Campaigners win fight to save historic Ancoats Dispensary

CAMPAIGNERS who waged a four-year battle to save Ancoats Dispensary in Manchester are taking ownership of the 140-year-old former hospital today.

Ancoats Dispensary Trust has signed the lease to take possession of the derelict building from developers, Urban Splash, who have owned it since 2001.

Trust chief executive Karen Houghton said: “Without the help and support of the people of Manchester, the Trust wouldn’t have reached this crucial point.

It now plans to restore the Dispensary and convert it into a community wellbeing centre and affordable workspace for local creative businesses.

In the next few months the organisation will be carrying out urgent safeguarding works on the building.

“We now have legal possession of the building, and initial funding in place for the safeguarding works,” said Houghton. “However, we still have a significant journey ahead, to raise more funds to deliver the design and the full restoration. This is what the hard work over the last four years has been about; restoring the building and ensuring it continues to be an asset owned by the community for the community.”

“Needless to say, there is lot more to do before the Dispensary re-opens, but we are on our way to creating a space that will make a huge contribution to health and wellbeing of Ancoats community and the local economy.

“We’re so thankful to the people and businesses that have given their precious time and money to help us reach this point.

“So, if you’re interested in heritage, your local community, or just want to get involved, we invite you to come on board in whatever way you can – we’ve still a long way to go until those doors open.”

The Trust is appealing to individuals and businesses to come on board and help them to raise funds, continue to defy the odds and put the heart back into Ancoats.

Urban Splash chairman Tom Bloxham said: “We are very pleased to have been working with Ancoats Dispensary Trust for the past 18 months and are glad they have been able to have been able to secure a good future for the building. 

“We have sold the building and to support the Trust have donated £20,000 to help with its redevelopment.

“We look forward to maintaining our relationship with ADT and seeing the building come to fruition as an important part of New Islington.”

Linda Carver Co-ordinator of ADT added “We thank Urban Splash for agreeing to give the ADT time to apply for the funding to stabilise the Dispensary as without their support, the Trust would not have been able to save the Dispensary from demolition. 

“The Dispensary which has become a symbol representing the community of Ancoats as well as neighbouring districts of Manchester will be restored and we are delighted to now be in a position where we can bring the building back into use.  We hope that it will once again  become the beating heart of this area of Manchester.”