A£30m plan aims to make the Northern Quarter a Manchester version of London's trendy Camden Lock.
The project, which could be delivered as soon as 2010, would secure the future of the area as the city's creative centre - attracting independent businesses including shops, bars, restaurants and designers.
It has been drawn up by council chiefs and is expected to generate around 1,300 jobs over the next five years, as well as almost £35m-a-year for the city's economy.
The plans include a four-star boutique-type hotel and a possible new home for the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, currently based in the area's old fish market.
Approval
The scheme is split into three parts with plans to remodel historic Stevenson Square and create new office space in Lever Street already approved by town hall chiefs.
A redevelopment of the Church Street multi-storey car park, to incorporate Camden Market style shopping, has been approved in principle and a planning application for the site is expected in the autumn. Funding for the project would be public sector led, it is understood.
City centre spokesman and Northern Quarter resident Coun Pat Karney said: "This will be the biggest boost for the Northern Quarter for four or five decades and is an opportunity to ensure a thriving future for a part of the city where creative businesses can flourish."
Plans also include creating an arcade to link the development to Stevenson Square, in the heart of the Northern Quarter, which is to undergo a £1.6m remodelling to transform it into a continental-style open square. The historic site, which hosted Suffragette rallies, will be part-pedestrianised and bordered by bars and restaurants and able to host open air events.
Final
The final part of the scheme is redevelopment of Church Street multi-storey car park into two, 13-storey buildings, with car parks shops and offices.
The Craft and Design Centre, currently in Oak Street, has been approached as an anchor for the development, which it is hoped will boost the Northern Quarter's independent retail profile with a Camden Market style shopping area fronting onto Tib Street, Church Street and Hilton Street.
A separate 15-storey building to the north of the site would house a 150-bed, four-star hotel. The Church Street development alone could generate 900 jobs by 2014 and over £23m-a-year for the city's economy.
Council leader Sir Richard Leese said residents would be fully consulted and added: "The Northern Quarter is an important part of our vibrant city centre and ongoing regeneration is a high priority.
"This scheme has the potential to make a big contribution in strengthening the area's success and identity."
What do you think? Have your say
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£30m for Northern Quarter
July 05, 2008
ON A ROLL A street scene from the Northern Quarter of Manchester which could become the city's creative centre under a £30m plan
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
ace, manchester (05/07/2008 at 13:09)
Audenshaw Bob (05/07/2008 at 14:05)
'Consultation'? Yeah right.
People like the Norther n Quarter for what it is today, not how some councillor with no clue as to architecture imagines it. Look at Piccadilly 'Gardens' if you want to see what the council sees as the future.
irlgeo (05/07/2008 at 14:31)
Once again the same whingers are straight in with their incessant moaning. Compare Manchester with The City 20 years ago, I know which one that I and thousands more prefer. Somebody must have been doing something right, it certainly wasn't those people sat on their back sides whinging.
Get a life.
TIF is the future!, Manchester (05/07/2008 at 14:51)
mancmanomyst, Wythenshawe (05/07/2008 at 15:07)
Now the fountains draw people in on warm days - the grass is well maintained and the red brick building is a nice addition.
Only thing i dont like is the hideous concrete wall
Manchester is a much more vibrant town now to the one I grew up with
Audenshaw Bob (05/07/2008 at 15:11)
OK then, I fully endorse the building over of another public car park and don't mind paying towards a private one for councillors.
Really pleased too about the demolition of buildings with character.
God bless the council.
Kevin Bell (05/07/2008 at 16:30)
Let them whinge while we enjoy one of the most progressive cities in Europe.
I moved to the city from a dump just off the M60 over 20 years ago and its stuff like this that makes me stay.
Leave them numpties to their own dull estates in the burbs while we lap it up.
Octavius Tinsworth Ace (05/07/2008 at 16:59)
Totally agree with the non-whingers about Manchester's progress in the last 20 or 30 years. Up until the mid to late 80s, the city was in seemingly terminal decline, and it was the city council who were responsible for pulling the place out of the mire back then. It certainly was nothing to do with the Tory government of the era whose policies gave the impression that they were intent on running Manchester and every other northern town into the ground. The way some people bang on about how great the past was, you'd think Manchester was a paradise on Earth in the 70s and 80s.
Stockport Dad (Tory public transport leader: oxymoron), Heaton Mersey (05/07/2008 at 17:07)
BUT - it has to be spent wisely - in a way that preserves what is special about the NQ. So, harking back to the days of the Manchester Independents - let's keep the chains at bay and not chase out the Cups, Love Saves The Days, This'n Thats, Trofs, Odds and Oklahomas of the area with huge rent hikes.
And that means listening to the current inhabitants - possibly reviving the NQ Assoc?
Mr Manchester (05/07/2008 at 18:26)
Dave (05/07/2008 at 21:22)
Stockport Dad (Tory public transport leader: oxymoron), Heaton Mersey (05/07/2008 at 21:29)
but you can see the danger - it might serve the best curry for miles and be a cultural catalyst for the NQ but it isn't exactly a high rental property...
ace, manchester (06/07/2008 at 10:59)
Audenshaw Bob (06/07/2008 at 11:56)
What I don't want is it being concreted over and a McDonald's, KFC, Tesco, Starbucks etc will all pop up.
It will destroy it's character.
Mr Manchester (06/07/2008 at 12:32)
Marc (06/07/2008 at 16:11)
looking forward to some This N That, Mr M :)
Emjay See (07/07/2008 at 08:19)
20 even 10 years ago it felt derelict, now you can see the potential. The idea for turning it into a place for people to relax in is absolutely brilliant. I just hope they don't mess it up in the execution of their plans.
citycentre, manchester (07/07/2008 at 09:22)
whats the point of having it if instead of this n that, dry bar, odd and love saves day its another slug and lettuce next door to a starbucks and macdonalds?
Anyone remember last year when a big injection of cash was going to "improve" a local builidng, that was bye bye dutch pancake house, hello boarded up building
Technobabble, Manchester (07/07/2008 at 10:00)
suge, mancs (07/07/2008 at 11:22)
alvinlwh (07/07/2008 at 11:46)
mode, city centre (05/08/2008 at 02:48)
there is a heck of a lot of land banking going on with land lords leaving buildings to rot,one being along side where i live with no roof on it open to the elements.
there is also one well known building just opposite which i wont name but has a grand white frontage housing a second hand clothing shop.this building is crying out for investment to bring it back to life.it's not just church street or stevensons square but oldham street which wants bringing back to life.
kai cheung (11/03/2010 at 18:52)
Public School Pimms Lout (12/03/2010 at 08:06)
The NQ is a great place and unique!
Whilst the investment maybe a good thing, I cant help feeling the council will turn it into their pet project and it may, inconsequence loose its character.
Anne Coates, Jersey Street (12/03/2010 at 08:51)