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

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

http://www.sarahvillage.co.uk/

Who is this Sarah theyre naming everything after?

Thinks its the BSC (Mr Issa?) guys wifes name.

Thinks its the BSC (Mr Issa?) guys wifes name.

Yes its his wife.

Nice. Thanks... jrb again!

Well at least she isnt called Gurtrud or Jordan or something like that I suppose.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture1033.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture1022.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture1011.jpg

Drove past this afternoon.

The gates to the site were closed, and there wasn't a single workman on site.

Oh dear.

Not sure if anyones seen this yet? Two renders, with one possibly not seen before? Plus huge discounts on the apartments.(apparently)

http://www.investmentpropertycentre.co.uk/property/sarah/sarah.htm

There is activity, its slow but there is definately activity on-site.

There is activity, its slow but there is definately activity on-site.

Perhaps they were having a day off yesterday because they were so far ahead? Either that or the cabbage soup ran out. :lol:

I do hope they get going, really love the design. Such a shame BSC doesn’t just hire a contractor like everyone else and get on with their seemingly great schemes. The teases.

Maybe they just rotate the same people around all four !

I do hope they get going, really love the design. Such a shame BSC doesn’t just hire a contractor like everyone else and get on with their seemingly great schemes. The teases.

Maybe they just rotate the same people around all four !

I don't think your a million miles from the truth there although I would place the 'four' between 'same' and 'people'.

Taken today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture3954.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture3953.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture3956.jpg

Drove past this afternoon.

The gates to the site were closed, and there wasn't a single workman on site.

Oh dear.

Not sure if anyones seen this yet? Two renders, with one possibly not seen before? Plus huge discounts on the apartments.(apparently)

http://www.investmentpropertycentre.co.uk/property/sarah/sarah.htm

Ive had a look at that link, mmm interesting.

to be fair some of it is attractive.

consider the 5% disposit and then a further 5% on exchange of contracts.
thats around 15,000 quid, to secure a 2 bed apartment.
the remaining amount is payable upon completion.
that will be at least 2 years away at least, at the rate they build.

the key question is! how much will they be worth in 2 years? if they raise to 200k your laughing and its a great investment for 15k.

What do think guys?

a few things concern me thou, ie the plot list isnt very clear, they only go upto the 6th floor, so may not include the actual tower.
Also the 'new concept in serviced living' worries me, because you can expect to pay anything between 100-250 quid a month service charges. which are not mentioned at all in the advert.

If could be a good Joint Venture with a friend, 7.5k each isnt that much of a risk.

Ive had a look at that link, mmm interesting.

to be fair some of it is attractive.

consider the 5% disposit and then a further 5% on exchange of contracts.
thats around 15,000 quid, to secure a 2 bed apartment.
the remaining amount is payable upon completion.
that will be at least 2 years away at least, at the rate they build.

the key question is! how much will they be worth in 2 years? if they raise to 200k your laughing and its a great investment for 15k.

What do think guys?

a few things concern me thou, ie the plot list isnt very clear, they only go upto the 6th floor, so may not include the actual tower.
Also the 'new concept in serviced living' worries me, because you can expect to pay anything between 100-250 quid a month service charges. which are not mentioned at all in the advert.

If could be a good Joint Venture with a friend, 7.5k each isnt that much of a risk.

It's not the best location is it?

Chasedwar - if you look at the homepage their allocation has already sold out.
This company reserves a set number of apartments and sells them on themselves by arranging a substantial discount with the developer in exchange for a "finders fee" of sorts.

This now called Sarah Point apparently
New name - same website.
http://www.sarahpoint.co.uk/

Saw a taxi covered in an ad for it yesterday.

Interesting to see a lot of three and even FOUR beds in the plan.

The idea? To attract families?

The reality? Rented out by investors to 4 'young professional singles' to do their 36 months of 'city centre living' before moving to the suburbs to buy?

The reality? Rented out by investors to 4 'young professional singles' to do their 36 months of 'city centre living' before moving to the suburbs to buy?

I note your point retep but what you describe is exactly what I'd like. I'm one of those wankers that wants to snap up a city centre family home so I can be near the pub, with my mates. :naughty:

The main reason I don't want to live in the centre is because all the flats are 1 and 2 bedroom and don't want to live with only one other person.

For rentals, 4 beds aimed at young professionals would fly off the shelf. Investors may make more money from 2x2 bedders but if they can't rent them out they won't.

I note your point retep but what you describe is exactly what I'd like. I'm one of those wankers that wants to snap up a city centre family home so I can be near the pub, with my mates. :naughty:

The main reason I don't want to live in the centre is because all the flats are 1 and 2 bedroom and don't want to live with only one other person.

For rentals, 4 beds aimed at young professionals would fly off the shelf. Investors may make more money from 2x2 bedders but if they can't rent them out they won't.

I agree.... wish they'd been around when I was out and about in town (later than 9pm anyway)..... it would have been ace.... what will they be? 2k/month?... still only £500 each.... huge plush flat in town with mates for my three <coughtencough> years on the piss

This is a planning stipulation. This development is in the Ancoats Conservation Area and was considered so poor it was refused until some concessions were made. This wasnt dictated by the market but by the planners.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/017-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/029-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/030-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/033-7.jpg

oh dear god! how many times are you gonna post the same pictures in different threads! surely thats spamming !! im sure everyone appreciates you taking pictures but do they have to be posted in every single possible thread they might apply to. here was me thinking there was some decent news going about!

sorry rant over!

oh dear god! how many times are you gonna post the same pictures in different threads! surely thats spamming !! im sure everyone appreciates you taking pictures but do they have to be posted in every single possible thread they might apply to. here was me thinking there was some decent news going about!

sorry rant over!

Now, now 0mkp. Please don't criticise people who take the time out to take pcitures for this forum and post them across the threads. Mark does a sterling job and we appreciate his pictures and the time and effort he puts in. Without people like Marky and others, (:colgate:) we wouldn't get regular updates on all the proposals currently being constructed.

BTW. I'm not having a pop at you, but I find your comments a little unfair. :)

Now, now 0mkp. Please don't criticise people who take the time out to take pcitures for this forum and post them across the threads. Mark does a sterling job and we appreciate his pictures and the time and effort he puts in. Without people like Marky and others, (:colgate:) we wouldn't get regular updates on all the proposals currently being constructed.
:)

I do completely agree with you and as someone who is currently away from Manchester, greatly appreciate people like Mark's work in keeping everyone informed of whats going on and see all the wonderful developments going ahead!!!

That said I have to admit, was slightly disappointed when I looked at the GN thread and didn't find the pics or news of the retail units filling up so understand Omkp's view. However given the choice over being disappointed occasionally or getting regular great pics of manc, no contest. Cheers Mark

oh dear god! how many times are you gonna post the same pictures in different threads! surely thats spamming !! im sure everyone appreciates you taking pictures but do they have to be posted in every single possible thread they might apply to. here was me thinking there was some decent news going about!

sorry rant over!

Good idea, lets just look at words

As a compromise, perhaps Mark could just select three/four/five of his best/most interesting recent photos to go in each thread at any one time. He's so prolific that sometimes the thread of a thread (a-ha) can get lost amongst image after image of an ugly building. For example I will never be far away from Manchester or miss it that much that I will ever want to see Oxford Court again, let alone four pictures of it.

Still, keep up the good work Marky, us bitter emigres appreciate it.

I think the reality when it comes to pictures or posts in general, is that you can't please everyone all of the time. I mean for many months after CAW's departure we were left with a dearth of pictures on here and the threads looked incredibly bland. I'm very appreciative of JRB, Highriser and any others who contribute on a regular basis to upload photographs on here.

There are many people who don't get the opportunity to get out and about in this great city and see the things that some of us are able to. Many folks on here have gone AWOL and left for foreign fields, others simply don't get the time. Others don't have access to a digital camera to be able to post. At the moment I'm fortunate to be in the vicinity, with a camera and am able (and willing) to spend my own time doing the rounds and collecting some of the images you see on a weekly basis.

My own view is I prefer a few more pictures than a few less. Most of us will be on broadband and I shrink my file types before uploading to reduce any time lag for you guys. If you take a look at some city pages on here, the lack of pictures makes their respective sites ultra boring and very dull. Which in some cases isn't so bad as we fortunately live in a magnificent city with a lot of fantastic architecture. Some of our UK brethren are not so lucky!

I mean if we take non-stop Marks pictures as an example. He posts tons of pictures of the same subject matter, from the same angle and often only days apart. Now to some people that might seem dull and pointless, but he's doing it for a reason. I'm intrigued by the speed of this development and the way in which it's being built. Without Marks insight I wouldn't be able to fully follow this as the Quays are a little out of my way. I'm just thankful we have Marks input.

I take/post similar pictures on some days but try not to duplicate the same image/angle (unless there is some specific reason). So in the case of Sarah Village, I don't get up that way much and we very rarely have updates from that part of town. I took/uploaded more of Sarah Village that normal, partly because I thought an update was needed, and partly because there were angles and things going on around the back of the development that I hadn't got a clue even existed. It's also sometimes good to have similar shots to show specific details and to highlight the relationship between the development and the surrounding buildings and infrastructure.

One man's meat is another man's poison! I have my own gripes but appreciate that we all have different interests and our own respective reasons for being on here. Personally I just love this city and thing it's a great place to live. I think it's a very photogenic city and it deserves to be displayed in all it's glory.

If 0mkp is able and willing to shed a little shoe leather and do the donkey work each week, then I'm happy to let him take over.

MDD.....TOP MAN, THANKYOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT INPUT TO THIS FORUM, better than mine for sure! Omkp, what the hell is your input? Sweet FA! Keep it up M, I for one am away alot of the time so your pictorial updates are a real bonus..thankyou again.

hey hey hey come on guys. i said i appreciate markydeedrop taking the pictures i just became dissapointed when every post i looked through has the same ones added when i thought there were updates. i can understand maybe 5 posts with the same pictures in but close to, and over 10 is a bit crazy.

can we not create some kind of thumbnail rule like they do for supertall thread where instead of whole images clickable thumbnails are added instead?

I mean it really becomes a pain when you have to keep on scrolling down for ages to see the news or when people quote replies with images it all gets a bit excessive. Not to mention when your trying to read something and larger images keep on loading and moving the page down?

Now before you flame me again i am not having a go at markydeedrop. Surely you can understand what i am trying to get at?

I reckon you should have worded your original post a bit better, 0mkp. It sounded very much like you were having a go at marky.

I for one am very grateful of his pics. I don't get to walk the streets of Manchester very often these days so marky's photos (along with others) keep me in touch, as it were. As for the repetition, not everyone reads every single thread so an occasional visitor to the Manchester forums might miss them if they weren't posted in all their relevant threads.

(Besides, they are very well taken photos -- a "best of" collection would be a thing to behold!)

Would be quite funny if she cheated on him and they got divorced, with all these projects named after her.

Ok im bad.

BSC have pulled the finger out ,, on sixth floor now .

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1740.jpg?t=1198936454

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/2194505391_7e92406710_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2194505503_fde1dd6af6_o.jpg

Thanks for the pics Ste , BSC seem to be concentrating on this project atm .

No problemo. Hopefully I'll have some more to post in the next few days.

Cheers mate ,, and welcome to the forum .

only 3 or 4 stories now

Windows are going in the shorter of the two buildings facing Great Ancoats Street:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/2220892754_4d5401aff4_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2220892924_384a3aa16f_b.jpg

Sarah Village in the bottom right hand corner of this shot...
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/021.jpg

Whats happening now that he might face criminal charges for the death of that worker?

Sarah Village in the bottom right hand corner of this shot...
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/021.jpg

Off topic, but this picture gives me the excuse to say that I love Vantage Quay. Anyone else?

some pics here from today http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2565
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic2.jpg

Hey Jinkies- Yeah, Vantage Quay is a very nice, clean, modern building. I really like the patterns and symettry created by the balconies on the red brick side. They sold like hot cakes- all in 2 weeks I believe.

Encouraging progress on Sarah Village. Cheers for the pics Comdot.

Hooray, thought I was alone there. What I love about it is that it's a model for desiging residential buildings with large footprints which sustain visual interest without resorting to slapping on assorted cladding materials a la Green/Citygate.

I like Vantage Quay too. Great location to live in too and it will only improve over time. Hopfully Moon bar will stick around as a local bar for it.

Moon has survived for a good 2-3 years already, so seems to get enough business; I think its changed hands a couple of times though.

Moon has survived for a good 2-3 years already, so seems to get enough business; I think its changed hands a couple of times though.

I saw a programme the other day and some fellas were on the moon and this was, like, in the 1960s and that - so it must be more than, like, 2-3 years old.

I saw another documentary about the moon and it said that the moon has always been owed by these fellas

http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/scottpack/images/2007/05/04/clangers.jpg

I think they sold it on in the end

I kind of like Sarah Village. But feel like that might be a bit wrong...

I walked past last night about seven and there were fellas still working on it, with lights and everything!

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/SarahVillage140208001.jpg?t=1202996796

Looking up Newton St

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1837.jpg?t=1204226291


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1838.jpg?t=1204226379

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/SarahVillage170308.jpg?t=1205770984

Have they snuck an extra floor on the top without telling anyone?

No 2 floors in amonth judgeing by SteKnights photo's

14 feb 08
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/SarahVillage140208001.jpg?t=1202996796

17 march 08
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/SarahVillage170308.jpg?t=1205770984

:cheers: for updates today SteKnight,
This ones competing with Masshouse in Brum for slowest job (after the picadilly one by BSC ) ;)

Have they snuck an extra floor on the top without telling anyone?

I always had it in my mind that this went up to 16 floors........ Looking forward to seeing the curved glass and the coloured sections. Adds real presence to Gt Ancoats- What a boom area!

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/125.jpg

I always had it in my mind that this went up to 16 floors........
Somehow I can just picture BSC applying for 12 floors and then sticking some extra ones on top. It sure seems that way, unless whoever named the thread misread the planning app.

I'm pretty sure, judging from today, that some of the vertical beams are high enough to accomodate at least 14 floors (You can see two sticking up in Marky's picture above, which suggests they're adding at least one more floor). It's really making an impact on the local skyline.

Indeed Ste, that's pretty much the way it looks to me too. I'm not complaining though!

BSC are doing quite a quick job on this so far and if the finish is as good as Issa Quay, this could complement the Express Buildings very nicely!

Indeed Ste, that's pretty much the way it looks to me too. I'm not complaining though!

I'd laugh if they just kept on going. Come back 2 months later and its higher than Beetham. :lol: Council are like "yeee it says 14 floors not 41 floors." Someone can't count.

Top floor is double height. It won't get any higher than it is on the photos now.

http://www.investmentpropertycentre.co.uk/property/sarah/artists2.jpg

I do like this tower. Looking up Newton Street (I think) from Piccadilly will offer a good, clear view of it.

I'm not sure of the materials but the Issa Quay finish does keep my hopes fairly high. The mid-rise section is likely to be the let down though. Its not so cunningly hidden in the renders and I think it may be a little bland. The ground floor retail units will be a good addition though.

BSC are doing quite a quick job on this so far and if the finish is as good as Issa Quay, this could complement the Express Buildings very nicely!

Are you joking, or am i the only one to think the finish on Issa Quay is appalling. Look closely, loads of the tiles have been poorly fitted not even in line. I know its still not finished but to me it looks cheap and pretty nasty. looks okay from afar but trust me go close up and the finish leaves a lot to be disired.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/NoIdeaX1.jpg

Hadn't noticed this one before (it's on the other side of the city centre from me).

^^this is this, MP:

Top floor is double height. It won't get any higher than it is on the photos now.

http://www.investmentpropertycentre.co.uk/property/sarah/artists2.jpg

I do like this tower. Looking up Newton Street (I think) from Piccadilly will offer a good, clear view of it.

I'm not sure of the materials but the Issa Quay finish does keep my hopes fairly high. The mid-rise section is likely to be the let down though. Its not so cunningly hidden in the renders and I think it may be a little bland. The ground floor retail units will be a good addition though.


by the way there's a really good view of it from down new street. the view down newton street really is the biz. this is a nice visual full-stop.

^^ You mean Newton Street? Maybe some of the sign was missing!

no, part of my brain was missing. yes, it is newton street. i'll edit my post. :)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/SarahVillage200408001.jpg?t=1208706525

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/SarahVillage200408002.jpg?t=1208706589

I take it that's at full height now? and those two beams sticking up are just those to white things sticking up from the renders? Also if BSC can build the main frame of this without two many problems why are they struggling with Sarah tower or have they made mistakes on this project that most of us haven't noticed?

I take it that's at full height now? and those two beams sticking up are just those to white things sticking up from the renders? Also if BSC can build the main frame of this without two many problems why are they struggling with Sarah tower or have they made mistakes on this project that most of us haven't noticed?

Sarah Tower has the added difficulty of being right next to the canal.

There's some cladding on this now. You can't see it on these pics but there is some on the side looking towards the CIS tower.

Sarah Tower has the added difficulty of being right next to the canal.Being next to the canal added minimal difficulty, the way they approached it was the problem.

I take it that's at full height now? and those two beams sticking up are just those to white things sticking up from the renders?
The columns sticking up are for the top floor.

come on nicely since 30/1/08
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic3.jpg

render
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic1.jpg

14 floors? it's already got 13 hasn't it?

14 its topped out.

A small section of glass cladding has been added to one side of the building. Just like Sarah Tower and Canopus there were no workmen onsite today. Hopefully Baz hasn't run out of money.

One more thing that's starting to piss me off. Need to find the appropriate thread first. It's not BSC related either.

The crane is now down

The crane is now down

Did it fall down?:lol:

The crane is now down

It looks like its just been moved to the Sarah tower site. It looks the same as the taller one.

It looks like its just been moved to the Sarah tower site. It looks the same as the taller one.

So it does. Well spotted, that man.

I like the colours, and the way its shape echoes the Daily Express building.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k103/samorost/UESV/SV3.jpg http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k103/samorost/UESV/SV1.jpg

I'm sad to say this, but I fear this could look rather nice once finished!

'kinell the speed of that cladding! bsc hiring alain robert for this or what.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how are BSC moving and fixing the heavy glass cladding without the use of a crane?

looks like they're waiting on an order for curved glass, hence the corners not started yet. from all my watching of grand designs it seems people are always waiting for glass :|

saturday
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic10.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic9.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic8.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic11.jpg

Great pics of the cladding Comdot

eee the black n red cladding is almost bordering dated, lol..

wait til you see a pic in good light, and better still, when they've cleaned it. i like what i've seen so far.

Looks good to me, as I'd hoped. Some nice curves on this baby and I reckon it'll look pretty good when fully clad.

It does look a bit electronik 80s - like some sort of digital VU meter from a B-Boy's mixer. I'm going to write to the CEO of Casio digital calculator watches and suggest they run their UK operations from here.

I'm waiting to see the lower section and my fingers are crossed that if won't let it down too much but the tower should be a considerable distraction from any mundane low-rise.

B-Boys have sweat bands and Adidas shell toe sneakers with extra phat laces. :)

DJ's have mixers

ha, ha. this particualr b-boy is a jack of all trades.

A BSC-boy, maybe? Likes spinning lots of things at once but tends to fall on his arse when its show time.

This development encompases much more than the tower. View the 'specifications' sectino of http://www.sarahvillage.co.uk/ I wonder how far along they are with the building at the rear.

I know we all take the piss but Canopus is a great loss; for the Greengate embankment project, Salford and the plans to link both with exchange sqaure. It would have been a beacon for the area and the best way to attract pedestrians around past the Cathedral. Without it they are going to struggle to link the two because the new footbridge isn't going to be half as noticed.

If I were them I'd be concentrating 100% on getting Sarah village completed. Leave Sarah tower alone and get all resources on working on a single development. After all the plans and visions both here and in Buffalo, it'd be very dissapointing for all involved if the only the project to actually complete was Issa Quay.

Accept the losses and cut the ties with Sarah Tower, stop dreaming about Canopus and just get this done. I'd assume Sarah Tower would still be viable as a 3* hotel if another developer were to buy the site, plans and take things on from here.

From Today's MEN


PROPERTY developer Bashar Issa today blamed a major bank for withdrawing funding after it emerged his business was in financial trouble.

The colourful Middle Eastern-born entrepreneur claimed that BSC Group , which has sites in Salford and Manchester city centre, was strong enough to weather the storm caused by Anglo Irish Bank's withdrawal of finance for its landmark Canopus Greengate project in Salford.

Mr Issa has hired a company called Bramley Carrington, a specialist in helping distressed businesses, to help him raise funding from Issa Quay, the one development that has been completed.

He said: "The situation has been caused by Anglo Irish Bank, which has a lack of liquidity and some concerns about the market.

"BSC is not highly geared, as some other developers are. We are only 48 per cent loaned to value, and as such there is no question over our long-term viability."

BSC announced last July that Anglo Irish was providing it with an £89m funding package for Canopus Greengate, near the Lowry Hotel. The masterplan was for a new residential and commercial quarter, featuring two landmark towers.

Anglo Irish Bank declined to comment.

Mr Issa said Bramley Carrington had been hired to help BSC raise equity by selling existing stock and to `inform suppliers to be patient and bear with us and allow us time to re-finance'.

He revealed that Sarah Tower - which he named after his wife and is under construction at Piccadilly - was beingrefocused away from the residential property market.

"We are re-introducing Sarah Tower as a hotel. The Hilton Group is very, very interested in it as a potential location for a Doubletree hotel."

Mr Issa's ambitious regeneration scheme in Buffalo, New York State, has also recently run into difficulties, this time with trade unions.

"The unions there are legalisted racketeers, not like here. They were demanding 25 US dollars an hour for labourers, which was ridiculous.

"I have settled, after a lot of argument, at 15 US dollars."

Maybe Ask could buy Canopus?

lots of actual news then. didn't know anglo irish had pulled.

"BSC is not highly geared..."

then why will nobody lend to you

Actually I think this looks great and is by far the best scheme out of all BSC projects.

I thinks its great that the architects have taken inspiration from the art deco express blding.

but what worries me from the above MEN article about funding for the salford twin towers is that he said

Mr Issa said Bramley Carrington had been hired to help BSC raise equity by selling existing stock and to `inform suppliers to be patient and bear with us and allow us time to re-finance'.

It sounds like he's juggling all projects together, and that although each has its own funding packages, the money is being borrowed from peter to pay paul.

to ask suppliers to be patient doesnt sound promising to me, we may find that all schemes grind to a holt and even stand unfinished.

The Salford scheme has yet to start properly, so the suppliers he refers to must be with other schemes.

has anyone seen anything happening with this since the crain's news item? it'd be a shame if this development didn't get finished.

From Today's MEN...

Issa company goes into administration
David Thame
15/ 5/2008

A CONSTRUCTION business run by high-profile businessman Bashar Issa has been placed in voluntary administration.

Mr Issa (pictured) says BS Construction - which is behind the landmark Canopus Greengate skyscraper development, Salford - was placed in voluntary administration after discussions with his bankers.

He blamed the decision by Anglo-Irish Bank to withdraw the offer of an £89m funding package for the Canopus Greengate scheme for the move.

He said the decision concerned only BS Construction, and 27 other companies in his BSC Group were unaffected.

Mr Issa told the Manchester Evening News: "BS Construction had contracts with sub-contractors, and the offer, then withdrawal, of funding put us in a difficult position.

"Some suppliers were being patient, but others wanted their money sooner, so we sat down with the bank to agree a voluntary administration until we can re-fund the Canopus scheme.

"BS Construction has creditors amounting to £1.5m, but has assets in the development valued at between £15m and £19m, and other assets valued up to £1.5m, so I decided to go for voluntary administration before any creditors act in stupid ways. My duty as a director is to protect the position of the bank, the other creditors, and myself."

Earlier this week Mr Issa disclosed that he was talking to global property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle about a new funding package.

He also revealed that he is in talks with a major hotel operator and a serviced apartment provider.

It is understood that Barclays had been involved, and that PriceWaterhouseCoopers have been appointed administrators, but neither firm would comment.

Anglo-Irish Bank has declined to comment on the funding deal with Mr Issa.

One supplier told the M.E.N.: "I am owed £60,000 by BS Construction, and the whole thing seems to be a complete mess. The locks have been changed at the lock-up in Salford where the steel for the development was being kept, and there are bailiffs crawling all over the place."

As well as Canopus Greengate, BSC Group has a number of other projects including Issa Quay and Sarah Tower in Manchester.

On Tuesday we revealed that BS Construction had a five-week deadline to improve safety at its Manchester sites. The action from the Health and Safety Executive came as investigations continued into the death of a Polish worker on the Sarah Tower site.

^^Beat me to it.

I think we could say this was inevitable, but where will it leave this, Sarah Tower and Canopus?

I think we could say this was inevitable, but where will it leave this, Sarah Tower and Canopus?

Quite substantially delayed I would have thought, because if no buyer can be found all the creditors will have to be repaid first, before any assets can be touched.

I'm not as familiar with the administration process, but I know this is *broadly* how it works for individual bankruptcies

You can bet thers a tangled web with the 27 other companies and the sites and projects will not belong to BSC, just a pile of dept. it will be a case of whether the construction companies and suppliers involved will carry on working / building for the developer arm that is the actual client, and what guarantees Issa has given to different parties and other lenders. As the Bankers to the other group co's may call in their loans.

Would you take on a 2nd hand project and all the liabilities that could be involved.

You can bet thers a tangled web with the 27 other companies and the sites and projects will not belong to BSC, just a pile of dept. it will be a case of whether the construction companies and suppliers involved will carry on working / building for the developer arm that is the actual client, and what guarantees Issa has given to different parties and other lenders. As the Bankers to the other group co's may call in their loans.

Would you take on a 2nd hand project and all the liabilities that could be involved.
At about 20 pence in the pound for in situ equipment and materials.

Maybe...

There's a halfbuilt block of apartments on Moss Lane that is just rotting and has been for as long as I can remember, will this be the same?

^^ Is that the one off the Mancunian Way, if so, it's been bought out and is going to be made into a hotel using the existing shell.

Nope not that, I mean oppisite the Manchester Academy City Academy school thingy in Whitworth Park.

pics today

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/sarah%20village%20construction/SP_A0158%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/sarah%20village%20construction/SP_A0160%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/sarah%20village%20construction/SP_A0157%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/sarah%20village%20construction/SP_A0163%20copy.jpg

rear
http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/sarah%20village%20construction/SP_A0159%20copy.jpg

rear- not sure if this is sarah village
http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_05_27/sarah%20village%20construction/SP_A0162%20copy.jpg

Any one on site there Comdot or is it all shut up ?

i have to admit, bulldozer, every time i've been near it this year it's been going on 6 in the evening so i couldn't say.

those tiles look like they've been put on the back by a blind crackhead.

one row isn't attached, just resting there. can't tell from the picture, mind.

From a distance on Sunday

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/faggotbrain/bscedit.jpg

Any one on site there Comdot or is it all shut up ?

i was there yesterday, 3pm and all that was there was a smart-car with issa stickers on it. i didn't see anyone on site, i cycled round the whole site. work does not appear to have moved on since i took those pictures. those unlaid tiles are still hanging there in the same positions.

i was there yesterday, 3pm and all that was there was a smart-car with issa stickers on it. i didn't see anyone on site, i cycled round the whole site. work does not appear to have moved on since i took those pictures. those unlaid tiles are still hanging there in the same positions.

As Gwen Guthrie once sung.........

"AIN'T NOTHIN' GOIN' ON BUT THE RENT"

(and that's not even going on)

oh JRB you know that song? You've got taste mate.

yesterday the place was completely static....a ghost town.

^^ The Specials, good track. :)

Yesterday I was showing a mate from Australia around Manchester. Walking past this site, I pulled myself up to have a look over the boards, jumped down and walked on.
We were then approached by two men, who had been standing in the street, in a manner which suggested we were about to get mugged. One of them blocked me in, the other grabbed my mate's Tshirt and forced him against the wall.

It took a few moments and a lot of yelling to establish they were in fact 'security'. Said they'd seen me climb over the fence (it has been known, but not this time :)) I was about to call police when another man came out and made him let go. We left to "Come back here and I'll break your legs!"

Anyway.. nothing going on building-wise. Didn't really want to stick around and take photos
:D

Welcome to Manchester! :lol:

He he yeah - I'd just been telling him how I'd never had any trouble and Manchester was a lot safer than the press would indicate.

Hmm.

Dicking about on some ones property, you should get a slap.

That's why standards have dropped.

As they say, you were taking the piss.

Please pass on the security guard details, would like them guarding my property.

Just a point.

Not saying shouldn't do it, just you may get a slap. Nowt wrong with that.

If I was 'dicking about on someone's property' then fair enough. I looked over a fence and moved on.
I didn't commit any offence and they held us in a public street, not on their property.
Security are not allowed to assault people.

Hmm.

Dicking about on some ones property, you should get a slap.

That's why standards have dropped.

As they say, you were taking the piss.

Please pass on the security guard details, would like them guarding my property.

Just a point.

Not saying shouldn't do it, just you may get a slap. Nowt wrong with that.

That's a bit of an unfair opinion to have - this a building site, not somebody's back garden!

Even if it was a back garden, and even if he'd scaled the wall, you wouldn't have the right to 'teach them a lesson' - as it has been consistently pointed out trespassing isn't a crime!

The security guys sound like powermad knobheads, a lot like bouncers..

the fly's right and everyone should have the right to protect their property, it may seem a little heavy handed but who came blame them these days.

Its do gooders who say 'they can't touch you' who are ruing the nation.

So im glad they stopped you!

the fly's right and everyone should have the right to protect their property, it may seem a little heavy handed but who came blame them these days.

Its do gooders who say 'they can't touch you' who are ruing the nation.

So im glad they stopped you!

But that's not the law. You can't go round assaulting people for looking over fences.

Builders on site today and it looked like they were putting scaff up - just where they are standing in this photo:

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k103/samorost/SVBuilders1.jpg

Given the hypersensitive twitchy style of security at this site ( sounds just like the Coke and Roid fuelled Bouncers at some of the less salubrious joints in town) maybe the scaff is for machine gun emplacement or even hanging the next poor sod who looks over the wall !
I'm no limp wristed social worker type - I'm more than happy to meet violence against me with even more violence back - however offering violence to a geek who is just trying to visualise something they have an interest in and is breaking no law is way out of order.
Shucks - the more stuff I discover about this Sarah lovin company the more I realise how lucky we are to have such a high class socially responsible beacon of hope with its fingers in so many of Manchesters ( undercooked) pies!
Grrrr.........:bleep:

Quick snap on my way to Piccadilly...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Manchester%2030th%20July%202008/IMG_4680.jpg

From Crains.

Two more Issa firms put into administration
Developer loses control of all Manchester projects
By Simon Binns


Another two companies that form part of Bashar Issa's Manchester-based development firm BSC Group have been placed into administration.

Issa Developments Ltd, which owns the Sarah Tower site on Dale Street in Manchester city centre, and BS Developments Ltd, which owns the partially-completed Sarah Point development on nearby Great Ancoats Street, are both in the hands of David Costley-Wood at the Manchester office of KPMG.

KPMG is already running BS Construction Ltd, which went into administration in May and owns the Issa Quay serviced apartment site, also on Dale Street in Manchester. That company owed Barclays Bank £11.5m along with £2m to unsecured creditors.

Sarah Tower, opposite Issa Quay on Dale Street, was intended for use as a hotel after initial attempts to market is as a £35m residential tower comprising 130 apartments fell flat.

Sarah Point, also estimated to be worth £35m by BSC Group, had proposed 140 apartments, a health clinic and retail. It had been funded by Yorkshire Bank.

The new administrations mean Issa has now been relieved of all four of his Greater Manchester projects, following Anglo Irish Bank's decision to withdraw its funding for BSC Group's Canopus Greengate scheme in Salford.

David Clifton at the Manchester office of Knight Frank has been instructed to dispose of Sarah Point, and has already carried out several viewings with potential buyers. Possible options for the site include a mixed-use residential and serviced apartment scheme or a rental-only residential complex, according to sources.

Knight Frank is also expected to win the instruction for Sarah Tower.

Andy Finch, partner at the Manchester office of Knight Frank, told Crain's the Sarah Point site, despite being partially complete, was in a state of disrepair, which had raised concerns among some viewers.

“It's in a bit of a mess,” he said. “There are some concerns about the quality of workmanship and whether the structure as it stands has actually been built to the right standards and regulations. It's something we'll have to look at, although there has been interest in the site and there are a few options on what it could be used for.”

One creditor of BS Construction, who asked not to be named but is owed more than £10,000, said the new administrations may mean a better chance of getting some money back.

“We're not owed a huge sum, but for people owed tens of thousands, it must be devastating,” he said. “There are a lot of small companies out there owed money by the group.”

Issa is currently trying to secure a refinancing deal with London-based finance house Gresham. It is not known whether the collapse of the two companies will affect negotiations but sources familiar with discussions said that any deal with Gresham was now looking “unlikely”.

Gresham Ltd and KPMG declined to comment. Issa failed to respond to calls for comment.

Bring me his head on a plate

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/rolybling/twattybollocks.jpg Wanker.

Wot ya mean boi? 'e is a top bloke innit...

mmm BS Developments - never has a company been so aptly named - all their grandiose schemes are one great big steaming heap of it !

The perfect example of Yin and Yang in action - some poor buggers lose their jobs with all these company collapses whilst ONE rich BSer keeps raking in the cash..... grrr!

Issa is currently trying to secure a refinancing deal with London-based finance house Gresham.

not a hope in hell of this.

There are some concerns about the quality of workmanship and whether the structure as it stands has actually been built to the right standards and regulations.

some concerns? hahahahaha. was talking with dinp about this and what building control will do, there's a LOT of unpublished info on the quality of work which i suspect will cost local councils a fortune to fix, and by fix i mean demolish.

“There are a lot of small companies out there owed money by the group.”

yup, and they fucking HATE him. one company gave me his home contact details in case i want to go doorstop him or call him up!

latest pics- http://www.skyscrapernews.com/gallery.php?id=2565&idi=Great+Ancoats+Street+Tower&images=all

here's 3. it's clearly been tidied up since i last visited, windows seem washed, protective netting tidied, etc

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic16.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic15.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic12.jpg

If you look at this it doesn't look that bad but am sure one of us went closer we'd find major problems. Problem is we might now have this massive shell of a building for while as they sort out his other messes.

yeah well check out the article jerb posted http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=308256&page=7#127

"Andy Finch, partner at the Manchester office of Knight Frank, told Crain's the Sarah Point site, despite being partially complete, was in a state of disrepair, which had raised concerns among some viewers.

“It's in a bit of a mess,” he said. “There are some concerns about the quality of workmanship and whether the structure as it stands has actually been built to the right standards and regulations. It's something we'll have to look at, although there has been interest in the site and there are a few options on what it could be used for.” "

Walking past Sarah Village this afternoon and saw a sandwich board outside showing 'BS Construction Auction' and an arrow pointing to the site entrance at the rear.
I did think of popping in to buy a rusty nail as a memento of the man who blighted the face of Manchester but then decided anything to do with his projects was probably shoddy and wasnt worth buying even at bargain basement prices.
I'm sure what was raised was a pittance in comparison to the debts he has mounted - not that the slimy tosser cares - bah!

So is this being abandoned?

So is this being abandoned?

I would think this is already doomed.

So is this being abandoned?

^^ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=24217228#127

David Clifton at the Manchester office of Knight Frank has been instructed to dispose of Sarah Point, and has already carried out several viewings with potential buyers. Possible options for the site include a mixed-use residential and serviced apartment scheme or a rental-only residential complex, according to sources.

Knight Frank is also expected to win the instruction for Sarah Tower.

Andy Finch, partner at the Manchester office of Knight Frank, told Crain's the Sarah Point site, despite being partially complete, was in a state of disrepair, which had raised concerns among some viewers.

“It's in a bit of a mess,” he said. “There are some concerns about the quality of workmanship and whether the structure as it stands has actually been built to the right standards and regulations. It's something we'll have to look at, although there has been interest in the site and there are a few options on what it could be used for.”

Shit man, Sarah Tower is not happening I assume? I know Issa Quays is a mess too.

After having a look around this site I can only say I feel bad for whoever buys it.

Our man Bas decided to use a hydraulic nibbler to create the rounded profiles for the concrete on each curved corner of the building, leading to big and beautiful cracks throughout the floor slab. By the 5th floor up the design is changed but still seems to be an afterthought..

The "BS Developments" in floor marking paint sprawled over the fencing and the £9.99 Micromark security cameras really do emphasise what a bunch of pikeys this lot really are.

oh my.

i did wonder why they didn't just mould the concrete like everyone else. not being an expert i didn't want to hypothesise another bsc fuck up.

Can anybody tell me whether this building was originally supposed to have corners at 90 degrees rather than radiused corners? I just can't fathom "Attack corners of building with hydraulic nibbler and hope nothing goes wrong" being written into the method statement for the casting of each floor..

FWIW I have worked in structural casting of concrete railway bridges for a development in North Wales and we certainly had no problems whatsoever creating shuttering around a large radius and then cutting the Rebar to suit, maybe Bas just forgot.

Ahwell..

i presume so. check the planning application though if you like. i've not had a look but i've located it. it's in two parts, the first part submitted earlier than the second, as the second was an amendment.

first part http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=HHC8UMBCB0000
068666/cc/2003/n1

second part http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=J6CWRTBCA0000
080878/fo/2006/n1

I think we might be witnessing a little "negotiation" here.

Storm brewing over Sarah Village...

http://xs131.xs.to/xs131/08361/sarahvillage471.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs131&d=08361&f=sarahvillage471.jpg)

lol.

Security are still on site here, I just wondered who's paying them if BS developments have no money?
...though there have been cutbacks ;)

I agree the concrete corners do seem a botched job, but I've seen holes for stairways punched through concrete floor plates and no cracks appeared.
When I witnessed contractors going at it with nibblers I was concerned but reassured by a structural engineer that its fine.

well i have seen cracks in sarah point that stem from the corners that have been cut away. cracks about a foot long.

you can't see them in this photo but this shows what they've been doing
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2565GreatAncoatsStreetTower_pic6.jpg

Not a major structural problem but it seems an arse about face way of approaching it. Perhaps the steel edge trims that you can see above do not come in a tight radius as standard by B&Q??

Just been checking the trafficlink website for travel news on my radio station and it mentions Gun Street/Great Ancoats Street is closed due to a building fire.

Is this anything to do with the BSC building site I wonder?

Is this anything to do with the BSC building site I wonder?

It certainly looks like it. We were watching last night from the Express Building - the Sarah Village skeleton tower was completely obliterated by white smoke, although we couldn't see any flames. Key 103 is saying that the fire started in the basement of a "new apartment block".

There's still black smoke billowing out this morning and everywhere smells like burnt bacon.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1092896_roads_closed_by_city_centre_fire

Roads closed by city centre fire
Don Frame
27/ 1/2009

MORE than 50 firefighters battled to bring a fierce blaze under control at a property under construction in the centre of Ancoats.

The fire broke out in the basement of the building at the junction of Great Ancoats Street and Jersey Street shortly before 10.30pm last night.

Surrounding roads were closed off as emergency services dealt with the incident, and remained closed this morning.

Great Ancoats Street is shut from Newton Street to Old Mill Street, as is Old Mill Street up to Oldham Road.

Greater Manchester Police say the closures are likely to remain in place for the next few hours, and drivers are being advised to avoid the area.

Fire crews found it difficult to access the blaze last night because of the intensity of the fire, but eventually managed to contain it.

The cause is not yet known, but a specialist fire investigation team was today preparing to carry out a detailed examination of the scene.

How does that naughty phrase go, "Jewish fireworks" is it?

'Jewish lightning'
Or in this case 'Jordanian lightning'.

That's the bugger. Ta Longy.

A candidate for the most obvious insurance job of the decade??

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090127/FREE/901279979/1083


Fire damages Sarah Point
By Simon Binns

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CK&Date=20090127&Category=FREE&ArtNo=901279979&Ref=AR&Profile=1083&maxw=300

Sarah Point, a partially built office development in Manchester city centre, has been damaged after it caught fire.

The blaze began at 10 last night (Monday) and was tackled by 50 firefighters throughout the night. It is understood the fire started in the basement, where it is thought fixtures and fittings for the incomplete apartments were being stored.

The building, on the corner of Great Ancoats Street and Jersey Street, is one of three failed schemes in Manchester by local developer BSC Group, led by Bashar Issa. Its construction arm, BS Developments Ltd, is currently in the hands of administrators at KPMG, which is trying to find a buyer for the scheme along with two other sites on Dale Street, also in the Northern Quarter.

Great Ancoats Street was closed from Newton Street to Old Mill Street, as is Old Mill Street up to Oldham Road.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, although a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the structure of the building had been affected and a dangerous buildings assessment would be carried out today before anyone could enter the basement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7852732.stm


Blaze tackled at new flat block
Fire at Ancoats - pic by Andrew Reid
About 60 firefighters were involved in the operation

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45415000/jpg/_45415872_fire_ancoats226.jpg

Up to 60 firefighters tackled a blaze in a block of flats under development in Manchester city centre.

The fire started in the basement of the building at Jersey Street, off Great Ancoats Street, late on Monday night.

Greater Manchester Fire Service said no-one was injured in the fire and investigations are under way.

Great Ancoats Street from Newton Street to Old Mill Street has been closed as a safety precaution, as has Old Mill Street up to Oldham Road.

Billy Myers, of Greater Manchester Fire Service, said crews were called to reports of the blaze at 2210 GMT on Monday.

"It was very difficult to gain access to the fire itself and it covered quite a large area - we're talking probably an area of 100 sq m in total," he said.

Although the fire was eventually extinguished, crews could not gain access because of fears it could collapse.

"It will be a local authority building inspector that will give the okay as to whether or not the building is safe any time later today," added Mr Myers.

"It may actually be the building is demolished because of the severity of the fire."

Fire scene investigators have been at the construction site, which had been mothballed.

"The building was under construction but no construction had been taking place for some time," said Mr Myers.

"They had had a number of break-ins over the last few months so I suppose it's one of the causes that we'll be looking at - but it's too early to say."

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/989.$plit/C_71_article_1092896_image_list_image_list_item_2_image.jpg?27%2F01%2F2009%2010%3A14%3A46%3A240

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/119.$plit/C_71_article_1092896_image_list_image_list_item_1_image.jpg?27%2F01%2F2009%2010%3A14%3A46%3A240

My my, what a coincidence........

just what I was thinking....

A candidate for the most obvious insurance job of the decade??

I doubt it.

BSC has gone belly-up ... so there would be no point trying to make an insurance claim, because they no-longer have any financial control.
That dubious privilege has been bestowed on KPMG - the administrators... and I doubt they’re into those sorts of tactics !!

If it is now (further?) structurally unstable and has to be demolished, I guess that's a good end, even in the means is not particularly savoury. As it stands now, certainly as I interpretted it, Sarah Village was constructed in such a substandard manner, that it would have had to be demolished in any case, though I am second guessing somewhat.

If HSE order it be demolished, we are dealing with an empty plot again and thus something that is more likely to be developed.

Contrary to the usual 'mysterious fire' we see a lot of (troublesome listed buildings, warehouses in the way of resi developments, that sort of thing) no-one can really seem to be gaining financially from this fire.
Glad to see the back of the pile of shit that was Sarah Village to be honest.
Probably just smackheads or kids.

GRRRRRRRR!!!! Basha Bullpoo is still costing this City and its residents time and money - just went past at 3pm there are FOUR Fire engines and TWELVE Community Support Officers based around the building and the bloody eastbound lane is still cordoned off.
I dream of the Bashman taking a trip on a plane thats been maintained by mechanics trained to the same level of skill that the builders who worked on his failed projects did.

Probably just smackheads or kids.

Or people he owes money to.

Demolish it and sell the site on NOW .

BullShit Construction or anyone involved in that company should be banned from this city for life .

Insurance job if ive ever seen one .

so has anyone been down there and had a look?

edit: well there's a video on m.e.n. website

The roads surrounding it are still closed off (Blossom Street, Gun Street, Jersey Street) and there's still a fire engine parked on Jersey Street.

http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/othercities/buffalo/stories/2009/02/23/daily45.html

The derelict buildings facing this on Gt Ancoats St were getting demolished on friday , the was a render knocking about a few months ago for what is planned there .

New app I guess relates to this,
092252/FO/2010/N1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KWWBKBBC6K000&searchtype=WEEKLY)
Site Bounded By Great Ancoats Street / Blossom Street / Jersey Street And Henry Street, Ancoats, Manchester. M4 5DN

Part Retrospective Application for the erection of 2 buildings; 1 no. x 6 storey building with a 13 storey high tower and 1 no. x 5/6 storey building incorporating existing 4 storey warehouse for 166 no. residential apartments and 887 sqm. of A1/A2/A3 and D1 floorspace on the ground floor with associated car parking

As I posted on the Ancoats thread, its on a reserve list for kickstart funding.

bank and developer jv buying this. to be announced soon. good people on both sides. solid bank. solid developer. resi still.

cheers rad :cheers:

The docs are up for that planning app, no further info on the JV in it that I can see, from the D+A,
5.0 Design Summary

5.01 Our proposal is to complete the incomplete buildings. The planning application seeks permission to modify the interior layout of the buildings, and in every other respect the development remains as the extant planning permission.


the split of apartments is 39 one bed/121 two bed/6 three bed, total of 166.

It'd be great to see this finished, it's too prominent a site to be left half-finished.. I really like it now (despite just going through these pages and seeing two years ago I didn't :|, doh!)

The New proposal.(click on link for more pic's)

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

Also. Pic's of the block as it is now. Shocking.
http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/selecteddoc.aspx?092252-dsx-0001.pdf

Christ, that's awful.

yeah whats with that big slab of shit down one side? it wasn't on the last design was it? I didn't like the old design, the new one makes me puke though

That is one of the ugliest renders I've seen in recent times. No no no no no, their doing it all wrong.

Looks like all the worst things about City tower on a dwarf sized after being expelled from a tramp's rectum.

Truly grim and cheap.

Approved this week.

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KWWBKBBC6K000&searchtype=WEEKLY

Already or to be approved?

Its atrocious.

Well it's good to hear that this (and Eastside Valley off Pollard & Ancoats) may be moving on. It looks terrible in it's present state but will add height and vitality to this side of Gt. Ancoats St. at least once the retail units have been filled- which may admittedly take some time. The basement parking is good to see too. I don't think the proposed images put it in the most positive of light.

they've succeeded in taking a design that was already questionable[shit] and made it look like shit rolled in dog sick. Excellent.

Im confused, how can it be worse when it looks exactly the same?

Admittedly the differences are not glaring but it is slightly different, I'm sure the new proposal has a light coloured block of whatever down one side that I didn't notice on the previous design, there is a render somewhere, either way it still looks like dog shit.

According to the D+A doc, the only changes are internal layout, with a revised mix of apartments. I'm intrigued to know which developer has taken this mess on.

Why the need to change it? Would it be due to unavailable materials and/or now non-existant companies since it BSC fell through, or simply the new developers having a need to put their own stamp on it?

This was on a reserve list for HCA funding, appears it was moved to 'approved in principle'...but now it's being reviewed following cuts.

Seems they were looking for around £3.95m funding, probably banking on this to get it finished, but looking at the list of competing schemes can't see this being one of the ones getting any of the remaining cash.

http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/impact_spending_review_6_July_2010?p=0&f=0

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/6613-hca-details-impact-of-treasury-cuts.html

Anyone know who the developers are that have taken this project on?

BD.

Yorkshire Bank takes back failed Issa site

THE administrators of the Sarah Point scheme in Manchester have been unable to find a buyer for the site, leaving the bank to try and recoup its losses of £18.9m on the scheme on its own.

A sale of the site had previously been reported to be St Vincents Investments (Ancoats) Ltd, and a newly-filed administrators' progress report shows that it paid £3.5m for the site.

However, St Vincents Investments (Ancoats) is a special purpose vehicle which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yorkshire Bank's parent, National Australia Bank.

Sarah Point was one of a number of schemes being built by controversial Iraqi developer Bashar Issa, whose group of companies collapsed in June and July of 2008 owing more than £39m to banks and £7m to other creditors.

Mr Issa himself was declared bankrupt in September 2009 having racked up personal debts of £69m.

His company had begun construction of a 12-storey tower on the site at Great Ancoats Street but work temporarily stopped on the site in 2007 following the death of a construction worker at the site.

Six months after BS Developments was placed into administration there was also a fire at the site, which police believe was started deliberately.

However, no permanent damage was done to the building, which remains in an unfinished state.

The report states that after the administrators found themselves "unable to sell the site" they took legal advice before approving the deal for the site to be sold back to the bank for £3.5m.

^^ I thought the death occurred at the Sarah Tower site..?

Business Desk.

THE HOMES and Communities Agency has announced that it is to provide almost £20m worth of cash to local authorities to help get a number of stalled schemes around the region back on track.

The Agency is providing £2.5m to help get the Sarah Point scheme at Great Ancoats Street in Manchester restarted while in Liverpool it is to spend £3m to deliver new private and affordable housing projects in the Norris Green area of the city.

The agency said the funding, which totals £19.9m, would allow for a new generation of council houses to start as well as securing hundreds of new jobs in the construction industry.

"Our team has worked closely with local partners to understand their priorities and the benefits these schemes will bring to local communities," said HCA North West director Deborah McLaughlin.

"The funding will unlock developments in many parts of the North West which will create and safeguard jobs for local people and keep the construction industry moving forward.”

The Sarah Point scheme was described as being of "great importance" to Manchester City Council. It was previously owned by by controversial Iraqi developer Bashar Issa, who began construction of a 166-bed, 13 storey tower block on the site but his group of companies collapsed in June and July of 2008 owing more than £39m to banks and £7m to other creditors.

Yorkshire Bank had loaned Issa £18.9m to develop the Sarah Point site and last week TheBusinessDesk.com revealed that the bank had taken the property off the hands of administrators KPMG, who had been unable to find a suitable buyer for it.

Shepherd construction have taken this over, same company who are in charge of building the student tower next to Oxford road station, expect to see some big changes this summer.

Here comes Nuovo.

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

From this weeks Greater Manchester Business Week.

A few more images of Nuovo.

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

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

'the only new build development to be started in Manchester city centre in 2011'

But it's already a half build :shifty:

I'm guessing...

http://www.nuovoapartments.co.uk/

http://www.nuovoapartments.co.uk/_lib/images/background.png

Looks ok! :)

Much better.

MEN.

UK Land & Property to complete Sarah Point in £13m deal

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/993.$plit/C_71_article_1420514_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?11%2F05%2F2011%2016%3A43%3A29%3A382

Work has started on the revival of a mothballed property project on the edge of Manchester city centre.

UK Land & Property (UKLP) will complete the £13m Sarah Point scheme, which stalled in 2008 following the demise of developer Bashar Issa's property empire.

The project , which will be re-named Nuovo, will see 166 apartments built, with ground-floor commercial space also available.

It will be the the only new-build development to be started in Manchester city centre in 2011 and the apartments will be sold through agent King Sturge.

The revival has been made possible by a £2.5m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) through the Kickstart scheme.

Enabling works to the Nuovo building, on Great Ancoats Street, have already started, with the main construction work due to begin in July, to be finished by mid-to-late 2012.

Deborah McLaughlin, north west executive director at the HCA, said: “Sarah Point was a redundant project but Nuovo is set to bring fantastic new homes, including shared ownership options, right to the heart of the city.”

Sarah Point was one of three Manchester schemes mothballed after Mr Issa's property company BS Construction crashed into administration in May 2008. The following January, a fire broke out on the site.

UKLP has been looking at the site since the Autumn of 2009 and carried out an extensive examination of the part-built structure to evaluate the damage caused by the blaze and the quality of the previous workmanship.

The firm worked closely with the HCA to secure the Kickstart funding. Project director Paul Johnson said: “It is really exciting to cut through the uncertainty and move forward with the development, which I think will be a very distinctive scheme.” Of the 166 apartments, 40 will be for low-cost home ownership.

King Sturge partner Stephen Hogg said: “Nuovo will be the only new-build to start construction in Manchester during 2011 and sits in a prime spot on the edge of the Northern Quarter.”

Steve Thorncroft, deputy chief executive of New East Manchester, said: “Nuovo is a significant piece of the regeneration of East Manchester and will continue to transform the look of Ancoats into an area where people can live, work and enjoy what this unique part of the city centre brings.”

Yeah I'll be happy to see it finished and add some more life to Great Ancoats Street but that block does like a bit too much red-terracotta-tile-Opal-Estates-Whitworth-Park-Student-Block to me

Happy its being finished , looks a mess as it is now .

Glad that stupid Sarah Point name is'nt going to exist ,,, change it :)

Plenty of work going on in here today - mainly in the rear low-rise building. I think it's part of the project but was sure as it is a detached building. Didn't realise they had kept some of the facade of whatever old building previously stood there.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1117.jpg?t=1306159906

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1118.jpg?t=1306159938

^^I think this deserves to go back in the 'under construction' thread now. Although, not sure if it has a new name

Ah Nuovo. That's what it's now called

Plenty of action going on at Nuovo. Seems the main focus of the effort so far has been to remove all the shit that Issa's men has put on the structure.

I think this will turn out to be a decent addition to Great Ancoats Street and add some bulk.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1156.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1155.jpg

It's actually pretty big
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1153.jpg

Wow. Looks so much better. Like you said Slow, getting rid of.........(feel free)

Very glad to see this eyesore getting sorted out.

Agreed. Am I the last man standing who calls this New Cross?

I've always thought New Cross is on Oldham Rd near the Victoria buildings There used to be shop there called "New X Supplies".

From what I've read I think New Cross is around where the Oldham Road meets Tib Street, crossing Great Ancoats Street - I think there used to be a church on that spot, around where Habib International Bank is now - perhaps that's where the name came from?
edit: when I say 'think there used to be' I'm not talking about in my own memory, from what I recall it would've been mid 1800s.

Went into Stanfords and had a look at an 1894 OS map.

Where the tramlines from Oldham St to Oldham Rd cross the ones from Gt Ancoats St to Swan St, there is a little label New Cross

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/7742/manchester11thjuly20110.jpg

It just looks soooooooooooooo much more professional now that Issa's not involved. For all the good that came out of the crazy period during the noughties, there was some very very dark elements at play. Glad this is progressing well with some people who look like they know what they're doing. Cheers for the updates Flange!

Correct me if i'm wrong, but won't this proposal be the first acid test of the current Manchester city centre apartment market?

Nothing of this size and amount of apartments has been built/finished off since the economic collapse. If most of them sell, and that is a big if, it might, just might, encourage other property developers and banks to once again take the plunge.

If they're all for rent maybe...Which is highly unlikely I might add.

Today.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3011/picture477c.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6818/picture478k.jpg

Has anyone seen people working on this recently? First few times that I did these updates there were workman all over this on Saturdays and Sundays but it last couple of visits have been deserted and it doesn't seem to have changed at all in last 6-8 weeks. Hope it's still going ahead and hasn't stalled

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1239.jpg?t=1311422497

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/Cityplanner/100_1246.jpg?t=1311422516

Some bits of book I nearly wrote for Bashar Issa, all about Bashar Issa

http://basharissabook.com/

Well going past on the bus the low rise section facing onto Great Ancoats Street has had part of the ground floor removed now. Maybe in connection to the fire a couple of years ago.

Some bits of book I nearly wrote for Bashar Issa, all about Bashar Issa

http://basharissabook.com/
Certainly some interesting stuff in here, in hindsight. Thanks for sharing.

Some bits of book I nearly wrote for Bashar Issa, all about Bashar Issa

http://basharissabook.com/

Cheers Radley. I've got a train journey ahead of me at the weekend and this will help fill the time.

Hope he paid you something for it in advance.

I've been past and there has been lots of activity in the past few days, so I'm hopeful that this is now up and running and back under construction. It's a somewhat surprisingly visible development so is a bit of a scar on the skyline an the busy Gt Ancoats St, so I look forward to seeing this progress.

Cheers Radley. I've got a train journey ahead of me at the weekend and this will help fill the time.

Hope he paid you something for it in advance.

cheers Macc, Caiman. I was one of the lucky ones, I got paid a retainer for ten months out of a 12-month contract then stopped working - and invoicing - when it went quiet. The rest is history. There's plenty of engineers, architects, PRs, etc that weren't paid. Let alone the banks' millions.

There's some more interviews to go up: a London lawyer, uni friend, and some of the people he met in Buffalo where he was a bit of a susperstar.

Went past on bus going home tonight and they have started bracking the ground floor out now so can see the basement level. Really shows the crap work bsc done.

Went past on bus going home tonight and they have started bracking the ground floor out now so can see the basement level. Really shows the crap work bsc done.

Posted this news at the weekend.. fell on deaf ears... or blind eyes

Didn't I read on hear about the workers using some rather odd practice involving a pneumatic drill to shape the floor at the corners? I wouldn't be surprised if a few parts have to be replaced.

crane now in place here.

People on the building this morning

Would be nice to see this building complete

Would be nice to see this building complete

Well as it's under construction and recently been taken over hopefully next year it will be

Rumours doing the rounds that UK Land have stopped or stalled this one. Something to do with needing more money as it's such a mess, worse than expected.

^^ I'd feared as much. I hadn't seen much going on here for a few months. Ahhhh: frustrating! It sticks out like a sore thumb and would/will really assist the Ancoats' revival if/when complete, being so surprisingly visible from many parts of this side of the city.

the only recent work I have seen passing on the bus is the lower build section at ground floor level had the concrete floor taken off and new steel floor decking put down ready for a concrete pour. But saying that the deck was laid down about a month ago now.

Walked around this yesterday (had actually made the trip to appreciate the next door stainless steel beauty) but NOTHING whatsoever happening on the Nuovo site. Not a soul around. This has definitely stalled again.
Casting my own semi-expert eye on it, I would be worried if I was responsible for its future. Trouble is, the longer it's left like that, the worse it's going to get.
It's a surprisingly prominent site too.
First time down Gt Ancoats St for a few years - god it's grim and depressing - mind you always has been.

Cheers andysimo.

Just nearby down Gt Ancoats Street I noticed this quirky little piece of modernity, making an appearance as a new in-fill between buildings of various vintages :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/Droylsden/New%20Islington/101_7065.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/Droylsden/New%20Islington/101_7062.jpg

There are quite a number of fascinating buildings along Great Ancoats, no?

:cheers:

Just noticed this tweet from them (or their PR guys) a few days back,
You'll see our building coming along very nicely in the New Year!
12 Dec (http://twitter.com/#!/NuovoSocial/status/146215475444072449) @NuovoSocial (http://twitter.com/Nuovosocial)

Still actively pushing the scheme, but website yet to launch.
Looking for a new home? @nuovosocial may have just what you're looking for...
7 Dec (http://twitter.com/#!/NuovoSocial/status/144444808394571776)

Tough job they've got there, attempting to create a buzz about the place.

GREAT news! It's such a blight on Gt Ancoat's St in its unfinished state!

Just noticed this tweet from them (or their PR guys) a few days back,


Still actively pushing the scheme, but website yet to launch.


Tough job they've got there, attempting to create a buzz about the place.

Absolutely delighted about this. Fingers crossed for them - they have one heck of a job to do there.
It's such a large and prominent site and will do wonders to lift the area.
By the way re: JDR's photo, anyone going down there should take the trouble to go down the side street next to Nuovo and see what lies behind the facade in the photo. IMHO - one of the nicest and most interesting little buildings in the City Centre for a long time - more of this please.

By the way re: JDR's photo, anyone going down there should take the trouble to go down the side street next to Nuovo and see what lies behind the facade in the photo. IMHO - one of the nicest and most interesting little buildings in the City Centre for a long time - more of this please.

http://www.lowefoto.co.uk/latest2/191011-23.jpg

This is the side of it, in Jersey Street. There wasn't much to see around the back when I was there (19 Oct) - too much plant & machinery in the way.

pity the ugly lamppost is in front of the building.

I just want it finished or pulled down: a climbing frame of that size isn't a nice landmark.

Walked passed this place today, looks very quiet on site. Take it there is little sign of any progress anytime soon reading back through this thread?

And they suggested there would be progress 'in the new year' :no:

That Twitter a/c is annoying, in amongst the food related tweets, encouraging people to visit the website...
If you're looking to move to Manchester, you might want to have a nosey at - www.nuovoapartments.co.uk

8 Feb 12 (http://twitter.com/#!/NuovoSocial/status/167268961061318658) @NuovoSocial (http://twitter.com/#!/NuovoSocial)

It's still a holding page, there's no details, and King Sturge is now JLL.

If there's no progress in the next month, it should be gotten rid of.

Bleeding eyesore.

Is there a reason why this has popped up as a contract on cnplus this week?

MANCHESTER £13M

Sarah Point, Great Ancoats St/Blossom St, Jersey Street & Henry Street Ancoats

Planning authority: Manchester

Job: Detail Plans Granted for 166 flats & commercial units

Client: Homes & Communities Agency

Agent: Hattrell & Partners, Arthur House, Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3EJ

Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd, 8 Oxford Court, Bishopsgate, Manchester, M2 3WQ

http://www.cnplus.co.uk/Journals/2012/05/24/c/a/t/CN-Contract-Leads-280512.pdf

Is there a reason why this has popped up as a contract on cnplus this week?

Possibly related to this (http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/14_March_2012_2_.pdf) MCC supplementary Executive agenda item from March

Exe/12/053 Sarah Point, Ancoats

...

Decisions
1. To note the contents of this report and the opportunity that exists for the City Council to work in conjunction with the Homes and Communities Agency to intervene to unlock the stalled Sarah Point development scheme within Ancoats.

Cheers for the link, maybe there is some movement on it, wonder what's happened in the 3 months since that. Certainly sneaked through, a 3rd additional agenda, public excluded, 'opportunity to intervene was time-limited'. Possible full grant from the HCA sounds promising.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1582321_nuovo-scheme-stalls-again-but-could-be-back-on-track-soon

Nuovo scheme stalls again but could be back on track soon
July 02, 2012

UK Land & Property project director Paul Johnson
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Work to revive a mothballed building project has stalled again due to issues over its funding.

But developers behind the Nuovo development, on Great Ancoats Street, east Manchester, hope to get it back on track within weeks.

The M.E.N revealed last May UK Land & Property had struck a £13m deal to complete the residential project, which at the time was the only new-build scheme to begin in 2011.

It was going to see 166 apartments built, 40 of which were for low-cost home ownership, along with ground-floor commercial space.

The revival was made possible by a £2.5m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency through its Kickstart scheme, with the rest of the funding provided by Clydesdale Bank.

The project was previously been known as Sarah Point and had ground to a halt following the demise of developer Bashar Issa’s property empire.

It was one of three Manchester schemes mothballed after Mr Issa's company, BS Construction, crashed into administration in May 2008.

The following January, a fire broke out on the site.

Led by project director Paul Johnson, UKLP began exploring the possibility of reviving the development in autumn 2009, carrying out detailed inspections of the part-build structure to assess the extent of the fire damage and the quality of the previous workmanship.

After the deal to complete the project under new name Nuovo was done, it was hailed as a “significant piece of the regeneration of east Manchester” by urban revamp organisation New East Manchester.

But the M.E.N understands shortly after work began on the scheme, Clydesdale Bank raised concerns about the escalating costs of the project and it ground to a halt once more.

The project was supposed to be finished towards the end of this year but no work has been carried out on site for several months.

However, all parties involved are now back in talks about a new funding package to get it back on course.

It is understood Clydesdale with retain an interest but any deal will involve other funding partners.

A UKLP spokesman said: “All parties are still actively engaged in working towards completion of contract to allow works to restart on site late summer.”

It is understood agreement over a new finance arrangement could be between six and seven weeks away.

Clydesdale Bank declined to comment. The HCA was unavailable.

Anybody knows who owns it? Is it Clydesdale bank?