IT'S CRUNCH time for Allied London's hugely ambitious £1bn plans for ITV's former Granada Studios site on Quay Street, as the developer puts their regeneration framework before the Manchester City Council Executive today (Weds 29 Oct).
If plans are given the go ahead, the first phase could begin on-site in 2015, with the final phase delivered in 2021-22.
“Our plans have been developed to open up a key part of the city that has largely been cut off to the public for decades."
The site was purchased in the summer of 2013 for £26.5m by Manchester Quays Limited, a joint venture between Allied London and Manchester City Council.
In August 2014 Allied London chief Michael Ingall unveiled the developer's grand plans (by Ian Simpson Architects) for the 13.5 acre Old Granada Studios site.
The area was to become a new city centre 'neighbourhood'. Lead by residential developments St John's would be transformed into a 'modern village with commerical uses'.
Old Granada Studios
Conceptual designs for 'The Village'
The vision is based around a two-tier development concept; 'The Village' and 'The Sky'.
'The Village' will consist of a weave of narrow streets and 'intimate' low-rise townhouses and five to seven storey buildings incorporating work, studio, retail and leisure space combined with residential units on top featuring terraced gardens. The work and studio space will be aimed at media, creative and tech industries.
'The Sky' will be a series of 20 to 30-storey tower blocks that will 'float over the Village' and provide views across the city. The taller buildings will be located to the west of the site by the River Irwell.
More recently, Allied London have unveiled plans for The Manchester Grande, a new 200-suite hotel and entertainment complex for Granada's former HQ office block and studios. The hotel will include four restaurants, a multitude of bars, a top-floor members club and use of the former studio space for entertainment purposes.
Plans to go before the council also include a second 'corporate four-star' hotel and two to three dedicated arts and culture buildings.
The regeneration framework indicates that buildings to be retained include: the Bonded Warehouse, Granada HQ building and studios, and Breeze Studio whilst Granada Gardens will be retained for public use.
Tours around the former Coronation Street set will continue until the end of 2015, before the area is incorporated into the developments.
Initial plans for the site did include a multi-story car park, however, following a number of objections, there will now be no multi-storey car park on site.
Manchester Grande Hotel complex
Plans submitted to the Council's Executive include:
- 4m sq. ft. of high-quality new and refurbished mixed-use development.
- 2,500 – 3,000 new residential units, comprising a variety of townhouses, penthouse apartments, live-work units and high-rise living.
- 500 of these to be potentially brought forward on the Core Site as a Private Rented Community.
- 500 – 600,000 sq. ft. workspace, mostly in low-rise studio space aimed at creative new industries, incorporating space for start-ups, incubators and collaborative working.
- 80,000 sq. ft. of this via refurbishment of the Bonded Warehouse.
- 300 – 400,000 sq. ft. of new leisure, including reuse of certain existing entertainment and studio buildings.
- 2 new hotels: a corporate 4-star offer and the refurbished HQ building as a new event hotel and entertainment destination.
- High quality public realm throughout the site incorporating existing and new green spaces and important connectivity to MOSI, Spinningfields, Deansgate and the River Irwell through interlinking public spaces.
Old Granada Studios
Granada HQ building to become Manchester Grande
Ingall said:
“Our plans have been developed to open up a key part of the city that has largely been cut off to the public for decades.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for Manchester: for the families that want to live in the city, the exciting start-up tech and digital businesses starting to flourish, with Manchester voted top of the start–up cities index, and change the balance of the economy and the visitors, who want a unique base to enjoy and share in the city’s culture and heritage.
“This is a key step in bringing our plans to life and an important part of our wider plans for the City which includes the further development of Hello Workspace at Old Granada Studios and the market launch of The Cotton Building in Spinningfields. We’re excited by the progress to date and inspired by the future potential.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "St John's has the potential to become an important new city centre neighbourhood, combining residential and work space with green space, heritage assets and leisure and entertainment facilities which should make it an attraction in its own right.
“This framework will underpin the development of an exciting new area which will complement the wider regeneration of the city centre."
If the 'St John's Quarter' strategy is approved at the Executive meeting a period of formal consultation will take place.
Granada Site
Granada Plans
Granada Plans
