Demolition nears for Ducie Bridge
Demolition of the pub is set to begin in the coming weeks to clear the site for a 200,000 sq ft speculative office as part of the wider NOMA estate.
Clearance of the pub will signal the start of construction at 4 Angel Square, due to be developed by site owner MEPC and designed by architect SimpsonHaugh
According to planning documents, the demolition is set to begin on 18 November and will run until 10 January next year. Forshaw Demolition will carry out the works.
Three adjoining buildings – two three-storey shops and a four-storey warehouse, all of which are vacant – will also be demolished.
The pub, built in the late 1800s, has been closed since 2015 and is not listed as an asset of community value.
Demolition of the pub was first signalled more than two years ago with the Ducie Bridge due to be knocked down in late 2017. However, these plans were put on hold following a change of ownership of the site; the Co-op sold its stake in the NOMA joint venture to Hermes Investment Management in December that year.
Surveys have showed the pub to be “highly unsafe” with problems including asbestos. Around 30 squatters were evicted following a court order in September 2017.
4 Angel Square will be the first of several offices to be built out around the former site of the pub. The floorplates will be just over 19,000 sq ft across nine floors, with the upper floor standing at 16,450 sq ft, along with a 3,000 sq ft roof terrace.
Around 7,300 sq ft on the ground floor is set aside for a food & beverage unit, while a 32,000 sq ft basement will include plant and 57 car parking spaces, along with 212 cycle spaces. A main contractor appointment is expected in March 2020.
The office will be followed by two further commercial developments, 2 and 3 Angel Square; totalling 400,000 sq ft, plans were submitted for these in October this year.
Great – get it knocked down and the office built.
By GQ
And so the fabric and character ebbs away… All for development, but sad to see buildings of character, what seems the likes won’t be produced again swept away.
By John
Welcomre to Blandsville
By Bobby Bland
Please ignore the comment below – auto Correct went nuts!!
This is good news to see a derelict site brought into productive use
By Stuart wood
Mr Wood . It is only derelict because the owner/developers have let it become so.
they are quick to mention asbestos, but reluctant to mention architectural heritage, history and other merits.
By Mr Ducie
Mr Ducie – move on with the times and stop living in the past! We already have fantastic old and new architecture in Manchester.
By Mr Forward
Good riddance. When will people understand that just because it is old does not mean it has character or adds value to an area.
By New Wave
This is not the Taj Mahal. Knock it down.
By Elephant
Excellent, out with the old & in with something brand new & useful
By Anonymous
Are we really short of space in Manchester? London wouldn’t do this, New York wouldn’t do this, Berlin wouldn’t do this, Barcelona wouldn’t do this. Birmingham would. No chance of becoming a ‘world city’ when the place may look diabolically dull in 20 years time. Nothing to be gained by knocking this building down.
By Loganberry
is it not ironic that NOMA has a pop up pub, ( The Picrow) to add ‘ culture’ to the scheme, and yet is simultaneously demolishing a perfectly good one.?
By Mona
An absolute disgrace. This is a really interesting block of buildings. Shame on Labour Manchester.
By Acelius
I’m all for protecting our heritage assets but this isn’t really a clear asset. Much better to see the site redeveloped. Hopefully the planners can use the loss of historic building as some form of leverage to demand a high quality design for the replacements.
By NC
The Ducie Bridge was a thriving hub of local live music, comedy and arts. It was one of the few places offering this for free entry until it was forced to be closed. Anybody who doesn’t think that it was a huge asset to Manchester (until it was forced not to be) is a heathen. Enjoy you crappy new square with it’s prison like offices and the usual cloned chain restaurants/bars that‘ll serve you bland soulless garbage and £8.69 pints of warm Peroni
By Dave
What more offices???????
By E horner
Didn’t know that you censored critical comments! This is a no news story. This was sorted out months ago. What is your motive?
By Redavit
Its horrible round there. They should knock Parkers hotel down as well while they are at it.
By Out with the old
Ignorance is bliss for Ehorner. There is a massive shortage of high quality offices in Manchester and very few places to build them. It is where people work and people need jobs. Very few people build speculatively so this is great news. Life is so simple isn’t it Ehorner.
By Reditisthen
See you still haven’t posted my critical comment!
By Redavit
THIS BUILDING SHOULD BE SAVED Manchester council are only there for there own ends if someone wants to knock something down and it benefits council members they will vote for it
By DENNIS
should be kept, if its in interest of council they will support it but developers have money and that speaks
By DENNIS
Let’s all applaud Dennis the keyboard warrior. If he has any evidence of impropriety he should produce it. Come on Dennis what to you have? Place North West you shouldn’t publish nonsense like this. How does it get through your approval process. No doubt this won’t!
By Redthroughout
Dennis if you don’t want it getting knocked down why didn’t you buy it yourself ? You might still have time, speak to the landowner and as I always say, everything in the world is for sale.
By Epiclolz