New park, music venue, homes and hotels: the big new developments due in 2022 in Manchester

From new neighbourhoods to an arts centre, here are some of the biggest projects due to be built in Manchester this year.
Plans for the St Michael’s scheme in Jackson's Row, Manchester. Credit: Revere 3DPlans for the St Michael’s scheme in Jackson's Row, Manchester. Credit: Revere 3D
Plans for the St Michael’s scheme in Jackson's Row, Manchester. Credit: Revere 3D

Despite the pandemic, development in Manchester has progressed at pace.

The city centre has seen a rapid rise in new residential buildings in recent years – and construction has continued throughout most of the coronavirus crisis.

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A massive arena, an arts centre and a new park are all being built right now.

And plans for new neighbourhoods, several skyscrappers and the refurbishment of an ‘eyesore’ hotel were could also start in the new year.

These are the big developments set to change the face of the city in 2022.

St Michael’s

Gary Neville’s long-awaited city centre development will get going in 2022.

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The much-anticipated St Michael’s development off Deansgate has faced setbacks for more than a decade – but work is finally set to start in January.

The former Man United star’s firm Relentless has formed a joint venture with US investor KKR to deliver the first phase of the plans – a nine-storey office building to be built on the site of the former Bootle Street police station.

Plans for the St Michael’s scheme in Jackson's Row, Manchester. Credit: Revere 3DPlans for the St Michael’s scheme in Jackson's Row, Manchester. Credit: Revere 3D
Plans for the St Michael’s scheme in Jackson's Row, Manchester. Credit: Revere 3D

Construction firm Bowmer and Kirkland (B&K) have been appointed to build the office block, which will include a new public square and a rooftop restaurant with views of Manchester which can accommodate 900 guests.

Works will start on site in January and is expected to be complete by 2024.

The Factory

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The flagship £186m Factory arts centre is set to be done by December.

Its opening has been pushed back from 2019 to the end of 2022, with the pandemic said to have had a ‘profound impact on the cost and programme’.

The development at at the former site of the Granada TV studios so far has already been plagued with extra costs which have seen its budget increased.

Plans for The Factory arts centre in Manchester. Credit: OMAPlans for The Factory arts centre in Manchester. Credit: OMA
Plans for The Factory arts centre in Manchester. Credit: OMA

By July, 31 out of 38 phases of development had been completed, according to a Manchester council report which stated that the project was now on budget.

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When complete, The Factory will be the home to the Manchester International Festival and promises to present ‘bold new work’ by the world’s best artists.

Ancoats Dispensary

Work to transform a landmark building in Ancoats is expected to start in 2022.

A total of 225 new homes will be built as part of the plans, of which 39 will be housed in the Ancoats Dispensary which has stood empty for over 30 years.

The Grade II listed building, first built in 1874 to meet growing healthcare demands in Victorian Manchester, had previously been at risk of demolition.

Ancoat’s Dispensary - how it could look Credit: via LDRSAncoat’s Dispensary - how it could look Credit: via LDRS
Ancoat’s Dispensary - how it could look Credit: via LDRS
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All of the affordable apartments will be housed in a new modern building which will replace unsafe sections of the former dispensary on Old Mill Street.

But the building’s original neo-Gothic façade and central tower will be retained.

Mayfield Park

Work is well under way to build the first city centre public park in more than 100 years near Piccadilly station – and it is expected to be done in 2022.

The 6.5 acre green space is the centrepiece of the Mayfield development which also includes two commercial buildings and a multi-storey car park.

Mayfield Park Credit: Assembly StudiosMayfield Park Credit: Assembly Studios
Mayfield Park Credit: Assembly Studios
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The 24-acre former industrial site has been cleared and cleaned and work to uncover part of the River Medlock which was hidden for 50 years has started.

It is hoped the park, which will be three times the size of Piccadilly Gardens, will feature a fishing pool for children, dog-friendly areas and art installations.

It is hoped the park, which could also feature a concert area, will open in 2022.

Co-op Live

Work has already begun in earnest on a new arena in East Manchester.

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Co-op Live, the 23,500 capacity indoor music and sports arena next door to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, is set to become the biggest in Britain.

An artist’s impression of Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: Oak View GroupAn artist’s impression of Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: Oak View Group
An artist’s impression of Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: Oak View Group

The Oak View Group, the US firm behind it, has appointed Salford-based BAM Construct UK to build the ‘world class’ arena on the banks of the Ashton Canal.

It is hoped that the £350m project will create hundreds of jobs, giving a boost to the local economy as it recovers from the impacts of the Covid pandemic.

With work well under way, the development is expected to be done in 2023.

Great Jackson Street

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Plans for two new skyscrapers have been submitted to Manchester council.

If approved, a total of 988 flats would be built as part of the development in the Great Jackson Street area, next to the three towers at Deansgate Square.

A mix of one, two and three-bedroom properties feature in the plans, including eight penthouse duplex apartments in each of the 154-metre (505ft) tall tower blocks.

Plans for two residential buildings at Plot F in Greater Jackson Street, Manchester. Credit: RenakerPlans for two residential buildings at Plot F in Greater Jackson Street, Manchester. Credit: Renaker
Plans for two residential buildings at Plot F in Greater Jackson Street, Manchester. Credit: Renaker

Each building boasts its own co-working space, gym and lounges with private underground car parks and cycle storage in the three-storey basements and a private residents’ garden is also planned alongside some public green space.

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But none of the apartments in the two 51-storey buildings will be affordable.

Manchester council will decide the outcome of this application in the new year.

Victoria North

Plans for the first phase of a £51.6m project to create a new neighbourhood near the city centre were also submitted to Manchester council this year.

The Victoria North development will see up to 5,500 homes built at Red Bank with a new park which will become one of the city’s largest green spaces.

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Plans to clear the site, making way for the development, have been submitted with the work to be funded by the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The vision for Victoria North Credit: Manchester city councilThe vision for Victoria North Credit: Manchester city council
The vision for Victoria North Credit: Manchester city council

The application submitted by Manchester council includes the demolition of the Creamline Dairies buildings and the removal of invasive trees and plants.

It comes more than four years after the Far East Consortium was chosen to develop the Northern Gateway masterplan, now known as Victoria North.

The vision for the area north of Victoria Station is to build 15,000 new homes – of which around a fifth would be affordable – over the next couple of decades.

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The planning committee will vote on the first phase of the plans in 2022.

Ramada Renaissance

Plans to redevelop the Ramada Renaissance hotel at the end of Deansgate, one of the city centre’s most notorious eyesores, have already been agreed.

Manchester-based firm Property Alliance Group wants to retain the hotel, which closed its doors last year, and make it a ‘market leading up-scale hotel’.

Around 300 flats could also be built as part of the proposed £200m project.

The residential tower proposed as part of £200m revamp of Ramada Renaissance complex in Deansgate. Credit: PAG.The residential tower proposed as part of £200m revamp of Ramada Renaissance complex in Deansgate. Credit: PAG.
The residential tower proposed as part of £200m revamp of Ramada Renaissance complex in Deansgate. Credit: PAG.
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A 26-storey tower would house the apartments alongside the existing hotel, but part of the Premier House building could be demolished to make way for it.

Together with investor Starwood Capital, the developer is hoping to fulfil Manchester council’s long-held ambitions for the site to be redeveloped.

A new public area along the River Irwell, which would have space for pop-up food and drink vendors as well as footpaths and a cycle lane, is also proposed.

Work to refurbish the existing hotel is already under way while plans for the new building north of Blackfriars Street are due to be decided in the new year.

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