THE site of the former Boddingtons Brewery is to become a new leisure and office complex, creating 1,800 jobs, and 480 homes are to be built.
The land, now levelled, next to the M.E.N. Arena, will also feature a hotel, cafes and bars.
The plans are set to be worth £250m in new investment and will provide accommodation for businesses that have been priced out of the city centre.
The council today agreed a `development framework' for the three-hectare site, which was acquired when the brewery closed in 2005.
Owners InBev had said the site was no longer viable due to falling ale sales. A similar announcement had been made two years earlier but was overturned after a campaign led by the M.E.N.
The development at Strangeways will include buildings of five to eight storeys in height.
The landmark chimney is to be kept as a reminder of the site's heritage.
The council estimates some 1,390 office jobs will be created, 160 hotel jobs and 300 in the retail and leisure sectors.
There will also be what developers are describing as a `high-quality public central square' and a pedestrian approach from New Bridge Street.
A detailed planning application is expected in early 2008, with building set to start in autumn that year and continuing in phases over a decade.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, said: "While we deplored the closure of the brewery, we were always adamant that the site would be used to create more jobs. It's very pleasing that 1,850 jobs are forecast, compared to the 123 jobs lost when the brewery closed."
Alan Burke, of Ask Developments and Reality Estates, said: "We have worked hard with the city council."
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£250m for Boddies site
October 24, 2007
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
ace, manchester (24/10/2007 at 12:51)
Dave (24/10/2007 at 13:03)
better off red (24/10/2007 at 13:26)
I'm still refusing to eat marathons until they take on their proper name, same too for opal fruits.
What does the dollar sign mean more than good old customer value.
jsac1984 (24/10/2007 at 14:06)
jimquk, longsight manchester (24/10/2007 at 14:06)
Sam Anderson (24/10/2007 at 14:41)
Mike S, Manchester (24/10/2007 at 14:42)
Giles (24/10/2007 at 15:16)
There is also over capacity in office space too. Why do these plans always, always get approved?
I know many who have objected to various developments for many different reasons but before you know it up go the cranes and nobody listens.
Black Flag (24/10/2007 at 16:01)
As for more apartments, I'd agree that an over supply of one type of property in an area is not a good thing, but having plenty of properties in the area and thereby preventing a shortage and preventing prices spiralling upward is not a bad thing at all.
Likewise, an over capacity in office space will tend to keep the rental price of offices low, which will in turn attract businesses to the area.
dave evans (24/10/2007 at 16:22)
Mr Angry, Bury (24/10/2007 at 16:57)
Giles (24/10/2007 at 17:27)
There is one proposed for Jackson's Wharf in Castlefield - complete and utter monstrosity that doesn't blend even slightly with the surroundings in what is a heritage area. You should look at the design.
I am all for development, Spiiningfields looks good, No1 Deansagenot bad, like Urbis, think Beetham Tower is ugly (and empty) but in certain areas the council needs to listen more.
I see what you mean about prices spiralling but most flats in the city wouldn't have made a bean in the las t six years. Not even enough to cover the estate agents fees if they sold up. I own a few apartments of varying sizes so know what I am talking about.
Giles (24/10/2007 at 17:46)
Why aren't there any lights on in the apartments at the Beetham Tower? Because it is virtually empty and there are 86 apartments up for sale.
mauger 9, HANNOVER GERMANY (24/10/2007 at 17:49)
Black Flag (24/10/2007 at 17:59)
In simple terms, we've been exporting oil for years, which means we've been importing manufactured goods.
Since 2005, we've been a net importer of oil, which means that it should get easier for UK based manufacturers.
Barry, Happy Valley,, San Francisco, California (24/10/2007 at 18:36)
just the other night, sitting
in my living room here in
Northern California. From
my vantage point here it's
hard to understand everyone's
complaint as I don't understand the ramifications
like you locals do. However
that site is just 3 blocks
from Sager St., that's where
my Russian immegrant grandparents lived and where
my mum grew up. Whenever visiting M/C and driving into
town down Bury New Rd I always think of me mum, that
steet and area with that
forebodding prison and ever
present brewery. How this new
development will effect M/C
I cannot say, I just remember that area with fondness, a place that
represents the beginings of
my family in England.
Up the Reds,
David,North M/C (24/10/2007 at 18:45)
questor, ex-Manchester (24/10/2007 at 19:16)
Where does the money come from? sooner or later it will all just implode."
Answer:
China makes most of the manufactured products.
We have been propped up by the US (was the price our support elsewhere?). You are correct. It is already imploding.
David, Manchester (24/10/2007 at 19:18)
I was involved in the fight to save Boddies and I can say first hand the lads who worked there fought very bravely against the Inbev corporation. They went on strike in the last weeks but the Government of Tony Blair didn't lift a finger. Wasn't it in Michael Moore's film "The Corporation" where they say a corporation is just a legal construction, one to make money, no morals or feelings. I agree and behaviour like this from Inbev is why a lot of educated people are turning their backs on corporations, brands, supermarkets and other tripe and using local shops and markets again. I boycott Inbev's products like Stella, Becks or fake Boddies. There are plenty of other beers to keep me happy.
Japes, Heaton Moor (24/10/2007 at 21:37)
Harvey Cressington-Wallace (24/10/2007 at 21:54)
What they mean is that there is enough office space for approximately 1,800 people.
An aquintance of mine is movig to a place in Spinningields and her office block is 'creating 3,00 jobs'. These jobs are movinng from King Street, Cross Street and Moseley Strret. i.e. not creating jobs, just shifting.
Griswald, Stockport (24/10/2007 at 22:53)
yoyomunchkin, Manchester (24/10/2007 at 23:20)
Black Flag (25/10/2007 at 10:30)
As for flats in the city not making a bean in the last six years, I don't think that's a bad thing. House price inflation is, in a large part, a result of a false shortage of housing pushing prices up. I think we need to get back to thinking of houses and flats primarily as somewhere to live, not investments.
Phil Burke, Manchester (25/10/2007 at 14:14)
Dear Edtior
Iam amazed that it was around 15 months ago when the leader of Manchester City Richard Leese stated openly in the press that the city council would block any plans submitted to the council by developers to build apartments on the boddingtons land once all the buildings were demolished, yet we now hear that the Planning dept have now granted Permission for developers to build 480 apartments on the site, what's going on? does the Planning Dept not communicate with Sir Richard even so they are situated in the same building ?