Historic market hall which was part of Manchester's Science and Industry Museum set for new lease of life

A historic market hall which was last used as the Science and Industry Museum’s air and space hall is set to reopen as a co-working and events space.

Lower Campfield Market, on Liverpool Road in the city centre, will open as a co-working space after the grade-II listed building was left empty for years. It closed down as an extension to the museum in 2021.

New plans from developers All Work & Social — the firm behind huge projects in Manchester like Spinningfields and St John’s — will use the market hall as a co-working space. However, a new licence to serve alcohol until 11pm midweek and midnight on weekends has been granted so it can be used as an events space, primarily for ‘networking and launch events’. That’s according to Rebecca Lowe, who represented the developers at a licensing meeting. She told the three-councillor panel, chair by Glynn Evans, that only a small section of the hall will be used as a cafe, restaurant, and events space.

“The building itself is beautiful and grade-II listed which has been out of use since it ceased to be used as the air and space hall for the museum,” she added. “[All Work & Social] is keen to ensure it’s right for the area. We would submit that the hours and conditions in the application are appropriate for this location. It’s a city centre location.”

The application was granted in the face of strong opposition from residents, who criticised the placement of the events space within the hall as the ‘worst part of the building’. Shaun Clydesdale was one of those, but the only resident to speak at the meeting.

“Although it only takes up a small part of the building, it’s the worst part of the building as it’s next to residents’ bedrooms,” he said. “They have squeezed it on to the first floor, directly next to bedrooms. The bar has been sited in that area. Even though it’s a small area with a small number of people, a lot of them will be squeezed into the area next to residents’ bedrooms.”

Ms Lowe addressed residents’ concerns in her remarks to the committee, saying that a key selling point of All Work & Social’s business model was the ability for tenants to work ‘24/7’, so events could not be loud enough to disrupt others working in the evening. She also confirmed that an acoustic curtain would be installed to soundproof the area, with options limited given the building’s listed nature.

Explaining why the licence was granted, legal adviser Laura Raine said: “The applicant is an experienced operator and the hours are appropriate… [the committee] are satisfied the licensing objectives will be upheld.”

Although its licence has been granted, Lower Campfield Market Hall has yet to be given planning permission for the new co-working area.