Plans to bring Northern Quarter site back to life

Agecroft Investment Company has today (February 6) unveiled images of its plans to redevelop a key site in Manchester’s Northern Quarter to create a new hotel and restaurant with bar.

The new proposals for 52-58 Thomas Street will add to Agecroft’s collection of characterful buildings in this much-loved area of the city and will provide more space for Northern Quarter businesses to grow.

A consultation evening is taking place on tomorrow, February 7, at the former Richard Goodall Gallery on Thomas Street, opposite the site, between 4pm and 7:30pm, and local people are encouraged to attend to view the proposals and offer their thoughts.

The new scheme, designed by Manchester-based GA Studio, will restore the Victorian-era frontage and roofscape on the corner of Thomas Street and John Street, which features attractive moulded and multi-coloured brickwork.

Added around this will be a series of interlinking new buildings of between four and five storeys, which will complete the block running along Thomas Street, Kelvin Street, John Street and Back Turner Street.

Agecroft is in firm discussions with two end occupiers to operate the hotel and restaurant/bar, which will include 26 rooms and a roof top terrace.

Ian Braithwaite, estates manager at Agecroft Investment Company, said: “Agecroft has been a longstanding custodian of property in the Northern Quarter and has a proud history of continuously updating, refurbishing and improving the buildings along Edge Street and Thomas Street.

“This has helped us to attract and retain some of the Northern Quarter’s most popular businesses.

“We have been working on our plans to breathe new life into this site on Thomas Street for some time. It’s not been an easy project, considering the scale of refurbishment needed and the unforeseen issues at the end of last year which resulted in the emergency demolition of some of the buildings on the site.

“We are, therefore, very pleased to have reached this next milestone and are looking forward to discussing our plans during the upcoming consultation.

“We have already taken on board feedback from local groups and conservation specialists, and believe this is the best solution to bring this site back to life.”

Martin James Gibson, managing director of GA Studio, added: “As a local Northern Quarter architectural practice, we’re delighted to be working on a project which is quite literally on our doorstep.

“Our design has taken inspiration from the historic layout of the site, which comprised of a series of ad-hoc buildings developed over time, of varying uses including a sign-writer, a restaurant, bed & breakfast accommodation and even an umbrella shop.

“Our architectural proposal importantly retains the original building at the corner of Thomas Street and John Street, whilst creating a series of distinguishable contemporary buildings over the rest of the site, which we are confident blends the best of the old with something new and relevant, but which is still distinctively of the Northern Quarter.”