an article about Manchester appearing in the travel supplement of Spain's most important newspaper El Pais. I said I'd try to scan it and also translate it, but as my scanner is knackered, and despite trying to fix it in vain, I have now decided to bin it, thus I shall quickly and roughly translate the article and post a picture of it instead.

The article is from "El Viajero", the saturday travel supplement of El Pais, dated 22nd October 2005. Manchester and Newcastle are the two cities with an article dedicated to them in a front page feature called "The UK, the great low cost destination". Try not to dwell on certain inaccuracies. It starts like this:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/WeasteDevil/DSC00474s.jpg



I shall now skip the blurb on the UK in general and also the article about Newcastle.

A City in the First Line - Manchester, the old industrial epicentre, is living through a profound urban change.

The first city of the industrial era, a model to copy or to correct for the emerging centres of the industrial revolution that changed the world during the second half of the 19th century. But why Manchester? Because of cotton. The soft and humid climate; the abundancy of rivers able to support mills; the closeness to the port of Liverpool from where the prime materials were brought from the Americas or the Empire.

The face of Manchester changed radically. The medieval framework of the gothic pinnacles of the cathedral, the houses, and the pubs were flooded under a blanket of brick chimneys, factories, italian style residential palaces (sorry, they are obviously not palaces, but I can't right now think of another word other than grand residences) of the masters of cotton, and great warehouses. In the factories three quarters of the workers were women and children that worked 12 hours per day; The museum of science and industry revives the lights and the shadows of that time. Engles, who came to take care of a factory in which his father was a partner, and lived in Manchester for 22 years, urged Karl Marx to come and have a look for himself at the working classes and their environment; The quiet corner of the library of the Chetham School where Max and Engles debated their ideas is conserved today as it was in their time.

After the first world war, the textile industry started to decline. The nazi bombs of the second world war devistated the centre. In 1996 a powerful IRA device opened up new holes in Manchester's urban heart. The aediles and the citizens however saw the positive side of the disaster; the challenge was to recompose the city. This time however, with urbanism and architecture.

Buildings with new uses
Whoever is interested in both things, Manchester has things to offer in abundance. Clearly dazzling are the gothic cathedral, the Chetham School, the important Neogothic Town Hall, and some palaces and warehouses put to new uses.

An interesting features are the buildings that survived the war and have been absorbed into new buildings. The old Stock Exchange for example, its Edwardian guts lodged inside a new experimental scene; another historic building, the Free Trade Hall, and a warehouse close by have been patched up into other great things, transformed into luxury hotels (Radisson and Malmaison). The Manchester Art Gallery, the Triangle (old corn store transformed into a comercial centre), or the building of an old newspaper now a leisure centre (again this should be centre of enjoyment) called the Printworks, are other examples of the coming together achieved between the old and the new. From whatever corner the contrast can be savoured, generally harmoniously, between stones or victorian brick and glass works of art, titanium scales or sophisticated textures that appear to break gravity, making the experience of a stroll pure diaphaneity and lightness.

The old warves of Salford (satellite city and harbour district) also have been the object of transfiguration. Daniel Liebeskind (Masterplanner of the site of the World Trade Centre in New York) has designed a War Museum that is a living monument to peace, and one of the most bold contructions, such that, that the building monopolises protagonism. Something similar occurs with the Lowry arts centre, placed in front, on the other side of the canal: the paintings of the local artist L.S.Lowry, temporary exhibitions, or cultural events do not take as much empathy as the structure devised by Michael Wilford. A short distance to the side of this cultural axis is the stadium of Manchester United, itself astonishing in its aesthetics.

Signature Architects
Right in the historic centre the prohibition of signature architecture seems to have opened. The Urbis building of Ian Simpson; the Trinity Bridge of Santiago Calatrava; the Hollings Library; The Bridgewater Hall auditorium; the offices or apartments designed by Simpson on Deansgate (I think they are refering to #1 here), or by Stephenson Bell at Chorlton Park; eveything they do in Manchester is a manual of creativity. The latest thing they are building is what shall be the tallest residential skyscraper in England (52 floors), designed by Ian Simpson, who as masterplanner of the urban plan of the city, is appreciated here as much as Norman Foster (he is from Manchester but has never worked in his city).

Naturally, if Manchester is located in the vanguard of urbanism and architecture it is because it has never given up being in the social vanguard. Not only did the Industrial Revolution start here, but also the suffragette movement, the labour union movement, the cooperative movement, vegetarianism, and the professinal football league. The cultural life is enviable, considering that all the metropolitan area does not reach two million people. The so called village is not exactly a ghetto, but it is the most fun borough of the city, revived by the gay community. There is, in August, epicentre of Gay Pride, with a big weekend including a procession of hundreds of thousands of participants. Manchester has freed itself from the industrial grime of long ago, and now shines in the colours of the Rainbow.


So, anyone who reads Spain's best selling and most important newspaper on a regular basis KNOWS where Manchester is!


Excellent article that. A quite succint and enlightened account of why Manchester is so fabulous! Thanks Weasty.

Great article Weatey cheers mate :)



Over the last week ive been in the Town Hall and the Crown court building next to CJC (and no im not a criminal before someone asks), but i couldnt help but notice the amount of statues and monuments in these building's ,what the fuck are they doing in there ,where hardly anyone see's them.
These things should be erected all over the city for us the public to see :rant:

FFS We act like were not already as a city this well pronounced...We are, were known all over europe if not the world as a class city...

Why be insecure about it...?

And I bet the Cromwell statue in Wythenshawe park doesnt get appreciated. Fuck me. Leeds (god bless'em) can throw in a few high quality figures, whats up with our council?

Cromwell statue
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/mezmail/79900e6a.jpg

Great article Weatey cheers mate :)



Over the last week ive been in the Town Hall and the Crown court building next to CJC (and no im not a criminal before someone asks), but i couldnt help but notice the amount of statues and monuments in these building's ,what the fuck are they doing in there ,where hardly anyone see's them.
These things should be erected all over the city for us the public to see :rant:


I liked the article too, it's nice that such an important publication from artisticy Spain of all places should be so complementary about our "dirty old town" (as the song goes) ;)

As for the statues in the town hall. Surely the majority of those were commisioned to be there, they add to the interior, which somehow is even more impressive than the exterior. Don't get me wrong, but they should remain there, as anyone can go in the place to a certain extent anyway. The Crown Courts, I don't understand, but then again, maybe these things were designed to be inside, and they would suffer badly if placed outdoors for a prolonged period.

As for the statue of Cromwell, why was that moved? HM Victoria wouldn't open the town hall apparently unless it was removed, and she was told to bugger off, then they later removed it anyway? :bash:

I think (in fact I'm sure) the statues in the Crown Court were rescued from the huge neo-gothic court building that was next to Strangeways Prison until destroyed in WW2. Probably could do with a better home.
Like the ones in the Town Hall though, they are at least protected from the damp climate, pigeons and graffiti artists.

As for the statue of Cromwell, why was that moved? HM Victoria wouldn't open the town hall apparently unless it was removed, and she was told to bugger off, then they later removed it anyway? :bash:

The Royals have something against our first president

Cromwell was a nasty bastard wasn't he? (Forgive the expletives, but appropriate.) Plus he executed one of her ancestors :lol:

Manchester property still booming

David Thame

MANCHESTER'S property boom isn't over yet. That is the conclusion reached in a raft of research published this week.

Surveyors Knight Frank is forecasting yet another upsurge in the city's commercial property market. It says hundreds of millions of pounds of new city-centre office development is helping Manchester establish itself as the England's administrative capital outside London.

Significant



They say that city office lettings will total 1m sq ft by the end of this year - and that companies are already looking for a further 1.5m sq ft. This could mean about 15,000 new white-collar jobs in the city.

While a significant proportion of occupiers are relocating from one part of Manchester to another, experts at Knight Frank believe there will be sufficient inward investment to create thousands of new jobs.

The BBC is among high-profile inward investors, announcing plans to relocate almost 2,000 staff to the city. The Bank of New York has also confirmed plans to double the size of its new Manchester operation. The bank previously said it would employ 350 people by the end of 2006, but now expects to create a 750-strong Manchester workforce.

Meanwhile, law firm Halliwells and `big four' accountancy firm Deloitte are taking 120,000sq ft and 66,000 sq ft of space respectively at Allied London's Spinningfield scheme, Deansgate, and Network Rail has signed up for 80,000 sq ft at Bruntwood's Square One.

"Total city centre take-up in 2005 is expected to be in the region of one million sq ft - an 11 per cent increase over 2004. A sustained period of substantial pre-lets is likely during the next two to three years, which will underpin the city centre's development pipeline," said Graeme Wood, head of Knight Frank in Manchester.

The bullish predictions are confirmed by rival agency Lambert Smith Hampton which says a total of 715,000 sq ft has been let in the city centre - an increase of 9.5 per cent compared with the same period last year. The third quarter (Q3) has been particularly busy with around 320,000 sq ft taken up.

LSH offices director Malcolm Brymer said: "We expect take-up levels to remain healthy for the rest of this year and into 2006. Current availability has continued to fall, with around 870,000 sq ft on the market at the end of the third quarter. Of this, 450,000 sq ft is of Grade A, newly-refurbished or new-build space.

Identified

"However, new developments in the pipeline will increase that level of supply and with identified requirements of around one million sq ft, the market is unlikely to experience over-supply. The huge variety of buildings on offer will appeal to a wide range of occupiers.

"The highest rent achieved so far in 2005 was the top floor of the Pinnacle in King Street, where Investec leased the space at £35.00 per sq. ft. Rental values will certainly rise in the medium term as new schemes are delivered but although some exceptional deals may set new benchmark rents, overall we forecast prime rental values at around £30.00 per sq ft in 2007."

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/business/s/189/189337_manchester_property_still_booming.html (http://)

Terrible news, GMG has dropped citylife magazine for not being profitable enough, 40 staff have been made redundant :(

Terrible news, GMG has dropped citylife magazine for not being profitable enough, 40 staff have been made redundant :(

Should never have sold out to GMG. Maybe a new City Life type mag will start up to replace it.

£40m renewal plan

A £40M PLAN to revive Altrincham town centre is now under way.

The scheme, which involves the transformation of the Stamford Centre by its owners, Park Lane Estates, is intended to create a modern shopping environment.

The redevelopment of the Stamford Quarter will create 146,000 sq ft of new retail space and 203,000 sq ft refurbished space.

Phase one will see the demolition of the bridge link above George Street, the demolition of nine units from the former Oasis unit to the Our Price unit, and reconfiguration of this space into three large and two smaller shops. They should be open and trading by October 2006. But it will be business as usual during the redevelopment for the retailers at the Stamford Quarter with the phased programme designed to keep the centre trading throughout the construction period.

Stamford centre manager David Wightman said: "After so many months in the planning, it's fantastic to see work start on the redevelopment programme. Over the coming months we will see the plans for the centre become reality and provide impetus for the ongoing regeneration of Alltrincham."

The redevelopment is being undertaken by Miller Construction and is due for completion by September 2009.

Blimey - that's news Mozza. 25 years is it?

Taken from the Lille thread (skylines) - echo's of stuff proposed/going up in our own city?:
You should take a look - looks like a fine place.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9907/boishabite52ll.jpg

Well Manchester needs a listings magazine so hopefully it will live on in some form. The council and city centre management company should definitely contribute towards the cost.

Is it just me, or is the tower on the right hand side of todays banner look just like the Arndale tower. Wonder if theirs is hated just as much as ours.

Ye when I saw the banner this morning I was like whats Manchester doing on the banner and they saw it said Amsterdam right under the Arndale look alike.

Maybe this is the reason Manchester is twinned with Amsterdam.

Amsterdam says: Hey we each have shit buildings that look like one another wana be twins?
Manchester says: Ok then.

I dont know if any of you snappy camera boys live in north manchester.
If you do then i think at least one of you should take a photo of the new train/tram station at the North Manchester Buisness park AT NIGHT.
I have looked for a photo of the new station at night but cant see one.
It is amaising. I would love to take a photo myself and post it but my camera is crap.
It is :eek2: a cool sight at night.

yeah, the Queen has a right to be frightened by Cromwell. you can imagine the Queen Mum / nanny saying, get to sleep Elizabeth or Oliver the Bogey man will get you.
the only man to kill a king (apart from a 1066 french bow man who got harold in the eye)

Oliver Cromwell the Royal slayer :) did you know when the Royal family was reinstated after his death, he was dug up from the grave and hanged.

I thought his head was stuck on a pike outside parliament.

I just dont think she could be arsed with the smelly northern city that had no future. ;)

Another official excuse is that she wasnt a fan of Benjamin Disraeli. Bitch.

Is it just me, or is the tower on the right hand side of todays banner look just like the Arndale tower.

Nothing like it.

Winston Churchill named a battleship Oliver Cromwell, George V changed it.

Winston Churchill named a battleship Oliver Cromwell, George V changed it.

He had his moments didn't he? Old Winston - nearly killed when he got out of a car in New York and forgot the traffic drove on the right - and was promptly mowed down.

I am sure he had a chuckle at his own stupidity (or maybe the Americans' stupidity for driving on the wrong side) once he got out of hospital. :)

yeah, the Queen has a right to be frightened by Cromwell. you can imagine the Queen Mum / nanny saying, get to sleep Elizabeth or Oliver the Bogey man will get you.
the only man to kill a king (apart from a 1066 french bow man who got harold in the eye)

Wasn't Richard III also killed in battle?

Yeah, and they found his crown hanging on some thorns.



Oh yeah, what about that Manchester place? :? Any good?

Caw, Manchester supported the parliamenatary forces in the civil war, that is why we told Vicky to fuck off when she said that she would only open the town hall if the statue of Cromwell was removed.

Don't worry Brock, i know how it feels to be ignored on here too! :|

I dont know if any of you snappy camera boys live in north manchester.
If you do then i think at least one of you should take a photo of the new train/tram station at the North Manchester Buisness park AT NIGHT.
I have looked for a photo of the new station at night but cant see one.
It is amaising. I would love to take a photo myself and post it but my camera is crap.
It is :eek2: a cool sight at night.25

sorry for the large text but i did ask a question abit ago and nobody seems to be interested. Hope your not all south Manc pussys cheshire lar di dar decendents.

They're all south Manc pussies with cheshire lar di dar decendents :yes:

Except me, me = north. I could take pics but chavs (ok scallys) really do put me off.

Pics fro, pretwich are usually good because the ground is higher

Whilst London spending is being mentioned - Sky News just mentioned, the first estimated for the swimming pool for the Olympics will be £150m - that's right, ours cost £25m.

They want to spend £150m for a swimming pool, when we managed to build one (with 2 50m pools in) for £25m, unfuckingbelievable.

For the price of one swimming pool, the funding gap for our trams could be closed :(

forgot to mention, the worst part is, the Olympic bid said it would cost £75m, i.e. it is twice the cost.

If this is going to be a re-occurring theme, it will bankcrupt the nation.

The pool has been sent back to the drawing board because of the overpricing. They don't want to spend any more than £65m I believe. I may be wrong on the figure, but either way, Hadid's original design isn't going ahead.

Two good places in N.Manchester where you can get great shots of the downtown skyline are Heaton Park golf course and Boggart Hole Clough in Blackley. In the summer months you get a nice lush 'apron' of trees in the foreground. Guaranteed chav-proof areas...photo-boyz take note....

Whilst London spending is being mentioned - Sky News just mentioned, the first estimated for the swimming pool for the Olympics will be £150m - that's right, ours cost £25m.

They want to spend £150m for a swimming pool, when we managed to build one (with 2 50m pools in) for £25m, unfuckingbelievable.

Gonna turn into one big fucking overspend! Typical London - have they ever had any project that's come in under budget. Doesn't seem to matter if there's a overspend for Gtr London's 7 million, but does Gtr Mcr's 2.6 million ever get comparable treatment? Does it fuck! It we were treated the same, we'd have the whole Metro system up and running by now. Can't blame the cockneys just this fucking government!!

Whilst London spending is being mentioned - Sky News just mentioned, the first estimated for the swimming pool for the Olympics will be £150m - that's right, ours cost £25m.

They want to spend £150m for a swimming pool, when we managed to build one (with 2 50m pools in) for £25m, unfuckingbelievable.

Calm down. The Olympic pool budget is £75m, and they are sticking to it. Yes, its costing more then the Commonwealth pool, but this one will have seating for 20000 spectators.

Whilst London spending is being mentioned - Sky News just mentioned, the first estimated for the swimming pool for the Olympics will be £150m - that's right, ours cost £25m.

They want to spend £150m for a swimming pool, when we managed to build one (with 2 50m pools in) for £25m, unfuckingbelievable.

To be fair, the pool at Manchester isn't "I believe" Olympic standard, it is 5m too narrow, I think for International events you can have 6 lanes and 2.5 meters spare to the sides of lanes 1 and 6 but for the Olympics you need 8 lanes. Also the warm up pool underneath the seating at Manchester is to narrow for olymipic standards. I think the only two events that require the larger pools are the Olympics and World Championships. I agree though 150m is a crazy figure.

Calm down. The Olympic pool budget is £75m, and they are sticking to it. Yes, its costing more then the Commonwealth pool, but this one will have seating for 20000 spectators.

Which makes the London pool cheaper per 1000 of population.

Anyway who seriously wants a 20,000 seat swimming pool. You could make lots of local pools where people would actually swim rather than watch.

I went to my local pool in Oldham a few years back, it's gone now. I was the only adult swimming, all the mums and dads were sat in the seats watching. I had to get out I felt as I was being watched in the end.

Nation of lazy fat bastards.

A 20000 seat pool will be like the MEN arena with water in the middle. FInd a way of covering the middle and it can become a nice new arena. 2 for the price of one.

A 20000 seat pool will be like the MEN arena with water in the middle. FInd a way of covering the middle and it can become a nice new arena. 2 for the price of one.

I think the capacity is coming down to 3,500 after the event.

We were supposed to have some World swimming championships this year at the MEN. I don't ever recall hearing anything else about it though after we won the bid to host it.

We were supposed to have some World swimming championships this year at the MEN. I don't ever recall hearing anything else about it though after we won the bid to host it.

Isn't that the shortcourse championships. Two small pools will be built in the middle.

Or something.

As I recall this event is next year at the earliest though I actually think it's 2008, or even 2009.

Noah is ready for a flood of buyers

Sarah Walters

A MANCHESTER property company is coming to the rescue of Manchester's beleaguered first-time buyers with a massive city-centre development.

Noah North West, a privately owned building firm, is planning to build a complex of 260 low-cost apartments at Alexander Court, a derelict site on Bilbrook Street, close to the Printworks and Victoria Station.

The apartments are expected to sell for between £90,000 for a one-bedroom flat and £150,000 for a three-bedroom property and are aimed as key workers, such as nurses and teachers, and young professionals earning over £18,000.




All flats will be sold on a shared-equity basis. Under the agreement, the company maintains a 50 per cent share in each property to prevent private ownership.

Delighted


Noah North West believes that the development will offer a perfect opportunity for people still struggling to get on the property ladder to break into the housing market.

David Lewis, founding director, said: "We're delighted that our ideas to tackle the issue of low-cost and affordable housing are finally being realised in the Alexander Court development.

"We believe it will benefit both the community and first-time buyers by creating a longer term solution to sustainable, affordable housing whilst accommodating free market economics with regard to house prices."

Depending on the success of the scheme, which is the maiden project for the year-old company, Noah North West hopes to take its ideas nationwide.

Funding for the project was provided by Bank of Scotland Corporate...

http://www.sarahtower.co.uk/

http://www.bsc-group.net/sarahtower/sarahtower.jpg

DGNR8, you beat me to it you dawg.

Av had my eyes on that prospective web page for yonks.

Not too happy about that open car park area. Looks a bit, incomplete?

PS, my bird loves this tower. Guess what her name is.

The whole of greater manc is now on super hig-res on google earth, although the pictures are very old. Urbis is u/c! the old piccadilly gardens are there!

And now, instead of seeing the highrises from directly above, you get a side view

Here are some snaps i took

Density in the cbd

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

The arndale with possibly one of the last buses to turn up canon st?

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

St annes sq, look at the people!

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

Sunley lying down in protest at the plans for piccadilly gardens

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

And the 4 graces of manchester

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/3.jpg

Anyone come across this yet?

Circa!(apartments)

Chester Road/roundabout near the church?

http://www.circalife.com/

Its currently a load of mingin units isnt it? Yet another site that Manchester needs to utilise. And looks like it will do soon.

All these new apartments are good news for MCR, but iv got this stomach based feeling that we'll need alot more Entertainment/retail etc to even out the equation.

Id hate to see MCR as a ghost-town in 50 years coz, 'there was enough to do'.
Bring back Belle vue! And lets get those F1 chaps round to sort out the Republic of Mancunia Grand Prix. Oh yeh, and the Race course. etc etc.

They should put a small park inbetween sarah tower and 1 picadilly.

PS. Picadilly gardens was better b4.

We were supposed to have some World swimming championships this year at the MEN. I don't ever recall hearing anything else about it though after we won the bid to host it.

Makes you wonder why the Aquatics centre on Oxford Road isn't holding it :dunno:

Birmingham tried to lure the BoNY aswell!

Apparently agents are still moaning about the failure to attract them to Birmingham! :)

Not big enough for a World Championships, Roly. It only holds 2,500 (although with temporary seating, I think they got near 6,000).

Its currently a load of mingin units isnt it? Yet another site that Manchester needs to utilise. And looks like it will do soon.

All these new apartments are good news for MCR, but iv got this stomach based feeling that we'll need alot more Entertainment/retail etc to even out the equation.

Id hate to see MCR as a ghost-town in 50 years coz, 'there was enough to do'.
Bring back Belle vue! And lets get those F1 chaps round to sort out the Republic of Mancunia Grand Prix. Oh yeh, and the Race course. etc etc.

I see where you're coming from - but I wouldn't worry.
There's always something on - Jazz Festival - Food Festival - Comedy Festival - The Manchester International Festival - Events at SportCity (I'm going to the cycling next Sat for example) - Christmas Markets - MEN Arena events - G-Mex/ICC Events - Apollo - Academy - Trafford Centre - Printworks - Great Northern - Gay Pride Festival - Farmers Markets - Fashion Markets - Comedy Clubs - Matt and Freds - Salford Triathlon - Opera House- Lowry - Palace - Royal Exchange Theatre and so on...........There's loads to do!

My gut worry is that not enough people will want to live slap bang in the city centre to fill Beetham, Eastgate etc.
I'm sure I'll be proved wrong though.

We were supposed to have some World swimming championships this year at the MEN. I don't ever recall hearing anything else about it though after we won the bid to host it.

You've got a bit of a wait yet....

From www.swimmingworldmagazine.com :

Dates Finalized for 2008 World Short Course Championships -- November 29, 2005

MANCHESTER, England, November 29.
THE dates for the 2008 edition of the FINA World Short Course Championships have been announced. The competition, slated for Manchester, will run from April 9-13 in a temporary pool at the Manchester Evening News Arena. The venue is expected to seat up to 10,000 spectators and will serve as a precursor to the Beijing Olympics later in the year.

"We are all delighted the dates for the World Championships are firmly in place for what will be a fantastic event,” said Katie Brazier, Commercial Director for British Swimming. "All parties involved are excited about the prospect of holding such an international event especially in an Olympic year where the world's greatest swimmers will be looking to finalize their preparations ahead of Beijing."

PS. Picadilly gardens was better b4.

Yeh if you fancied getting bum raped on the way home and having your clothes robbed from your own back, much better

Kro Bar has now opened as has Barburito, (Meal Deal £4.50, Fajita, fries and drink). Kro looks great, all of the bar has this long orange back light. There's only one Gardens facing Unit left to fill now and I have to say I think it's great! :cheers:

Also the Cafe Rouge looks as though it will open tomorrow in the Printworks. I walked through there today and the exit facing next is fantastic, has a real big city feel!

Looks like the BSC scheme for Greengate has gone back in for outline planning.

Building Magazine 25-11-05

'Mixed use development :-

3o storey tower with 252 room hotel
32 storey tower with 234 apts.
10 storey perimeter building with 245 apts.
1600 sqm shops, etc
1380sqm office
Basment parking.

Looks like the whopper 60 storey tower has been split in two??

Client : BSC
Architect : Arca

Ref : 05/50729/OUT.

Godd find SuperJ!

It's that tall building's exhibition at the Lowry on weds, should be a good opportunity for a developer to unveil one of there future tower's in Manc :)

I'll get my waiters jacket ready!

awwww, shame, their bridge melted

http://skyscrapercity.com/images/forumheaders/4.jpg

Anyone come across this yet?

Circa!(apartments)

Chester Road/roundabout near the church?

http://www.circalife.com/

Just rang them up!

Another two years until the development is completed!

They are currently selling apartments off plan to buyers and investors!

Planning has been approved!

2 years..not bad, like the look of these, its great that development is continuing in this area

I spoke to somebody who lives in that area. He advised me that the picture as given on the website, is a little misleading, as the apartments will not front onto Chester Rd. as it appears. On a plus note, that leaves more room for additional blocks.

Apparently the residents have recieved the proposals warmly "even the ones that normally complain at everything". The Dandara development (Base 360) in that area being one that has been poorly received.

Is it me or does every building in thease pics look very new york.

http://travelaccommodation.co.uk/england/northwest/manchesth.htm

Is it me or does every building in thease pics look very new york.

http://travelaccommodation.co.uk/england/northwest/manchesth.htm
Yeh, in an 'old' new york kind of way, but cheaper room prices....

Some great pics from......http://www.digital-manchester.com/

The long and over due revamp of MCC's planning applications site has been completed. :)

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/dc/dc_home.aspx

Is it me or does every building in thease pics look very new york.

http://travelaccommodation.co.uk/england/northwest/manchesth.htm

I can remember when central manc had about four hotels.

Annoyingly and no doubt slightly confusing for potential visitor is the fact that many of the hotels are desribed as Manchester, Lancashire.

I can remember when central manc had about four hotels.

Annoyingly and no doubt slightly confusing for potential visitor is the fact that many of the hotels are desribed as Manchester, Lancashire.

It's those ****s at the Royal Mail. 33 years and still they've not recognised that Manchester was taken out of Lancs and its own county of Greater Manchester created. I wonder if the fuckers put LIverpool, Lancs or Bristol, Gloucs or Islington, Middlesex. It really is a disgrace that the Royal Mail won't use Gtr Manchester as a postal county. It's ridiculous and annoying to Manchester citizens and very confusing for visitors and tourists. I've even had mail with this shit on. Goes straight in the bin though. If they can't even get my address right then there's no chance I'll wanna buy anything from them. Ignorant morons. I'm gonna email the site and ask them to stop insulting Manchester in this anachronistic way. Feel free to do likewise, they may even decide to show Manchester some respect.

Anyway back to things Mancunian, does anyone know what's going on at Castlefield House on Liverpool Rd (next to the Air and Space Museum). They were supposed to be knocking it down, but fom the look of it they now only seem to be recladding. THat's a real shame because the building is a pile of shite. There were plans for a new 12 storey building, but don't know what came off that?

Also at Urbis there is an exhib on Fairhurt Architects. Great pic of Lee house and what it would have been like if it had been built to 22 storeys. Very NYC!!

Liverpool-based Albany Assets has finally concluded the site purchase that will allow it to proceed with plans for a 44-storey tower in central Manchester.

The developer completed the purchase of the former Department of Employment building in Piccadilly from a private landowner this week.

The price paid for the site, at the junction of Aytoun Street and Auburn Street, is undisclosed.

Albany received outline planning permission for the scheme from Manchester city council in May and now has full permission, as well as the backing of English Heritage.

It plans to begin work on the development next spring with the demolition of existing buildings.

Steve Moule, managing director of Albany Assets, said:

"We are delighted that all elements are now in place and that we can commence work in earnest on what will be a very exciting development.

"This will be a dramatic, new landmark building that will be a stunning addition to the Manchester skyline.

"We are very excited by this project and are proud to be playing a part in the continued regeneration of Manchester and the North West region."

The tower is 131m in height and comprises 237 residential apartments, 10 storeys of Grade A commercial office space and a restaurant at ground floor level.

It is designed by Ian Simpson Architects, which also designed the 47-storey Beetham Tower on Deansgate, currently under construction.

The tower is expected to be officially named in the New Year.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/513.$plit/C_17_Articles_190243_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg
SUNLIGHT House has changed hands as part of a £159m property deal.

Co-operative Insurance have sold the Manchester landmark on Quay Street for £40m in a deal which includes office blocks and shopping centres throughout the UK.

The new owners are Warner Estate Holdings, one of the country's most hyper-active property companies and the owners of a growing portfolio of Greater Manchester shopping centres.



It's now three years since Sunlight House last changed hands. In 2002 publicity-shy Dutch investors Gadaricus sold the 212,000 sq ft building to CIS for £27.5m. CIS stepped in after an earlier sale to London-based investors collapsed.

The grade II listed building was completed in 1932 and named after Joseph Sunlight, an accomplished Manchester architect and father of painter Ben Sunlight. It has no links with the Liverpool soap empire of the same name, as some assume.

It has an impressive tenant line up, including the government.

Some of its occupiers are, however, more welcome than others, with security guards claiming to have seen ghosts. Seven years ago a team of ghost-busters was called in to clean out the office block's supernatural tenants.

The deal is one of the largest in Manchester this year, involved the Manchester-based CIS selling nine property assets at the same time as it off-loaded the leasehold liabilities of 105 branch offices. This kind of mixed asset and liability sale is still very rare in the UK.

Colin Thomasson, director at DTZ and an advisor to the CIS, said: "This was a very complicated deal, but it attracted fantastic interest. We had many bidders, mostly large plc property companies, and eventually secured a price well above the £155m we'd been asking."

Is it me or does every building in thease pics look very new york.

http://travelaccommodation.co.uk/england/northwest/manchesth.htm


Until you click onto p2, and then the Jarvis is there in all its glory. They've done what they can by trying to hide it behind some scratty old bush (which takes up more than half the picture, acting as a kind of green paper bag...), but it still looks as Soviet as ever.


http://www.travelaccommodation.co.uk/england/northwest/manchesth_p2.htm

lol thats very true, what a piece of shite it is..

surprised any1 stays there with it looking that shite. For fucks sake, why cant they just knock it down and build another quality office building. anything, open space anything but that piece of crap

Also at Urbis there is an exhib on Fairhurt Architects. Great pic of Lee house and what it would have been like if it had been built to 22 storeys. Very NYC!!

Thanks skymann. I will definitely make a trip to Urbis whilst the exhibition is on.

Fairhursts are one of Manchester's most historic firms of architects being behind some of the city's grandest Victorian buildings such as Bridgewater House. This sense of scale and ambition seems to have been carried through to the present day with their Quays Point proposals - although they do seem to have a very wide breadth of work.

Fairhursts, a hundred years in Manchester

6 – 18 December
FREE

Follow the evolution of one of the longest established design practices in the country and its influence-both upon and from-the design world at large, in this centenary exhibition.

I thought, after 2 years of an almost non-existent contribution to this forum, i'd pull my finger out...The fact is, i live 2 minutes away from this devlopment, just i could never be arsed whippin out mi digi cam out and popping along for a few shots...

It's a project i feel has been severley overlooked...

Bahuas Altrincham...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/DSCF0075.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/9594f57a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/DSCF0076.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/DSCF0077.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/DSCF0082.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/b9a9ed8b.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/1213958f.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/f4f1b631.jpg

I love em' cladding looks top! My mother was v.close to buyin into one...Gutted we didnt...

Great pics Man Guy.

But living next to a power station and retail park would not tempet me, no matter how nice the apartments were.

Another 15 storey on its way for Manc.

Noah is ready for a flood of buyers

A MANCHESTER property company is coming to the rescue of Manchester's beleaguered first-time buyers with a massive city-centre development.

Noah North West, a privately owned building firm, is planning to build a complex of 260 low-cost apartments at Alexander Court, a derelict site on Bilbrook Street, close to the Printworks and Victoria Station.

The apartments are expected to sell for between £90,000 for a one-bedroom flat and £150,000 for a three-bedroom property and are aimed as key workers, such as nurses and teachers, and young professionals earning over £18,000.

All flats will be sold on a shared-equity basis. Under the agreement, the company maintains a 50 per cent share in each property to prevent private ownership.

Delighted

Noah North West believes that the development will offer a perfect opportunity for people still struggling to get on the property ladder to break into the housing market.

David Lewis, founding director, said: "We're delighted that our ideas to tackle the issue of low-cost and affordable housing are finally being realised in the Alexander Court development.

"We believe it will benefit both the community and first-time buyers by creating a longer term solution to sustainable, affordable housing whilst accommodating free market economics with regard to house prices."

Depending on the success of the scheme, which is the maiden project for the year-old company, Noah North West hopes to take its ideas nationwide.

Funding for the project was provided by Bank of Scotland Corporate.

Good one jrb. Thanks for all this news you put up. You're a star.

Great pics Man Guy.

But living next to a power station and retail park would not tempet me, no matter how nice the apartments were.

The power station is quite a distance away, much further down the canal bank, you may be confused with the cement mixing plant located central to the retail park...

And who'd complain, youv'e got a b&q, homebase combination right on your doorstep... :D

TURN ON BBC1 NOW!

North West Tonight going to show something about "SkyScrapers in Manchester"

has it already been on? Im watching now, its 18:39

has it already been on? Im watching now, its 18:39

No - on now! :)

Watching it now.

Interesting.

Though they said Beetham is the tallest residential in Europe - not by a long shot!

yeah just seen it..what a load of shite that was

It really was a bit of a non news story. All they said was there was a conference about skyscrapers, had some shots of the Beetham/1 Deansgate/Edge, some positive opinions of Beetham, and a brief mention of Eastgate. And some Liverpool stuff.

phew, deansgate love saves they day is opening again in the new year!!!!!

Great news! Is that both branches Frozen? I heard that Starbucks were eyeing up the Oldahm St branch! LOL!

All those crappy building's are being demolished behind Telecommunications House on London Rd .

All those crappy building's are being demolished behind Telecommunications House on London Rd .

Excellent. Someone posted a plan for the Piccadilly Trading Estate area. It has so much potential - looks like they're making a start.

It really was a bit of a non news story. All they said was there was a conference about skyscrapers, had some shots of the Beetham/1 Deansgate/Edge, some positive opinions of Beetham, and a brief mention of Eastgate. And some Liverpool stuff.


Seemed to be the standard fayre that gets chucked out every once in a while, as a local news story, reminded me very much of a channel m piece, God knows where they got that weirdo from who was compaining about the cold colors used in manchester (blues and steely grays).

Anyway I don't know if its been mentioned on these forums before but what might tickle your buds is a program i just caught for the first time on bbc 3 today at 7 (although its a repeat), its called dreamspaces, seemed to cover a wide range of design issues and seemed very architecture centric, for instance they covered will alsops peckham library, canary wharf station and some german dude who moved over to america. It seems like it like it will be a great introduction to some of the finer points of architecture to those of us on here who are lay people.

In the next one there'll be some manchester bridge action phwoar,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/dreamspaces/series1.shtml

hey guys newbie here, permission to come aboard, been viewing this forum for a while now and am ver ver excited by everything going on in Manchester. Love all the pics from Caw and Rolybling and others, Im a hoping to stick around.


cheers!!

aight?

welcome J.U.B

Hi there J.U.B. im a fellow newcomer to this site!

Hey fellas

This is a pic of Bilsdale’s development at 80 Mosley Street which will provide 29,000 sq ft of Grade A city centre office space. If you already seen it then ignore it but i posted it because i like it.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/Derekksharmen/MancOffice.jpg

Yes, I like that design. The Cobbetts developement further up Mosley St, looks okay too. :)

I go past that site nearly everyday making my way into town. Its going to take alot of work to get it looking that good.

I've not seen that before. Has it got PP?

If so, I'm quite surprised, given the proximity to the town hall - it seems quite tall. Not that I'm bothered, like.

It's started Priscilla.

Hard to believe its a refurb / extension of an existing building. Lets hope this promising render is carried through to the end result. See CBD Project thread for more info.

Cobbetts, Moseley street.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture329.jpg

£25m hope for 'living landmark'

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/761.$plit/C_17_Articles_190814_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

BIG STONE: One idea.

AN 80ft-high tower could be built under plans to attract £25m in Lottery cash to a town.

People in Oldham are being offered a chance to chose one of seven "living landmarks" including the tower in a bid to create a lasting legacy for future generations.

The idea forms part of Beyond Oldham, a 15-year project to regenerate the town.

Coun David Hibbert said: "We are now in a critical stage of gathering pledges of support from the public."

As part of the scheme, a circular network of green spaces could be built around the town, connecting the different communities.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/347.$plit/C_17_Articles_190814_BodyWeb_Detail_1_Image.jpg


PRIDE: The countryside centre.Focal points

The idea is to create focal points in Oldham, which was hit by riots in 2001, and to give local people a sense of shared identity.

Proposals for the landmark are: Panoramic Oldham, An 80ft landmark containing digital equipment that will record panoramic images of the town.

Lights, Links and Life, a series of lights, lasers and sounds that will mark out the network of green spaces. Beyond Green, a countryside visitor centre including a renewable energy exhibit.

Oldham Amphitheatre, which is an new outdoor performance space.

Oldham Rocks, a series of sculptures by local artists and children depicting Oldham life.

Arboretum, trees that will be planted as a gift to future generations.

Sports Link, an outdoor recreation and exercise space for walkers, cyclists, riders and runners.

http://www.citb-constructionskills.co.uk/news/speechesandpresentations/20051128-manchesterschool.asp#TopOfPage

could be worth a read.. though maybe not

Does anybody know what the lights etc are for that are goin on top on the 'berlin wall' cafe nero bit? Maybe there are plans to turn picc gardens into a huge night time disco lol. anybody else noticed them?

I think the lights are just to add to the festivness of the city. There just for chirstmas i reckon. make the place look tonnes better though

no gavin; i mean the cafe nero part of the wall; the lights on top of there lok quite expensive and permenant. not sure exactly what they are for, as i have not seen them turned on yet

Danny i noticed them light's last night, multi coloured ones above the coffee shop .

Here's 2 apartment building's in Castlefield that are near completion

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/10dec010.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/10dec007.jpg

Danny i noticed them light's last night, multi coloured ones above the coffee shop .

Here's 2 apartment building's in Castlefield that are near completion

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/10dec010.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/10dec007.jpg

Second development aint bad but the first is vile and spoils the area just above the arena bit. Strange how it ever go pp.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/10dec010.jpg
:ohno: :no:
Right out of Corby...

Yep, the grey side of Dandara 360 is truly awful. It looked much better before they put that on.

yeh but it will 'weather' right good though..... :tongue3:

hopefully all the development round there will provide enough colour at street level to distract the eye. Castlefield has always felt a bit too detached from the rest of the city centre for me, Beetham when it opens down the road will provide more foot and road traffic which should have a knock on effect on the rest of Castlefield, fingers crossed.

I see that Google Earth has been "downdated" - more imagary for North West of England, but they have replaced the maps for central manchester for older ones.

City of Manchester stadium was being changed after Commonwealth Games finished on old maps - now it is just starting to be built.

And you can see old Piccadilly gardens on this replaced map - and no Urbis.

Somebody should mail them and get it updated....I've no time meself like...

On second thoughts cancel that last request. Get google to update it in about 3 years time. Then the viewer will say fuckinell look what they've built in just a short time!!!

Thanks for the pics Highriser - I'ts a real shame though don't you think - this is one of Manchesters really true conservation areas yet MCC have let this dross be put up right in the middle of it. Look at all that grey panelling - how can they get approval for that in this area - thought Dandara was bettter than this.

Yes its a shame isn't it. I actually think its a pretty good building - certainly better than that multi-layered brick and timber thing of the type you see just about everywhere. Just a shame they saw fit to value engineer out what appeared to be some attractive metallic cladding and substitute it for that grey stuff - the same sort of shameless profiteering that most other volume housebuilders seem to indulge in at the expense of design and reputation. Dandara have done the same thing at their St George's Island development too, substituting that attractive bronze cladding ubiquitous timber. They've certainly gone down in my estimation.

New blow for B of the Bang

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/290.$plit/C_17_Articles_191032_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

MANCHESTER’S controversial B of the Bang sculpture has suffered yet another major setback. More than £1.4m was spent on the massive work of art at Sportscity, but today the M.E.N. can reveal that a number of spikes may need to be removed.

A slip road off Alan Turing Way has been closed since May when firefighters had to cut off part of the construction after motorists spotted it swaying perilously in the breeze. It was supposed to withstand wind speeds of 100 mph.

The M.E.N. understands that experts are struggling to establish the cause of the problems and now want to saw off spikes for them to be tested.

When the sculpture was unveiled, the designer Thomas Heatherwick said: “Anyone would recognise the craftsmanship and engineering of this has been extraordinary.”

Debacle

But last night Lib Dem leader Simon Ashley described it as “a debacle”.

The setback is the latest in a long line of problems that have dogged the 184ft structure:
* The cost of the project doubled from a projected £750,000 to £1.42m
* The original completion date was July 2003, but it wasn’t officially unveiled until January 2005
* A huge spike crashed to the ground days before it was due to be opened. Engineers said there is a problem with the weld.
* In November 2003 it emerged that £120,000 of x council taxpayers’ money was being used to prop up the project
* Thieves managed to avoid 24-hour security at the City of Manchester Stadium and steal a 30ft spike, dumping it in Beswick.

Coun Simon Ashley, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Manchester council, said: “The whole thing has been a debacle from the very beginning.

Expensive

“You might argue that the B of the Bang looks nice, but it isn’t safe and it was hideously expensive. The £1.42m price tag could have been spent on improving schools, hospitals or roads – the issues that matter to people. Instead, it was spent on a rusting heap of metal.

“We were promised it wouldn’t cost council taxpayers any money. Then we were told it did need taxpayers’ money, but it would be an iconic construction.

“Quite frankly, the only thing the B of the Bang is iconic of is the way the council wastes money.
“On top of that, the council don’t seem to be able to provide any straight answers on what’s happening to the sculpture and when.”

Each week for the last three months the M.E.N. has been asking when the sculpture, which was commissioned to mark the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, will be fixed.

Tom Russell, the chief executive of regeneration agency New East Manchester said: “We share the M.E.N.’s concern to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. However, B of the Bang is a unique and complex structure and we want to be certain of its integrity. We are currently awaiting a response from the contractors on proposals to carry out further tests.”

Night view of ISIS Tower:

http://www.isis.gb.com/images/islington.jpg

www.isis.gb.com

v. v. nice :eek2:

CIS have submitted their application for the wind turbines on telephone house

077836/FO/2005/C2
05/12/2005
55 Portland Street Manchester M1 6DP - Erection of 19 x micro wind turbines on roof area

^^ The dreaded evening render. Never a good sign. They almost always seem to be wheeled out to mask a poor design.

You will notice that Broadway Malyan have two nominated entries in the Housing Design Award thread - credit where its due - but unsurprisingly both are buildings that slot within an existing and well established physical context. However, both their ISIS Islington Wharf and their Erie Basin scheme benefit from no such existing context. No established network of streets, spaces and buildings, nothing to relate to save for the characteristics of the site. In each case the scheme has to create its own context. This is where the architects seem to fall down so badly. We have what appear to be two very similar schemes with very similar deficiencies from the same architect. Each one a clumsy, messy set of buildings that seem to bear no visual relationship to each other whatsoever. How do they expect to draw people in to the development if the buildings create no sense of place? An attractive environment that people are naturally drawn to, that they feel secure in and that they can intuatively find their way around without having to look at a map or rely on prior knowledge?

I really hope Im proven wrong but I can't say Im particularly optimistic about either scheme.

excellent program on sky 3 right now, BUILDING THE BIGGEST