Major redevelopment plans for the building which houses the Manchester city centre branch of Debenhams will go ahead.
The Rylands building will be transformed, despite previous concerns about an “ugly” rooftop extension.
The plans for the £68.5 million redevelopment – which were first revealed back in August of last year, before it went to full public consultation – by owners AM Alpha will see the iconic building provide a new shopping arcade at street level, along with several floors of new offices.
It would also involve the Grade II listed landmark on Market Street getting a much-needed makeover aimed at restoring its Art Deco glory.
Redevelopment plans come after department store chain Debenhams – which has occupied the Rylands building since 1973 – announced it is closing its flagship premises after battling ongoing financial troubles that were heightened amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, before eventually going into administration last year and putting 12,000 jobs at risk across the UK.
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There are no plans for another department store to take its place either, and instead, new shopping, dining and leisure outlets will open in the ground floor and basement.
AM Alpha had also considered converting the building into apartments, a cinema or a gallery, but it has been confirmed that office space was seen as the most sustainable long-term use of the building, with up to 258,000 sq ft of new offices set to occupy most of the vacant upper floors, as well as a 40,000 sq ft four-storey rooftop extension.
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An atrium providing natural light between the second and seventh floors is also planned, along with a winter garden on the sixth floor.
AM AlphaAM Alpha
The redevelopment plans have been met with some criticism though.
Piccadilly councillor Sam Wheeler told Manchester’s planning committee that the extension would have a detrimental effect on 15 families living in neighbouring buildings, saying on Thursday that: “I think we can all admit that the box on top of the Grade II listed building is incredibly ugly.
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“It has been a policy of the council for some 30 years or so now to promote city centre living, not just city centre existing.
“Each time there is a loss of habitability caused by loss of light in several apartments, that does lower the livability of the city centre.”
The planning committee meeting also heard that a loss of light would have a negative impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of those who would be affected by the rooftop extension, with committee member Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons – also a Piccadilly ward member – adding that the extension would “box in” hundreds of residents living between Market Street and Church Street.
But Katie Wray – Assistant Director at Deloitte, acting on behalf of AM Alpha – said the proposals would “restore and rejuvenate” the Rylands building, and secure its long-term future.
The vote to approve the application was passed by eight councillors, with two voting against and one abstaining.
You can find more information via the Future Rylands website here.
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Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.
The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.
To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.
This is coming from a wire fan but no club deserves to be left in the dark even longer than they already have done it’s nothing but a disgrace to the sport of rugby those owners and the court should be ashamed of themselves.
Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.
“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.
Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.
Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).
“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”
More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.
Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.
“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.
“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”
You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?
‘Christmas chaos’ on the cards as Manchester tram drivers vote on staging strike action next month
Emily Sergeant
There could be major disruption to festive travel in Greater Manchester next month, as hundreds of tram drivers are currently voting on whether to strike.
Almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.
The drivers – who are members of the union, Unite – all work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester – and they operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
As it stands, the drivers’ shift patterns currently mean they have to work 450 hours over a 12-week period, which results in some having to work 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern.
Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments, and this is said to be causing safety concerns around fatigue.
‘Christmas chaos’ is on the cards as Manchester tram drivers are currently voting on staging strike action next month / Credit: TfGM
Drivers say they concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks, but after raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is ‘no funding available’ to support any ‘meaningful’ improvements to working patterns.
Instead, management has asked drivers to start work earlier – which Unite says is only ‘adding insult to injury’.
The ballot is set to close on 11 November, and if drivers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could then begin in late November, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the region during the busy festive shopping period – particularly coinciding with Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, known for attracting millions of visitors to the city each year.
“Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously,” commented Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden.
The Manc -
22nd January 2021 
