DEBATE: London Road Fire Station, Wednesday 1 July, 6.30pm

THERE will be a lively and passionate 'Question Time' debate on Wednesday 1 July about the last major heritage landmark to languish undeveloped in the city centre.

Could there be other solutions aside from a hotel?

An expert panel, chaired by Confidential editor Jonathan Schofield and featuring Manchester Planning Development Manager David Roscoe, will meet at the Mechanics Institute on Princess Street to debate London Road Fire Station. Other panel members include Ray Makin, architect and Chair of Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Jess Steele, director of Jericho Road Solutions, Trevor MacFarlane, theatre director and creative arts consultant, Emma Curtin, chair of the Friends of London Road Fire Station, Bob Bonner, Curator of Greater Manchester Fire Museum and author of a book about the building, and Mark Watson a member of the Victorian Society's Northern Buildings' Committee.

The purpose of the debate is to think creatively about the future of the monumental building and influence its future direction. This comes at a critical moment following Britannia Groups decision to sell the building for bids over £10m in April. The surprise capitulation from one of the more stubborn Greater Manchester businesses after 29 years of neglect has started a process in which several companies are vying to buy the property.

Received wisdom seems to indicate a hotel is the best future use for this complex festival of terracotta from 1906 but could there be other solutions? Join in the debate at not only a crucial time for London Road Fire Station but for development across the whole city centre. The event is free and should be stimulating. 

The event is at the Mechanics Institute at 103 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD on Wednesday 1 July. Doors and bar open from 6pm, debate starts at 7pm, finishes 8.30pm–9pm. Free. Just turn up and join in.

The Panel:

David Roscoe

David Roscoe – Planning Development Manager, Manchester City Council. David has been involved in the Fire Station case for a considerable time and has been inside the building on behalf of the council in recent years. 

Jess Steele

Jess Steele – is director of Jericho Road Solutions. She has extensive experience working in and supporting community organisations and was formerly Director of Innovation at Locality. More recently she established the Community Assets in Difficult Ownership programme. London Road Fire Station is a demonstrator project in this wider national programme. She is a national campaigner and expert in tackling difficult ownership and working to empower communities. 

Ray Makin

Ray Makin – Chairman of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Atelier MB Architects, Ray is also a long standing member of Manchester’s Conservation and Historic Buildings Panel. He has a strong interest in Urban Regeneration with a particular passion for the innovative re-use of listed buildings. He has a vast range of experience in the redevelopment and re-use of buildings. Ray is on the RIBA Conservation Register to CA level.

Trevor MacFarlane

Trevor MacFarlane – An award-winning theatre director and creative arts consultant from Manchester. Trevor was recently been appointed as a Culture Manager in the European Parliament with a specific focus on the North West of England. He continues to work with some of the foremost cultural organisations in the UK and EU as well as with emerging artists, companies and educational institutions. 

Emma Curtin

Emma Curtin – has been chair of the Friends of London Road Fire Station since it was formed following a public meeting in 2013. She is a registered architect and a lecturer at the Liverpool University School of Architecture. She has represented the Friends at Council Planning and Executive meetings. Sometimes referred to as an architectural activist she is involved in a number of other community led projects relating to heritage buildings. 

Bob Bonner

Bob Bonner – Curator of Greater Manchester Fire Museum and author of a book about the building. Bob also worked at London Road as a firefighter and is on the Friends of London Road Fire Station Committee. 

Mark Watson

Mark Watson – Member of the Victorian Society’s Northern Buildings Committee, and also a member of the Manchester Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas Panel.