A section of the iconic railway arches along Whitworth Street is set to be refurbished into a brand-new development space for up-and-coming local artistsunder HOME.
Having existed as a recognisable part of the city’s rich transport and architectural heritage for as long as we can remember, three of the familiar archways situated on Whitworth Street West are now about to be given a new lease of life which will also help support Manchester’s beloved arts community.
Coming under the HOME theatre and arts umbrella with the work being carried out by the North West arm of Robertson Construction, the transformation is set to start fairly soon and is scheduled to be completed by May 2024.
Sitting between Whitworth Street West and HOME’s main arts building at Tony Wilson Place, which has been a popular cinema, gallery and restaurant since 2015, the new development centre will provide a space and vital resources for artists of all ages, disciplines and stages in their careers. Wonderful stuff.
Costing £3.7m, the goal of the ‘HOME Arches’ project is not only to give the Whitworth Street West Arches some much-needed TLC, but to help nurture, attract and retain creative talent in Manchester by providing them with a high-quality, low-cost rehearsal and training space.
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Moreover, being connected to the ever-thriving First Street district will further strengthen it as a well-known and go-to city centre destination for artists and visitors alike.
Funding for the renovation was secured back in 2021 following a £2.3m government grant, with a further £0.9m contribution from Manchester City Council and around £0.5m from HOME themselves, who are helping cover some post-construction costs.
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The Arches project is part of a wider £20m redevelopment plan under the national Levelling Up fund, with the bulk of the £17.5m scheme seeing the Upper Campfield and Lower Campfield Market buildings (both Grade II-listed structures) lovingly transformed into a new tech, media and creative industries hub.
Issuing a statement following the announcement, Director and CEO of HOME, Dave Moutrey said they are delighted to provide “meaningful, additional creative space for artists” and allow them to “grow the work that we do with artists in the North West, across theatre, film, visual art and digital works”.
As for the Council itself, leader Bev Craig said: “These arches are part of our heritage which have sat unloved and underused for many years. This scheme is bringing them back to life with a very modern purpose – complementing the thriving cultural economy in our city.
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“Culture has a huge role to play in the success of our city and its people – creatively, for health and well-being and economically. This project will enhance this part of the city centre, create new jobs and further strengthen Manchester’s cultural ecosystem.”
We can’t wait to see how the new historic railway arches look under the loving stewardship of HOME and see the impact it makes on local creativity and culture.
Greater Manchester city named UK’s ‘loneliest’ with highest percentage of people living alone
Emily Sergeant
One of Greater Manchester’s cities has been named the ‘loneliest’ in the UK, according to the number of single occupants.
Living alone used to be seen as somewhat of a short-term ‘phase’, often between living in family homes or house shares, but today it’s a completely different story, as solo living is fast becoming a defining feature of urban Britain.
From high-rise studio flats, to compact commuter apartments, single-occupancy living is reshaping the character of many UK cities.
While for some, living alone simply represents independence and flexibility, for others it’s more a case of necessity – with wider demographic data apparently showing single-occupancy linked to student populations, delayed family formation, career mobility, and rising house prices that make shared living less practical.
But, with all things considered then, which towns and cities in the UK have the most solo occupants? The ‘loneliest’ cities, if you will.
A new study by Tarotoo set out to identify where solo living is most concentrated across the UK, with researchers analysing 58 cities, examining the number of studio and one-bedroom homes listed for sale or rent per 10,000 residents using Rightmove data – and it was Salford that came out on top.
Salford has been named the UK’s ‘loneliest’ with the highest percentage of people living alone / Credit: Hilverd Reker (via Wikimedia Commons)
That’s right, Salford tops the ranking with a striking 158.08 single-occupancy homes per 10,000 people, which is more than double the figure of the city in second place, and also vastly ahead of the national average.
The city’s rapid regeneration over the past decade, particularly around MediaCity and the wider Greater Manchester area, is said to be a huge contributing factor it in taking the top spot, as this has driven a boom in purpose-built apartments.
In fact, according to ONS data, Salford has seen one of the fastest rates of population growth among young professionals in the North West.
Other northern cities in the top 20 include Lancaster and Leeds, at fourth and fifth place respectively, and outside the top 20 is where you’ll find other northern cities like Liverpool, Chester, York, and Sheffield – with Manchester itself coming in at number 39 on the list.
At the opposite end of the ranking, Newport records just 2.59 single-occupancy homes per 10,000 people, which is the lowest figure in the study, and it’s then followed by Glasgow (3.29), Swansea (3.78), Dundee (4.33), and Stoke-on-Trent (4.51).
Featured Image – Patrick Perkins (via Unsplash)
Property
Inside the £1m historic terrace for sale on one of Greater Manchester’s most sought-after streets
Emily Sergeant
A Grade II-listed property forming part of one of Greater Manchester’s most historic and sought-after rows has gone on the market.
And if you happen to have £1 million you’re willing to part with, then it could be yours.
Now, of course, as we always say before we write about these stunning homes, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have this kind of money just chilling in bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This five-bedroom end terraced property sits pretty on The Downs – which is by far one of the most recognisable row of houses in Altrincham – and it’s wrapped in the distinguished architecture of the 1830s, both on the outside and the inside.
With accommodations beautifully arranged over four floors, estate agents describe the home as being simply ‘exceptional’.
Benefitting from being just a stone’s throw from the thriving market town of Altrincham and everything that makes it so beloved, as well being only a 10-minute stroll to Hale village, this Grade II-listed gem manages to blend contemporary comfort with the timeless elegance of its historic 19th century surroundings.
Some of the property’s stand-out features have to be – and trust us, it’s hard to narrow down – the open-plan lounge and dining space that flows seamlessly into the stylish kitchen, and outside to the private outdoor terrace, and an additional enclosed walled garden.
There’s three generous-sized double bedrooms on the first floor of the home, while the attic level houses a tranquil en-suite escape at the top.
This £1m historic terrace is for sale on one of Greater Manchester’s most sought-after rows / Credit: Clifford Saunt Homes
The newly converted basement level provides an ‘impressive’ extra dimension to the home, according to estate agents, as well as the fifth and final bedroom – ideal for guests.
And, of course, the location of the home itself is a huge selling point for prospective buyers.
Altrincham is often named as being one of the best places to live in the UK, and for being perfect for families, in particular, thanks to its easy access to a wide range of amenities, excellent local schooling options, transport links into Greater Manchester and beyond, and for having green spaces on the doorstep.
This property is currently on the market with Altrincham-based estate agents, Clifford Saunt Homes, for Offers Over £1 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Danny Jones -
27th March 2023 
