Fallowfield’s iconic 1960s Toast Rack building has been put up for sale by its owners ahead of a major redevelopment of the area.
The historic breakfast-themed building was sold to owner Overseas investor Estrela by Manchester Metropolitan University for a cool £5m back in 2014, now nearly a decade later it is being listed again.
A familiar sight amongst Manchester students young and old, the Grade II-listed landmark is now tipped for a big redevelopment – as the 3.71-acre site reappears on the market with detailed planning consent for over 200 homes.
Listed in a package that includes the entire Hollings Campus site – which is an area spanning four football pitches – also included in the sale are neighbouring buildings the Horseshoe, Gateway site, and Stitching Hall.
The package is being marketed by Cushman & Wakefield, with plans to include 20,910 sq ft of gym and leisure space, 7,582 sq ft of commercial space, and 154 car parking spaces, plus over 200 new flats, a gym, coffee shop, and a roof top garden.
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Image: Wikipedia
The redevelopment will mean the end of an era for one of the city’s most famous buildings, first created by Manchester City Council’s then Chief Architect Leonard Cecil Howitt to reflect its purpose as a catering college.
Originally known as the Hollings Building, its triangular shape, curling concrete arches and a circular block alongside soon led to the site being known colloquially as the Toast Rack.
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Opening to initial bemusement, the breakfast-themed building eventually became a beloved part of the Fallowfield region – especially in the student community after it was purchased by Manchester Metropolitan University.
In April 1998, The Toast Rack was even granted Grade II listed status by English Heritage – who described it as ‘a distinctive and memorable building which demonstrates this architect’s love of structural gymnastics in a dramatic way’.
Manchester Metropolitan University continued using the building until 2013, then decided to shift its student campuses further north and sold up the following year.
Four years later, The Gym Group moved in – turning the ‘Dru’m into a state-of-the-art leisure facility as part of a 15-year agreement.
In 2021, Generation Ltd was committed to delivering 210 apartments in the area alongside 20,000 sq ft of commercial space. Now it appears that that opportunity will instead be passed on to a new buyer.
Bruce Poizer, head of capital markets at Cushman & Wakefield in Manchester, told the Manchester Evening News: “The Toast Rack is one of the most striking and recognisable buildings in Manchester and we are delighted bring it to market.
“This is an incredibly rare opportunity to invest in a vibrant area that is ripe for development. Fallowfield is synonymous with student living, it is also a popular suburb for young professionals and families due to its proximity to Manchester city centre, cultural amenities and sport and leisure.
“We anticipate strong interest in this unique site and expect it to appeal to both build-to-rent and student accommodation investors and developers.”
Behind the historic doors of the £3.75m Cheshire country house with a ‘triple-height’ swimming pool hall
Emily Sergeant
A historic country house in Cheshire with far-reaching panoramic views has just gone on the market this month.
And if you happen to have £3.75 million you’re willing to part with, then it could be yours.
Now, of course, as we always mention 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 is Wicksted Hall – a distinguished arts and crafts-style country house estate dating back to the early 1900s set amongst 12 acres of established private gardens, grounds, and paddocks.
Straddling the borders of Cheshire and Shropshire, located in the highly sought-after Whitchurch village of Wirsall, Wicksted Hall boats seven bedrooms, guest suites, a billiards room, library, media room, office suites, and so much more.
It really is no surprise estate agents describe this home as being ‘exquisite’.
Set at the end of a winding driveway, once you step foot inside the property’s grand central entrance hall you’ll be greeted by a sweeping oak staircase, oak panelling, a galleried landing, stunning fireplace… and, quite frankly, more character and charm than you shake a stick at.
This is Wicksted Hall, currently on the market for £3.75 million / Credit: Fine & Country
Some of the home’s other unique features include a bespoke Clive Christian kitchen and family room that flows out to an orangery and inner courtyard, as well as a principal suite with bespoke Clive Christian dressing room, and arts and crafts balcony, and luxurious en-suite bathroom.
Oh, and then to top it off, the true icing on the cake is the leisure suite with a triple-height swimming pool hall, frescoes, jacuzzi, changing rooms, gallery, and a service kitchen.
Honestly, ‘wow’ doesn’t even cut it.
The property boats panoramic views and a triple-height indoor swimming pool hall / Credit: Fine & County
Oh, and don’t even get us started on the outside. As we’ve already mentioned, Wickstead Hall boasts 12-acres of established private gardens and grounds with outstanding, far-reaching panoramic views over the surrounding Cheshire and Shropshire countryside… but that’s not all.
There’s an original Victorian walled kitchen garden, glass houses, a range of outbuildings, paddocks, equestrian facilities, an original pump house, and the small matter of a heli pad.
Wicksted Hall is currently on the market with the Derby branch of UK-wide prestige estate agency label, Fine & Country, for Offers in the Region of £3.75 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.
Featured Image – Fine & Country
Property
Derelict Manchester office block to become ‘vital’ accommodation for homeless families
Emily Sergeant
A derelict former office block in Manchester is set to become vital accommodation for homeless families in the region.
Manchester City Council has announced that, subject to planning approval, new temporary accommodation for dozens of homeless families will be created on the site of a derelict former office block in south Manchester, off Nell Lane in Chorlton.
The Council acquired the 1.1 acre site last month with the support of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund.
The initiative – which is part of wider plans to boost the city’s stock of quality temporary accommodation – will see self-contained two-bedroom accommodation created for around 55 homeless families built where former NHS offices, Mauldeth House, currently stand.
Mauldeth House has been empty for several years now at this point, and had become somewhat of a ‘blight’ on the neighbourhood, attracting anti-social behaviour along the way and being targeted by squatters – but with the plans for the new accommodation, this could change for the better.
The site, and therefore the new accommodation, is said to be ‘ideally located’ for families, as it’s close to shops, schools, public transport, leisure facilities, and Chorlton Park.
The new accommodation will see families supported by a specialist team based on site to help them move on as quickly as possible into permanent settled tenancies, which is, of course, the long-term goal for many.
The Mauldeth House initiative is cited as being one example of the Council’s drive to increase its temporary accommodation stock across the city to reduce the number of out-of-area placements.
Other successful examples of this initiative include Mariana House in Whalley Range, and The Poplars in Rusholme.
It also comes after it was announced last month that homeless children in Greater Manchester, particularly those who are placed in temporary accommodation out of area for their school, will now get free bus travel to and from school.
“Mauldeth House is a great example of how we can put derelict properties to good use to benefit those experiencing homelessness, as well as making our neighbourhood look better,” explained Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Joanna Midgley.
“We are tackling homelessness on many fronts, the most important one being prevention, but we also need an increased supply of good quality temporary accommodation within the city so that if people do become homeless they are not uprooted from their social support networks.
“One of the ways we are doing this is through the innovative use of existing sites whether they are council owned or we are able to acquire them, as in the case of Mauldeth House.”
Georgina Pellant -
20th June 2023 
