œ100m Manchester plan ends in a deal

The long running stand-off which has stymied the œ100 million redevelopment of the Great Northern Warehouse in central Manchester has finally ended.

A deal has been brokered between the main feuding parties, developer Merlin Great Northern and the Central Manchester Development Corporation, along with English Partnerships, English Heritage, the G-Mex complex and Manchester City Council.

The site will house 32,200m2 of offices with 8,280m2 of shopping. A high-tech conference centre for 1,000 people will be built close to the G-Mex centre and the new concert hall currently under construction.

English Heritage has agreed to the demolition of some listed buildings to the north of the warehouse to provide a new square. The 10,580m2 warehouse itself, will accommodate retail and leisure facilities on the lower two floors, while the upper three will provide 550 parking spaces.

A planning application will be submitted in May. Funding will be needed from Europe and English Partnerships.

The scheme may also be submitted as the basis of a Regional Challenge bid for government funds this year.