Demolition work has officially begun to pull down two of East Manchester’s most memorable landmarks.
It comes after it was announced that the Gorton landmarks would make way for a new state-of-the-art high school and housing estate, with planning permission for the scheme granted in December 2019.
Despite it being reported last September by the MEN that campaigners had launched an 11th hour bid to save the venue, the former Belle Vue Stadium – which opened in 1926, and was seen as a crown jewel of the community as the first purpose-built greyhound racing stadium in the UK – is set to be replaced by 167 houses and 80 apartments.
Due to its listing as an ‘asset of community value’, campaigners were given a six-month window to try and raise enough money to make a bid for it, but that window has now sadly passed and developers have now acquired the 12-acre site.
Local residents and passers-by have noticed that the stadium has now been fenced off, with demolition work underway and that is set to last around 26 weeks.
Speaking on the start of demolition work, Gordon Innes – Managing Director at Countryside Properties – said: “We’re making great progress in our regeneration of this important site and have now commenced a delicate demolition and remediation process following the detailed archaeological excavation of the land.
“It is extremely important to us to recognise the heritage of Belle Vue and pay homage to its iconic status.
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“We have taken great care to record original parts of the stadium during the soft strip of the structure so that its history will be preserved while we strive to deliver much-needed affordable housing in East Manchester”.
Showcase Cinema – which occupied the site of the famous Belle Vue entertainment complex – was unlike anything the area had ever seen before when it first opened on Hyde Road back in 1989, and it was one of the first multi-screen venues to open up in Manchester – bringing blockbuster flicks, quick queues, and car parks to fit a 1,000 cars along with it.
It was a pretty eerie sight for anyone who has fond memories of the place, but it wasn’t set to be an eerie sight for long as Showcase Cinema agreed to sell the land to Manchester City Council last year.
This news also gave Mancunians a glimpse at plans for The Co-Op Academy Belle Vue – which will be a free school for 1,200 pupils – for the first time, before it will welcome its first set of 120 Year 7 students this September.
The plans released to the public showed a modern L-shaped building split into three ‘zones’.
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It starts with a two-storey sports block, which will boast a sports hall, auditorium, and a drama studio, and the central three-storey building includes the school’s reception, a community hub with a library on the floor above, and a dining hall.
Sir Robert McAlpine / Space ArchitectsSir Robert McAlpine / Space Architects
An adjoining sports hall also has a separate entrance for out of hours use by the wider Belle Vue community, alongside a 140-space car park.
To the rear of the proposed building – which is currently a car park – two large playing fields will be provided, along with a multi-use games area (MUGA) and training grids, which would have three courts to accommodate tennis and basketball courts, a five-a-side football pitch, and practice areas for netball and hockey.
Things are going to look very different, that’s for sure.
“We are very excited about this new school for East Manchester,” said the Head of The Co-Op Academy Belle Vue, Benjamin Barker – who started in the role in January.
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“Being able to build and help develop the Belle Vue area and help provide much-needed school places is very important and we are very pleased that Manchester City Council chose Co-op Academies Trust to help make this goal a reality.”
He added: “We’re here to improve the whole community, not just those who attend our new school.”
Councillor Garry Bridges – Executive Member for Children and Schools at Manchester City Council – also added: “We’re fully committed to ensuring there are enough school places right across the city in the areas where they’re needed, and that all children and young people in Manchester, regardless of where they live, benefit from the best education in the best buildings.”
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Manchester
Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant unveils big refurb
Thomas Melia
Much-loved Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five has just unveiled a beautiful refurbishment at one of its Manchester sites, along with a new menu of fresh, handmade pasta.
Gone is the famous yellow colour palette of this Italian eatery as they swap in a sophisticated and regal turquoise blue at their Liverpool Road restaurant.
This establishment is known for its impressive shop-window pasta making stations where you can see your food prepared live in-store and while walking past outside the venue.
They’re continuing their foodie legacy serving carby creations, like a flaming cheese wheel pasta where staff blowtorch the cheese to ensure it’s as melty as possible.
One of the biggest menu highlights at Italiana Fifty-Five is the cappellacci, which comes in two equally gorgeous forms and much like its English translation, emulates tiny hats.
These cute little plates come in two delicious stuffed pairings – the burrata, combined with a tangy tomato and beef filling, and a salmon with cream sauce and fresh lemon for a match made in heaven.
Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five unveils big refurb. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Italiana Fifty-Five as it unveils a new look on Liverpool Road. Credit: The Manc Group
How can you think of anything more ideal than a table full of hearty and home-comforting meals than one that also features an array of beautiful sides?
Usual delights like the burrata on a bed of rocket, tomato and finished off with a balsamic vinegar glaze area great addition to your already faultless food.
Cheesy garlic pizza bread is quintessential when dining in an Italian restaurant, and Italiana 55’s lovely flavour-packed favourite is a go-to when ordering here.
The Liverpool Road restaurant also has a tonnata pizza which uses toppings that are an exact ingredient breakdown of the Mediterranean sauce, which it shares its name with.
In photos: Italiana Fifty-Five has undergone a refurb. Credit: The Manc Group
What better way to wolf down some incredible Italian feasts than with some perfectly paired alcoholic offerings like the classic Aperol spritz, trusted espresso martinis and a selection of fine wines.
Their menu is staying as tasty as ever with their delicious pizzas and pastas, with the new fresh pasta menu available at their restaurants on Liverpool Road and in Didsbury.
A look at Embassy Village as construction on Manchester’s homeless housing project begins
Danny Jones
Work has officially begun on Manchester’s long-rumoured Embassy Village, a new living quarters designed specifically to house the local homeless community.
Set to be the largest purpose-built village of its kind in the UK, the hope is to provide short to medium-term housing for up to 40 rough sleepers in the Greater Manchester area.
Planning permission for the £4 million project proposed by the Embassy Charity was handed down back in 2021 and enabling works have been gradually taking place, with the land now fully prepped for construction to begin.
Officially breaking ground on Tuesday, 19 November, developers and regeneration specialists Peel Waters shared the first images from the site as well as concept artwork for what the district will look like once completed.
Construction begins to build the UK’s largest purpose-built village for rough sleepers @EmbassyVillage 🏗️🏡 Over 50 organisations are working together to transform our site below 22 railway arches into high-quality homes for 40 homeless men Full story herehttps://t.co/xoXfURTLGkpic.twitter.com/fn8GixYsxR
The 4.5-acre brownfield site sits beneath 22 railway arches just off the Egerton Street Bridge near Castlefield and the bustling Regent Road which heads towards Salford. Although it was initially said rooms would be made from shipping containers, the units will now be proper purpose-built structures.
Designed to house homeless and vulnerable people living in and around Manchester within individual units, Embassy Village is a joint non-profit venture by both Peel Waters and well-known property company Capital&Centric.
Contractor Vermont Group will be taking on the construction for free, with around 50 organisations offering their services pro bono, including AEW Architects, Planit and Jon Matthews Architects, who helped design the living quarters and wider communal space from the ground up.
Aiming to create a genuinely beneficial community environment, with those staying there able to access green spaces, mini-allotment plots, sports facilities; counselling services, laundry rooms, computer spaces and tonnes more, they’ve come a long way from offering tour bus beds to the homeless.
Residents will also start off on the right path towards getting back on their feet and those staying there will be required to carry out six hours of training per week in things like shopping, cooking, budgeting and other key life skills.
Substance abuse was only mentioned as a contributing cause by 22% of respondents, highlighting the reality that homelessness trauma exacerbates addiction for many. In fact, homelessness is a major contributing factor to substance abuse. pic.twitter.com/DeEB7VhAiC
Speaking on the first day of proper construction, Peel Waters‘ director James Whittaker said: “Today’s launch event is an important milestone, marking years of hard work and collaboration to deliver the UK’s first purpose-built community village…”
He went on to thank all of those who have backed the plans so far, including Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, who has already applauded it as a “fantastic idea.”
With several local organisations either offering their help for free or contribute by donating to the project, the speed at which work can now move is increasing and it is expected that the 24 homes, as well as the central ‘village hall’ space, will be finished within the next 10 months.
The aim is for Embassy Village to be completed in its entirety by the end of 2025 and with more and more businesses being invited to help with the development along the way, the amount of resources and manpower is only looking like it will increase with approximately £1m still needed to fully bring it to life.
Cooperating with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, which specialises in helping the homeless through its ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, Embassy are now working on finding long-term funding for the village’s operational costs once it is up and running.
Another key benefactor is The Moulding Foundation, an organisation dedicated to alleviating social inequalities, who donated £3.5m to support the village’s construction.
Co-founder, Jodie Moulding, told Prolific North: “For most people, access to housing, healthcare, and education is a given – but for others, it is a privilege…
“It has taken an unbelievable amount of time, effort, and energy to get to this point, so finally breaking ground is a huge milestone for everyone involved in bringing Embassy Village to life.”
As for Embassy themselves the charity’s director, Sid Williams, added: “Special thanks go to Matt and Jodie Moulding for their financial backing and the teams at Peel Waters, Capital&Centric, the Mayor’s Charity and Manchester City Council for making this happen.”
Emily Sergeant -
25th May 2021 
