A MAJOR fire broke out on the roof of the CWS building within the Co-operative's £800m NOMA development at around 5.30pm on Monday 12 October.
The building is vacant and everybody accounted for - NOMA
Up to 45 firefighters and eight fire trucks attended the blaze at the building on the corner of Corporation Street as plumes of smoke poured out over North Central Manchester.
The CWS Building - the Grade II-listed former HQ of the Co-operative Wholesale Society - is located in close proximity to Manchester's £44m newly refurbed Victoria Station and the Printworks complex.
VIDEO: WATCH PLUMES OF SMOKE POUR FROM THE BUILDING (credit: Martyn Heath)
The CWS Building, Corporation Street, in 2010 (credit: geography.org.uk)There were no injuries and the structure of the building remains intact, however, the blaze caused traffic disruption in the area with services closed until the early hours of Tuesday 13 October.
Investigators are now onsite looking into the cause of the fire.
According to a Co-op spokesperson:
"The part of the building where the fire was most prominent is E Block, which was formerly the drapery department of the CWS that now forms Hanover Building and was part of the CWS headquarters. It was last occupied by the Group, prior to its new head office at Angel Square opening."
NOMA tweeted: 'Huge thanks to Commander Paul Etches and all at @manchesterfire for their ongoing efforts on Hanover. #Heroes'
Manchester Fire Service tweeted: 'Morning all. Quick update about City centre fire, crew still at scene but most roads are reopened and metrolink is running again'
WATCH AS THE BLAZE DEVELOPED BELOW...
