Exciting plans to redevelop the Great Northern site in Manchester have today been approved by Manchester City Council.
After the Council’s Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) set out ambitions back in 2017 for the historic Grade II-listed leisure complex to be established as a “cultural, business and residential” destination for the future, developers have announced that plans to bring the building “back to vibrant life” have today been approved.
Owners Trilogy Real Estate and Peterson want to “make best use of the six-acre site”.
Today’s approved plans will see Great Northern’s pedestrian connections to the rest of the city improved, by removing the “unsightly” 1990s additions of car park ramps and the ‘leisure box’ that houses the cinema, as well as adding medium-scale residential buildings at the south of the site.
A redesign of the public square in front of the Warehouse to create a green oasis for the city with spaces for “work, rest and play” has also been approved.
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Manchester City Council has approved plans for the ‘reinvention’ of Great Northern Warehouse / Credit: Trilogy Real Estate
Upper floors are to be turned into high-quality office space that “respects and upgrades” the existing architecture and structure.
New pedestrian routes through the site will be opened to improve connectivity to the wider city centre and create more spaces for community activity and greenery
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Retention, refurbishment, and access improvements to Deansgate Mews will also be made, with space for local independent businesses to flourish, on top of refurbishment and updates to the Deansgate Terrace, and more offices on the upper floors above retail and leisure.
That’s not all either, as redevelopment plans also include 750 apartments across two taller buildings and a lower-scale podium building.
Each building will have shared amenity space, outside terraces, and access to green space.
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Trilogy Real Estate and Peterson want to “make best use of the six-acre site” / Credit: Trilogy Real EstateRedevelopment plans “respect and upgrade” the existing architecture and structure / Credit: Trilogy Real Estate
Speaking on the approval of redevelopment plans today, Robert Wolstenholme – Founder & CEO of Trilogy Real Estate – said: “A huge team has worked tirelessly and with huge passion for over eight years to listen, design, and refine to arrive at a proposed scheme we hope Manchester will proud of.
“There is much still to do and we will continue to work hard to bring to life what has been in our imaginations for so many years.
“We greatly look forward to continuing to build a community of the best of the north at the Great Northern.”
Work is expected to begin as early as 2024 / Credit: Trilogy Real Estate
“We are delighted that the proposals for the Great Northern have been approved,” added Nick Owen, partner at architects SimpsonHaugh.
“We now look forward to delivering on our vision for this important site, creating a thriving and sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood, celebrating the site’s unique built heritage, and creating a place for everyone to enjoy.”
Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2023 
