DEVELOPER Allied London have unveiled preliminary plans for Granada Studios at the 13.5 acre former-ITV site.
The developer, which gave Manchester the Spinningfields district, laid out the plans on-site at a public event on Thursday 7 August fronted by Allied London chief Mike Ingall.
Subject to planning, work could commence from the end of 2015.
Ingall also suggested that the 'neighbourhood' theme would be bolstered by the possibility of a small school for residents, a doctor's surgery, places of worship and greengrocers.
Last summer, Allied London and the City Council announced a partnership, which would see ITV's Quay Street complex purchased for £26.5m as the broadcaster moved out to MediaCityUK.
Allied London would take a five-year lease of the studios while working on plans for redevelopment.
In January, Allied London chief Mike Ingall announced that the site would be lead by residential developments, with plans to create a 'modern village with commercial uses'. In the mean time the studios were opened up to short-term arts and cultural events.
Granada Studios
New plans
The new set of plans will see the area renamed 'St John's Quarter', and a number of buildings demolished, including half of the current studios. It's also bad news for Corrie fans, as the film-set looks set to be swallowed up by developments. "What of Coronation Street?" asked Confidential. "Well, do you see it on the plans?" replied Ingall.
The term pervading much of Ingall's presentation was 'neighbourhood'. From an original ten architects back in January, Ingall stated that only Ian Simpson Architects - behind such projects as Beetham Tower, Urbis and No1 Deansgate - "interpreted the brief correctly and understood the concept of 'neighbourhood'."
The new plans set-out two key components, 'The Village' and 'The Sky'.
'The Village' will consist of a number of tightly-grained four to seven storey buildings stretching across the site, from Lower Byrom Street to the River Irwell. This village would combine commerical studio space, for 'media companies and internet businesses to designers, makers and artists', perched above a ground floor of retail.
Above the retail and studio space would sit a layer of residential developments, or 'roof-scapes', including terraced garden areas. Something Mr Ingall refers to as 'lateral living' - a trendy city-slicker term for equivalent house space set out across one floor with outside areas (who needs stairs eh?).
Allied London's presentation at Granada Studios
The Village
Ingall also suggested that the 'neighbourhood' theme would be bolstered by the possibility of a small school for residents, a doctor's surgery, places of worship and greengrocers. It would be "a neighbourhood combining residential with start-up and enterprise", something that Ingall related "more to Northern Quarter than to the corporate nature of Spinningfields."
Plans included five 20 to 30-storey residential towers looming over the village and forming 'The Sky', an ordered series of buildings 'providing an elevated retreat for residents living above the city.'
The tall buildings though are 'a distraction', according to Ingall. "The real emphasis," he said, "is what is happening at ground floor level. How we're not looking to create buildings but create spaces, a weave of small streets." Even if, as he said himself, the 3D polystyrene model on show 'was a bit crap'.
3D model: 'a bit crap'
Old Granada Studios
He also stated that the remaining half of the production studios would be kept for events of artistic and cultural significance, whilst Allied London were currently in talks with ITV to create an area of legacy for the broadcaster.
Ingall stated that the first phase of the development, set for autumn 2015, would see the HQ building on Atherton Street (Confidential's current home) turned into a hotel, with the first stage of 'The Village' getting underway on Great John Street (site of the current Coronation Street Tour).
The second phase of development would begin sometime between 2017 and 2018.
Ian Simpson, chief architect and Allied London's 'appointed masterplanner' said:
"The idea is one of lower level continuation from St John's Street and Gardens with five, six or seven storey buildings creating an intimate series of spaces that allow you to meander through the site, discovering new spaces and routes.
"The original concept was very much about working with the assets of the site, the existing buildings and special places around Granada Studios, but also creating strong connections through to Deansgate and Spinningfields.
"That's all about people and creating intimate spaces that people can relate to, not grand public squares but more pockets of space, little ginnels that create unexpected experiences as you move through the site. Integrated into that is a series of independent retailers at ground level, studios and workspaces above that and residential on top. That will create something very special for Manchester."
Allied London's new set of plans for Granada Studios will not yet be put forward to the Council's planning department on a formal basis. According to Ingall the designs are 'a mere strategic framework up for informal discussion and debate', with definite plans to be put forward in autumn.
