9 Storey hotel and square planned for derelict area.


http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/210/210162_new_hotel_and_square_planned.html

Very good. Have a look at the comments beneath the above article......some people are just so ignorant.

Have to agree with you there. The comments section defies belief. "Not another hotel in the city centre!" for example. What else do they want? Another star bucks/boozer/apartment/dereliction?

Hopefully the hotel, though not tall, will be a quality build. I'd be more interested in the public square though.

Have to agree with you there. The comments section defies belief. "Not another hotel in the city centre!" for example. What else do they want? Another star bucks/boozer/apartment/dereliction?

Hopefully the hotel, though not tall, will be a quality build. I'd be more interested in the public square though.

Another hotel! What are they thinking off. If all of the hotels are full people should have to wait until there is a day free. Same goes for the world- no more hotels should be built anywhere- there's enough to go around!....... Laughable isn't it. What community facilities does this guy want exactly? A day care centre in the middle of the city? Yeah nice one- that'll work!

As for 'St.' John! If this guy hates the place so much, then why is he taking such an active interest? WUM if ever I saw one! I wonder how big this public square will be? There will I'm guessing be one more scheme behind the Design House so it should make a decent space!

It could help spread the city centre towards ancoats a little, which i think it the city needs. I'm dubious of dvelpment encroaching into the inner parts of the northern qaurter though. I like big, shiny new buildings as much the next person here but the northern quarter isn't the place for single large scale developements. I'll reserve judgment until we see some pics, though. Parts need to be modernised but its my fave area of the city and I don't fancy of it being wrecked by big hotels.

Isn't this the same hotel being discussed in the Northern Quarter thread?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/swan1.jpg

Jon-could well be. Location and size of building seem to match, could also be the new square on your pic, offset to the bottom right (other side of road).

Apologies in advance if this is a double thread.

The 'public square' is miserly and the model i saw had another new building taken even more of it at some stage. Hyde Park it aint!

When I first heard about 'a new square' for some reason my mind turned to Stevenson Sq. Now that is a proper square worthy of a bit of attention, could extend the centre outwards and be the hub of NQ and Ancoats.

When they say 'square' in these contexts, usually they mean a bit of public art and somewhere to sit down.........really not worth getting too excited about IMO.

There is a stratergy for Stevenson Square but i doesnt seem to be progressing at all.

What can be done with Stevenson Sq.? Surrounded by textile vendors and a bit off the beaten track. You don't really walk past anything of note to get there (unlike Albert Sq, Gt northern Sq, Exchange Sq., etc). Would be good to hear some suggestions.

Pedestrianise Oldham st and its neighbours; ala king st. And Stevenson sq will become another st annes. It'll be great. The Northern quarter would worthey of its cult status.
(to be fair, im not; and havent ever been that impressed with the NQ. I typifys the one thing i hate about manchester. It doesn flow enough. The shitty carparks on church st area a fine example.)

Easy as 3.141592653589793238462 etc etc

Easy as 3.141592653589793238462 etc etc

I once ended up having a fight at school with a lad who took the piss outta me for not getting that. Pretentious little crap he was. Oh how I hated being the only working class hero at a grammar school...anyway, I digress - Pedestrianisation you say...

It's early days though for the NQ Mez. I wouldn't say that St Anne's Sq makes a good comparison for where Stevenson Sq should be heading.

I'm thinking more in terms of a social hub for the NQ. Surrounded by what may well develop into a real community of central Manc dwellers (New Islington, Gt Ancoats St and Little Italy, Skyline central and the NQ itself) I see Stevenson more in terms of a couple of good pubs for a nice sunday lunch and some of the type of shops you see on any high st, like a florist, tesco metro (oh no!), that sort of stuff. No more than that really. A bit more like an inner-city Chorlton.

I hope they keep the cafe in said Square (Koffee pot?).
Pure 1970's New York - have some great shots of this...somewhere.
I say it's about ripe for a simply exquisite developement (give it year or two for the reasons given by Jonge above).

It's early days though for the NQ Mez. I wouldn't say that St Anne's Sq makes a good comparison for where Stevenson Sq should be heading.

I'm thinking more in terms of a social hub for the NQ. Surrounded by what may well develop into a real community of central Manc dwellers (New Islington, Gt Ancoats St and Little Italy, Skyline central and the NQ itself) I see Stevenson more in terms of a couple of good pubs for a nice sunday lunch and some of the type of shops you see on any high st, like a florist, tesco metro (oh no!), that sort of stuff. No more than that really. A bit more like an inner-city Chorlton.


I agree. The Northern Quarter could never take large scale redevelopment. It defies all that its about. It would perhapse beneift from some street level improvements but the only way to imrprove on the NQ is to do what made it the way it is in the first place: Slash business and property rents rent and let in the first-timers. The place is designed by diversity.

In developing a city it has to have unique selling points. Parts that other cities don't have whether national or international. And as nice as it is there are plenty of St Anne's Square's in the world but there's not many northern quarters.

'Say "no" to Tesco Metro' - I'm starting the campaign already.

I started writing about Stevenson Square but got sidelined by a crying baby and now i have to make the tea. If the impetus continues i'll add my two'penneth worth later.
BG - i know what its like to be a working class hero at a Grammar School ("What do you mean you only play rugby and cricket and not football!!!!!")

The textile vendors are part of a working city mr keebabmuncher. It's as near as dammit to New York's garment district (he says, rather pretentiously).

I agree with your point about large scale redevelopment, macc, but bearing in mind that the term 'Northern Quarter' was probably invented by some marketing company to help MCC sell what still is the unsaleable part of town, personally I'm not too concerned what gets built there, as long as it's not big corporate office blocks etc.

Much as I'd love to see a patisserie and wine merchants, I think Tesco Metro's got it!! Golly gosh, it's all getting rather middle class isn't it?

"What do you mean you only play rugby and cricket and not football!!!!!"

Hahaha! I had the exact same experience! And it took me a good 18 months to get my head around the way everyone called each other by their second names - what's all that about?!

Put the big wheel in Stevens Square. Give it a focus and a reason to go there.

Wish I could see some renders of this, something?

Re:Another Hotel? Maybe they want some nice council houses, for the community like?

This site is very much on the outskirts of the Northern Quarter. It's nearer to the CIS than large parts of the NQ and I think it will fit in OK. It will add some definition to the skyline, especially when driving up the ring road from Victoria Station.

It will also add a lot of wealth and visitor traffic into this part of town. Something like this could be the catalyst for gallery/art type developments in surrounding buildings.

^^ yup

I actually think the Northern Quarter needs some larger scale developments. The way Oldham Street peters out from the nice, grand and substantial looking buildings at Piccadilly end to the decrepid ramshackle (too) small scale buildings at the other works against the street and the area as a whole. It simeply doesn't encorage people to venture up much further than the junction with Dale St. The further you go towards Great Ancoats Street, generally the more the area lacks cohesion and a city centre-like urban form. It needs some more larger, modern and architecturally adventurous developments in my opinion. This new hotel is definitely a good start.

I also despise the former sorting office, lazily and cheaply converted by Bruntwood. For sure it brings life and activity to the immediate area but its a very poor building indeed and could've been, shouldn've been something very much better (whether that means demolition or a more imaginative redevelopment).

Wish I could see some renders of this, something?

Re:Another Hotel? Maybe they want some nice council houses, for the community like?

Look it up mate - for some reason i cant get into Manchester's Planning Portal so if i give you the app numbers you might find renders in additional documents.

078284/FO/2005/C1
078285/CC/2005/C1

The way Oldham Street peters out from the nice, grand and substantial looking buildings at Piccadilly end to the decrepid ramshackle (too) small scale buildings at the other works against the street and the area as a whole.

I agree with that wholeheartedly. I've always disliked the way Oldham, Lever and Newton Streets peter out into the kind of low-quality squat dump that this northeastern side of the city centre is (to be honest).

I have to put child number one to bed in a moment but i have a theory about Oldham Street and its all to do with bus stops and social engineering.
Its worth the wait - trust me - but its a bit drawn out so it might have to wait until later.

Longy - I'd like to hear your ideas for Oldham St and Stevenson Sq (what is the strategy for it?) Bus stops and social engineering eh.......once buses from my part of yonner-land used to terminate at St Sq, but I wouldn't have a clue where they go now.

If the NQ was framed by visible big buildings on Gt Ancoats St, Sleepy, it'd help it immeasurably.

I think Gt Ancoats Street is the the key to th NQ. Make it a busy bustling destination and the small independent creative shops and businesses of the NQ will have something to live off. Think of Soho, it was a dump full of huckers, really poor artists and actors getting hand jobs down alleys during the interval. But because you had to go through it to get anywhere else, and because it had a gritty urban charm all the media and creative businesses chose it for a home, which brought jobs, shops, cafés and other urban crap. Maybe when Ancoats and New Islington are done, and the retail park is replaced by something fucking spectacular it might really go somewhere.

.....once buses from my part of yonner-land used to terminate at St Sq,


Ahhh - I remember it well. The 216 or the Mayne's. Next to the newsagents in the corner where I probably got my first glimpse of porn! And the dodgy gents in the middle of the square...memories!

Ahhh - I remember it well. The 216 or the Mayne's. Next to the newsagents in the corner where I probably got my first glimpse of porn! And the dodgy gents in the middle of the square...memories!

LOL, I was thinking of the 216 which used to make a circuitous route from Stavenson Sq to Hyde via Ashton, Mottram and Hattersley. The 236/237 on the other hand, started from Albert Sq....memories!

I want to hear your theory longshanks!

I think we need a new bus interchange for all buses to the south and east of the city (I get the 216 everyday). Send all the busesaway from Oldham St to Shudehill and this new interchange. And hey maybe even build one for the south and west of the city too. Keep the city centre served by the free shuttle buses (and more of them) but other than that could you imagine the improvement. Looks like MCC bottled it to me though, they havent even forced the 135 or Witchway buses to use Shudehill like they shouldve so the place is a ghost town.

Has anyone seen Lever St bus station recently? Its full of GM North 192's running their bus wars with Stagecoach. MCC needs to get the bus situation in hand in Manchester.

I want to hear your theory longshanks!

I think we need a new bus interchange for all buses to the south and east of the city (I get the 216 everyday). Send all the busesaway from Oldham St to Shudehill and this new interchange. And hey maybe even build one for the south and west of the city too. Keep the city centre served by the free shuttle buses (and more of them) but other than that could you imagine the improvement. Looks like MCC bottled it to me though, they havent even forced the 135 or Witchway buses to use Shudehill like they shouldve so the place is a ghost town.

Has anyone seen Lever St bus station recently? Its full of GM North 192's running their bus wars with Stagecoach. MCC needs to get the bus situation in hand in Manchester.Yep I've said the same thing over and over again. The idea spot would be to knock down that hotel next to city tower and build one for the South their. Since most bus routes already go past that spot wouldnt kill to do it. Then it would open the gardens up and make it a better area.

Ive got a stinking cold but considering you all asked.
Back when Oldham Street was still pretty scummy all the buses to north Manchester used to leave from outside Dry.
Of course Dry was one of the first businesses to venture that far up. Well, Mr Bloxham then decided to do Smithfield buildings.
Now, no disrespect to our friends from North Manchester but the bus queues outside Dry used to look like an out take from Deliverance sometimes.
The seeds of the NQ were being sewn and there was a partnership of local businesses who had meetings to discuss policy etc. Both Dry and Urban Splash attended these meetings so i was privvy to some of the conversations.
It was made quite clear that Urban Splash were keen to get the bus stop from outside Dry / Smithfield building removed because to be frank it attracted the wrong type of people. So words were had and the bus stop was moved up the street and that part of Oldham Street got its poncey apartments, record shops and fancy hairdressers. Its terrible social engineering but that stretch of Oldham Street would never have developed if the bus stop had remained where it was. That is why the upper ends of the street towards Oldham Road have stayed 'low rent'. Also look at the other end aswell, nearer Piccadilly, where the bus stops are(outside Oxfam and that snide chippy and Cash converters)That end of the street has stayed scummy aswell simply cos the bus stops are down there. They did something similiar at the other end of town with St Annes Sq and the Salford buses.
The theory is (and it seems to be borne out in reality) that you cant gentrify an area if you have bus stops there. Take note Piccadilly Plaza!

See what you mean about social engineering. In that case, a new central bus interchange in the Strangeways area might just do the trick.

They should have built the bus interchange at Victoria Station. If they put Metrolink onto the the Oldham line they could have made the approach to Victoria a combined tram/busway.

Unless that waste terminal is still there near Dean Lane Station.

Oldham Street used to be Manchester's main shopping street and the North Manchester buses used to arrive and depart from Lever Street with some going into Stevenson Square.

Approved

What's approved jerb? the hotel?

What's approved jerb? the hotel?

Yep, todays palnning applications.

Larger render of the hotel. Should make a great addition to the NQ.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/38_p0405_Manc.jpg

Larger render of the hotel. Should make a great addition to the NQ.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/38_p0405_Manc.jpg

What a classy design...

It'll look tiny too when all those 200m monsters fill miller st ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/38_p0405_Manc.jpg

Great stuff again JRB! I hope they stick with the name 'The Manchester' as appears on the render!

there is a new hotel proposed for Manchester, the Crowne Plaza, it will be in the Northern Quarter of Manchester City Centre, its said to be completed, (if approved) in the summer of 2008

theres not much more on it, but i'll give you this link:
http://www.cpmanchester.com/ :banana:

Its in this thread:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=213518&highlight=Crowne+Plaza

o, rite, i hadn't realised, soz:ohno:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/013-7.jpg

You know Markydeedrop the image quality on that Sony N2 is awesome for a point and shoot. Great pics.

Thanks Toady

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/039-4.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/040-3.jpg

What is the red window on the top left for i wonder?

What is the red window on the top left for i wonder?

i dont think its actauly red, it just looks red beacause of the way the photograph was taken

i dont think its actauly red, it just looks red beacause of the way the photograph was taken

Nope, it is red, I've seen it when driving past it!

Nope, it is red, I've seen it when driving past it!

maybe its manchesters first amsterdam style window with a lady of the night in it

maybe its manchesters first amsterdam style window with a lady of the night in it

Oooh...might cause a few accidents at the junction mind you!

saw this be chance on saturday, really like the colour cladding..

Neat. Crisp. Clean. Nice.

NICE! A great addition to the NQ.

Its far too fussy. Too many colours and materials and signage have compromised an otherwise decent building.

The colours changes in the glass are quite subtle though. More shades of one than a separate palette. The horizontal lines on the charcoal section could be darker or removed altogether but for a building thats shot up relatively uncharted by us or the media I think its a very nice surprise. Some much needed bulk from the bottom of Miller Street perspective too.

It's a bit drab round there. (esp on a wet day) A little splash of colour isn't a bad thing.

What is the red window on the top left for i wonder?

I think it's going to be a clock / temperature thing.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/031-1.jpg

decided to post this because i'm so pleased there is pavement back there lol.

sunday pics
http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/pano2.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/IMG_2507%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/IMG_2502%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/IMG_2476%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/IMG_2505%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/IMG_2602%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/crowne%20plaza/pano1.jpg

Really good pictures Comdot.

Shame about the daft coloured glass and the intrusive, contrasting signage. Expensive hotels are supposed to be about refinement. This design has been dicked about with far too much. Still, much better looking than the City Inn.

I think it looks ace. Very funky and continental. Thumbs up here.

Really good pictures Comdot.

Shame about the daft coloured glass and the intrusive, contrasting signage. Expensive hotels are supposed to be about refinement. This design has been dicked about with far too much. Still, much better looking than the City Inn.

ta mate
to be honest the colours in those photos are really inaccurate. this was due to the lighting conditions and a host of other things. photographs can be misleading and i'd say these ones are, the colours are not accurate. my advice is go and see it for yourself. much darker, richer, deeper, etc. whether that makes it better or not, i'm not saying. :gossip:

edit: take the first picture- it's over exposed where the glass is, resulting in it going from pastel to... lego?

I have seen it in person. :|

I have seen it in person. :|

well at least you don't like it in person :)

jesus, what's the point...

Cheers for the pics Dotty ,, its a great addition to that side of the city ,i love the coloured glass ,

jesus, what's the point...

that was a compliment !
never mind

The building looks like a completed project to me with a bit of street works / landscaping to finish off. :ohno:

Is it new or a refurb ?

Is the latest idea to see which area can have the most U/C threads ?
:dunno:

The building looks like a completed project to me with a bit of street works / landscaping to finish off. :ohno:

Is it new or a refurb ?

Is the latest idea to see which area can have the most U/C threads ?
:dunno:

i don't think it's quite complete yet, for one a lot of the windows still have bit of paper stuck on them on the inside, you know the sort that usually say 'don't open blah blah' for the builders. but sure, it looks almost finished.
oh, i've just noticed there's a bunch of cladding missing too.

It looks exactly what it is, a chain hotel.

I think it's fantastic- a real marker for the area and looks great as you drive up Miller St, or down Swan St. I'm looking forward to the next phase of Smithfield which is due for a planning application very shortly.

I love the coloured windows, tbh. I'm glad this isn't just another cheap red brick looking chain hotel and actually has its own style about it. The proportions are a bit off but otherwise, it's great- now if something is done about the buildings opposite, between it and the CIS, this could become a very nice little gateway indeed.

It looks exactly what it is, a chain hotel.

Mr Negative strikes again :laugh:

Top draw. Another great addition to the NQ.

It opens in Sept so lots of work still to be done.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/012-1.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/011-1.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/009.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/010.jpg

"Taxi please"
"Where ya goin?"
"Crown Plaza, Shudehill"
"Ten minutes"
"Cheers"

mmm I like it, wanna stay there, I love what it's done to that corner

check out the scallies checking out you and your camera marky

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/109.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/110.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/111.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/114.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/115.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/117.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/118.jpg

I think its a sexy beast myself.

I think its a sexy beast myself.

I'd agree. Good job I think. Quality finish.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/044-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/045-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/046-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/047-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/048-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/049-6.jpg4

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/050-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/051-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/053-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/054-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/061-5.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/062-6.jpg

I like it but the logo's do look shit, It always looks like an afterthought rather integral with the design. It's a pity as it cheapens the buildings obvious quality's.

Yep, obvious quality.