News
How Manc are you? Take this quiz to find out
Sam Ridgway -
3rd January 2020
Sam Ridgway -
3rd January 2020 News
One of Manchester’s oldest surviving Victorian mills to be repurposed into ‘distinctive’ rental homes
Emily Sergeant
A multi-million funding deal has been agreed to repurpose one of Manchester’s oldest surviving Victorian mills.
After £55 million plans to reimagine Talbot Mill into a 10-storey apartment block began back in May of last year, social impact developers Capital&Centric have now agreed a £37 million deal with Paragon Bank to finance the restoration of the historic mill and repurpose it into 190 new distinctive properties for rent.
Built in 1855 overlooking the canal, the imposing red-brick mill on Ellesmere Street in the Castlefield neighbourhood was the product of Manchester’s textile boom.
One of the city’s last massive mills to be restored, it was Talbot that spearheaded the rapid transformation of the Cornbrook area from undeveloped land to a powerful industrial hub in the late 19th century, before going on to dominate the local cotton industry in the early 1900s.
It was even used as a mushroom farm in the 1980s, while more recently, it has been the set of a period drama and a massive art exhibition.
ADVERTISEMENT
But when the restoration is complete, over half the development will be newly-built and will offer residents of the nearly 200 ‘distinctive’ apartments a lush hidden garden, with plenty of green spaces to meet and hang out, while still managing to celebrate the mill’s past and retain loads of original features.
Capital&Centric is developing Talbot Mill as an investment, which it will retain for rent once finished.
ADVERTISEMENT
This is something the developers have already done successfully on a number of sites in recent years, especially in its lengthy run of restoring Manchester’s iconic listed buildings and mixing the old in with the new.
“We love to restore and repurpose historic buildings,” explained Tom Wilmot, who is the joint managing director at Capital&Centric.
“But as one of Manchester’s oldest mills, Talbot Mill is something a bit different, so we’re buzzing to be bringing it back to its former glory, [as] it had a huge role to play in the industrial revolution in the city and now it gets to be part of the city’s future.
Read more:
- Greater Manchester town named ‘property hotspot’ after prices jump nearly 10% last year
- Images released of £210m redevelopment plans for ‘eyesore’ Manchester hotel
- Salford named one of the most expensive UK cities to rent in
“We’re retaining as many features as we can, to keep the history of the mill alive and so that our residents can enjoy becoming custodians of the past whilst enjoying all the trappings of modern-day living.”
Featured Image – Capital&Centric
News
Government sets out plans to fix the UK’s ‘broken’ rail system and deliver reliable services
Emily Sergeant
Plans to fix the ‘broken’ rail system across the UK and deliver reliable services for all have been set out by the Government.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is aiming to ‘rewire Britain’s railways’ with the introduction of its landmark bill unveiled by the Government yesterday (18 February), most notably including the setting up of a powerful passenger watchdog to reform Great British Railways (GBR), give passengers a voice, and hold train operators to account.
The creation of the new watchdog is described as being a ‘once in a generation overhaul’.
Its establishment should bring track and train together, end ‘major failures’, and deliver reliable services for passengers, all while catalysing growth across the country, the DfT assures.
The Railways Bill is set to deliver a once in a generation overhaul of Britain's railways.
— Department for Transport (@transportgovuk) February 18, 2025
But what will it actually do, and what does this mean for passengers?
Here's what you need to know 👇 pic.twitter.com/qag7s7mgoC
It will also give devolved leaders more of a say on the services that directly impact their towns and cities, and work together to integrate transport, ultimately making it simpler to travel and attracting more people to our railways.
The new independent watchdog will be tasked with ensuring GBR addresses the issues that consistently rank highest in passenger complaints to ensure the public are given clear information when they travel.
Working with the Transport Secretary and GBR, the watchdog will also be given the powers to set clear standards for passengers on things like journey information and assistance, investigate persistent problems, and publish reports on poor service – before referring this to the railway regulator for enforcement action.
A public consultation on the plans has also been launched this week, giving the Government a chance to hear Brits’ views on putting an end to ‘outdated and inefficient processes’ which have resulted in poor performance, timetable chaos, and complex fares and ticketing over the years.
“Passengers have put up with broken railways for far too long,” insisted Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander.
Read more:
- Passengers urged not to fire verbal or physical ‘abuse’ at conductors on Northern trains
- Train tickets slashed by up to 50% in huge Rail Sale across the UK
- Andy Burnham urges Keir Starmer to ‘move really quickly’ on the Northern Powerhouse
“This landmark reform will sweep away decades of failure, creating a Great British Railways passengers can rely on.
“We’re giving passengers a powerful voice with a new watchdog dedicated to addressing their biggest concerns, building railways people can trust, improving our services, and boosting the economy in the process.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
More News
Audio
Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute
Eats