First phase of £300m Great Northern Warehouse on show again
Plans for first phase of the £300m transformation of the Great Northern Warehouse and Square will go on show in Manchester today (Thursday, August 24).
The second public exhibition from 3pm to 8pm has been organised by the partnership which owns the site, Trilogy Real Estate and Peterson Group.
The exhibition follows a similar event which took placeon August 10 and will give the public the opportunity to view the plans and comment ahead of a planning application next month (September).
Since acquiring the Great Northern in 2013, Trilogy Real Estate and Peterson Group have developed proposals to reinvigorate what they say is a strategically important and historically significant site.
Robert Wolstenholme of Trilogy Real Estate said: “We held our first consultation to speak to the wider community in Manchester, following an intensive period of consultation with around 200 local stakeholders including immediate residents.
“Just as our consultation activity influenced the designs we put on display at our exhibition, we will reflect on the feedback we have received from the public before we finally submit our designs for planning.
“Some 34 people left written responses to the plans we put on display on August 10 and the overwhelming majority of feedback was positive. Nevertheless, there is a passionate interest in the quality of public realm.
Built by Great Northern Railway between 1896 -1899, the Grade II-listed Great Northern Warehouse is visually striking evidence of Manchester’s industrial past. The original glazed brick lettering along the upper level of all four elevations of the warehouse is a local landmark that can be seen across the city.
Trilogy and Peterson see the current use of the Great Northern Warehouse as a car park as completely at odds with the quality and heritage value of the building.
The designs propose to revive the Great Northern Warehouse by converting the upper two storeys to high quality residential accommodation, stripping away modern additions, like the parking ramps, to reveal its historic character and conserve its heritage. Up to 100 warehouse-style apartments will be provided in the first phase.
The plans have been drawn up by a team of consultants that includes masterplanner Will Alsop’s aLL Design, architect SimpsonHaugh, landscape specialists Planit-IE and interior architect Johnson Naylor.
A planning submission for this first phase of the redevelopment of Great Northern, is expected to be submitted in September. Further phases of the transformation are currently in the early stages of consultation, with plans to deliver the project over the next 10 years.
