Ancoats block demolished on safety grounds

A VICTORIAN building in Manchester’s Ancoats district has been demolished after it was deemed unsafe.

The property, home to the upholstery supplies business Selhide for many years, was located in Great Ancoats Street next to the recently completed Nuovo apartment block.

The building’s owner, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) said it was told to demolish it on safety grounds by the city council following an inspection. The land has already been grassed over.

A spokesman for the HCA said: “The building was demolished at short notice due to its poor condition. The Homes & Communities Agency acquired the building as its condition was a blight on the area – however, as inspections of the building took place following acquisition, Manchester City Council had to issue an Emergency Demolition Notice due to its dangerous state.

“A subsequent planning application sought consent to landscape the site and create a wall art mural on the adjacent building. The HCA has acted as a responsible and conscientious landowner in responding to this demolition notice, and by putting in the planning application.”