Plans for a new £50 million neighbourhood in Manchester’s Ancoats could see a disused storage depot turned into a new canalside district for city dwellers.
Submitted to Manchester City Council by developers Capital&Centric and Kamani Property Group, if successful they would see hundreds of new canalside apartments, townhouses and gardens take over the currently empty space.
Plans also include room for gardens and a new cafe bar or store, to be used by residents as a community hang out.
New images submitted as part of the plans show proposed designs for the new neighbourhood, which would include 193 homes with a mixture of 1 and 2-bed apartments, 3-bed duplexes and townhouses fronting onto Carruthers Street.
It’s the second collaboration between the two Manchester-based developers, who have teamed up to breathe new life into the historic site. If approved, work could start on site in early 2023.
Fusing together old and new, projected images should reassure local history buffs that the iconic Ancoats Works frontage on Pollard Street will be retained.
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Inside, meanwhile, new apartments will feature a modern twist on the red-brick buildings that have long dominated the area – the home of industry in Manchester for hundreds of years.
Further plans include restoring the unloved canalside, by creating a lush new garden with pretty lighting and lush foliage.
Speaking on the new development plans Adam Kamani, CEOat Kamani Property, said: “We think this community will be a really vibrant addition to Ancoats as it grows.
“The design strikes the perfect blend between old and new – retaining parts of the historic building with the iconic ‘Ancoats Works’ signage, whilst creating design-led homes on what’s currently a pretty unloved, industrial site.
“As well as new homes, we plan to deliver stunning outdoor spaces and improve the canalside, making the space much more welcoming with real character.”
Adam Higgins, co-founder at Capital&Centric, said: “At our communities in Piccadilly East and Kampus, we’ve seen first-hand that Manchester’s diverse neighbourhoods are attracting a real mix of people wanting to put down roots in the city.
“More and more, young families, retirees and downsizers are wanting to call the city home, as well as the more stereotypical young professionals.
“Ancoats Works responds to that, with a mix of townhouses and apartments to help foster a diverse neighbourhood, as well as spaces like the corner café bar and gardens where a genuine community can bond and grow. We’re excited about getting going.”
Submission of the Ancoats Works application follows community consultation last year. The collaboration follows the two companies joining up on plans for a site on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter, consented by Manchester City Council in 2021.
Feature image – Supplied
City Centre
No trams to run through major Manchester city centre station this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Arguably Manchester city centre’s most important tram stop is set to be out of action this weekend, with no services running through it.
In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that no trams will run through Cornbrook this weekend.
Due to this, there will be a change to operating patterns across the majority of the Metrolink network on both Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October.
As is often the case in instances like these, disruption to passengers is expected.
On Saturday and Sunday [5 and 6 October], no trams will operate through Cornbrook.
There will be a change to operating patterns and replacement bus services will be in operation.
On Saturday (5 October), the tram service pattern will change to Altrincham – Old Trafford, Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury – Firswood, Etihad Campus – Bury (peak time only) / Victoria (after peak only), Manchester Airport – Firswood, Rochdale Town Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield (via Exchange Square), and The Trafford Centre – Wharfside.
Similarly, on Sunday (6 October), the only difference to the above service pattern is that the Etihad Campus tram will only run to Victoria, not Bury.
Services will operate every 12 minutes, except for on the Eccles line, where no trams will run at all.
TfGM is also warning that there may be changes to the first and last tram times during these works, but, in bid to help people still get to their destinations, three bus replacement services will operate from Firswood to Victoria, Old Trafford to Piccadilly, and Eccles to Piccadilly.
No trams will run through major Manchester city centre station Cornbrook this weekend / Credit: TfGM
The Old Trafford to Piccadilly bus service will run through Wharfside, while the Eccles to Piccadilly will travel via MediaCity.
“These works are a vitally important part of maintaining a safe and reliable network for all our customers,” explained
Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Metrolink, said these works are “a vitally important part” of maintaining the Metrolink, and that work has been scheduled by TfGM to “minimise disruption to passengers and residents as much as possible”.
“I’d encourage passengers to plan journeys and leave plenty of time to reach events over the weekend,” he concluded.
You can find more information on the TfGM website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
City Centre
Bruce Springsteen announces a pair of massive Manchester gigs at Co-op Live next year
Thomas Melia
American rock and roll icon Bruce Springsteen really is treating Manchester fans, giving them not one but two opportunities to watch ‘The Boss’ live in action.
Known for hits countless hits over the decades like ‘Dancing in the Dark’, ‘Born in the USA’ and just being an overall rock god, Bruce Springsteen is set to play a total of three dates in the North West.
The legend, who helped define not only what swathes of 70s and 80s music sounded like but still influences artists all over to this day, last graced the Manchester crowds back in 2016 when he brought ‘The River Tour’ to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
Next year will mark nine whole years since he last visited our gorgeous city and this time, he’s treating us to two bites at the ‘Sherry Darling’.
There will be a few familiar faces joining him on stage too, as Springsteen will be accompanied by a long-running backing band and career-long friends, The E Street Band, when he takes the at Co-op Live, Manchester’s newest and most state-of-the-art music venue.
The 75-year-old is currently preparing to serenade Canada with his timeless riffs and effortless rockstar swagger, and if his US shows are anything to go by, his UK dates are set to be just as phenomenal.
He clearly has a soft spot for us Mancs as we are blessed with the opening date of his 2025 European tour, which kicks off in May, before he then takes his show on the (Thunder) road to Anfield Stadium in Liverpool for one night only in June.
Springsteen has played Manchester on many occasions throughout his musical career but this will be his first time in the brand-new performance space.
This tour announcement comes shortly after some more big news for Brucey and his fans with a brand new documentary film releasing on Hulu and Disney+ later this month.
The documentary film, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, is coming to our screens on 25 October, but first we can look forward to the real-life Bruce Springsteen touching down in Manchester on 17 and 20 May 2025.
As for the tour itself, the rock artist will no doubt have the crowd up on their feet and reliving memories of the past while creating new ones at his show with a discography spanning six decades and a staggering 21 studio albums.
Tickets for the two concert dates at Co-op Live in Manchester will be available from 11 October at 9am HERE – best of luck bagging yours!
Featured Images — Rob DeMartin (supplied press images)
Georgina Pellant -
25th March 2022 
