New business district in Manchester will create thousands of jobs
One of the country’s biggest developers has unveiled its ambitious vision for a new cultural district in Manchester which will create 10,000 new jobs.
The new district will be centred on the old Granada studios near Castlefield and will include a series of major developments.
Property firm Allied London is investing millions into the scheme and unveiled its vision for the new district last night.
Four new projects will be at the heart of the plans with an arts centre also planned for the future.
Byrom House is being turned into The ABC buildings.
ABC Studios
The development will retain the buildings’ original features, showcasing its 60s architecture and design, with a refurbishment that celebrates the decade.
The collection of buildings has been empty for nearly 10 years and were previously earmarked for demolition by the former owners.
The Bonded Warehouse: a new tech and workspace will contain six levels of workspaces, studios, retail spaces and tailored event spaces.
Originally constructed in the 1860s, the building was a terminus linking Manchester and Liverpool.
Housed in The Bonded Warehouse The Department will be a new workspace concept designed for Manchester’s tech hub.
The workspace will be operated and managed by leading hospitality and workspace company All Work & Social.
ABC Studios interior
A tech partner will be announced in the coming weeks, that will allow start-ups and scaling tech business to grow and collaborate at the Bonded Warehouse.
Set up in 2017 by Allied London, All Studios is an operational company that has brought the historic Old Granada Studios back to life as working television studios.
The buildings have been home to productions such as Peaky Blinders (BBC), Snatch TV series, Safe (Netflix), League of Gentlemen and Wanderlust.
All Studios is an independent business delivering over 100,000 sq. ft. of purpose-built TV and film studios, within seven separate indoor stages and flexible outdoor filming lot.
Allied London’s chief executive Michael Ingall announced last night that the four key developments will open this year.
He said: “Enterprise City will provide infrastructure for modern Industry for the expansion of Manchester as a city for media tech and creative industries.
“We aim to connect modern industries within a new cluster of creativity, opportunity and innovation.
“On completion, Enterprise City will create 10,000 jobs in Manchester, promoting diversity in industry and ensuring the city can attract and retain the talent it needs to develop even further.
“Clusters don’t just pop up anywhere, they develop where an environment enables activity to thrive.
“Enterprise City is driven by the intention to create a wide and diverse series of spaces and facilities that will support modern industries and companies of all sizes, from SME’s through to large-scale growing and expanding businesses. Enterprise City is the right concept, in the right city, at the right time and will enhance Manchester’s deep cultural and creative heritage”.
He added: “Manchester’s international future is dependent on developing vital infrastructure and a diversity of spaces. Add to this the important and strongly anticipated Factory at the heart of the plans, and St. John’s is going to be one of those places that will become globally renowned.”
Factory, named after Manchester’s legendary music label, will be a cutting-edge arts venue that will take a radically new approach to cultural production and performance.
It is being designed by Rem Koolhass, lead designer at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture and is a development by Manchester Quays Ltd, a development partnership between Allied London and Manchester City Council.
Factory will be commissioning original works in partnership with leading national and international organisations.
