Manchester moves to unlock 564,000 sq ft of offices 

Is the area to be pedestrianised too?

Still thinks its a shame the changes are going to negatively affect things that made it Listed in the first place.

I know the store has declined in recent years but this conversion would still represent an absolute waste of a prime retail asset and a huge loss for future tourism and the overall appeal of the city centre to leisure visitors.

I’m sure we’ll see a return to high street shopping and the planned pedestrianisation of Deansgate will only increase the appeal of this building to future department / large format store operator. Even IKEA are venturing into the high streeet with a huge new store on Oxford St in London.

Manchester is absolutely not short of large office buildings now or in the near future. What the city centre does lack is decent leisure and shopping options beyond the grim Arndale centre.

Oh and that rooftop extension is hideous.

I don’t see this as a negative at all. Department stores are dying out and a potential 100,000 sqft store is absolutely huge. It would be great if Frasers take the space (or as Flannels) because a well focused destination with clothing and beauty in this location should help them keep their place on Deansgate for years to come.

If you want more pedestrian footfall it’s quite clear what’s necessary.You need train fares to be lower or people will shop on couch at home.

The whole St Mary’s Parsonage st regeneration is going to really transform this end of Deansgate. Retail on the ground floor is the way to go here and pedestrianisation actually makes sense.

I’m not convinced the current House of Fraser is a big loss for tourism and leisure. It’s very shabby these days, and there are hardly any customers. This made worse by King Street declining as a retail destination. High end retail is now focussed around New Cathedral St with Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. Then there are the shops around the Northern Quarter.

The building will retain an active frontage ground level, which should still keep footfall high on Deansgate, along with new office workers. Seems to work fine in Spinningfields.

The replacement of the car park at the back is a big plus. Hopefully that moves forward first.

Retail may have declined, but not as much as office space requirements given home working is growing exponentially. If the illustration is accurate, the blanding of a beautiful building is not acceptable, as for that roof top “thing”..How very mediocre can you get. For Cliff’s sake, add some flair, some beauty or just don’t bother.

Still makes no sense to develop new office space in an era of working from home. It’d make nice apartments though.

This is one of the rare beautiful buildings in Manchester. I agrée the rooftop extension is indeed hideous. Also, they need to demolish the Arndale centre. Britain is the world champion at building commercial centres and car parks and plonking slap bang in the middle of the city centre. Bring back shopping to the high streets and did us of these horrid commercial centres.

Don’t see what the big fuss about the rooftop extension is. I actually think it looks… dare I say it… nice.

Whatever the weather, this part of town will look quite grand in a few years. Defo looking forward to the pedestrianisation, it’s gonna be a game changer.

Yes roof top extension is of course absolutely fine and the building will be transformed. Some people do get rather excited when they see see a single CGI and it doesn’t chime with their personal agenda. Also there is no such thing as an era of working from home, that would make no sense. There is however a need to meet demand and investment going forward. That’s called planning and it’s how cities develop.

I agree that retail needs to return to the city. I don’t think more office space is required as most are now hybrid working or working from home full time. Perhaps apartments and retail is the way forward. It’s an iconic building so really hope that is maintained.

Department stores are closing unfortunately and new ones seeking 200k sq feet just don’t exist any longer. House of Fraser is an utter shambles and isn’t sustainable. Offices on the other hand are in great demand in Manchester as the evidence clearly explains. Office protects more of what is important about this building………if you chopped it up for apartments you would destroy it inside and out

At street level the NIMBYs won’t even see the roof top extension. Get it refurbished and built.

Some of the worlds best and most visited cities have cars. Take Rome, Paris, New York or Liverpool as an example. Pedestrianisation can – and often does give off an empty soulless feeling in any given city.

Bring it on. St Mary’s Parsonage framework is really kicking off now. We might even get to see a revised (though hope nothing too revised) One North Parade proposal. Just not a fan of that Reedham House development. the tripartite doesn’t quite work.

Relatives of mine travelled a long way to meet up and do a day’s shopping based mainly in and around Kendal’s / HoF. It was as much of not more a social activity as it was about the actual shopping.

That option is now gone and they no longer visit Manchester city centre. Only the big M&S holds appeal.

The demise of the department store and HoF in particular has left a gaping hole in the city centre’s offer, not just in its retail offer but as a leisure / social destination. Conversion to offices permanently removes this facility and makes the city centre a less diverse, less appealing and less vibrant place.

No one will convince me there isn’t still the demand for the large department store format anymore – sure it needs to adapt but it’s certainly not dead and people are getting fed up of online shopping (indeed the high return rate is proof of that).

So this conversion would be a huge shame for the city, a real and permanent downgrade in its offer.

I agree with Liverpool Romance. Pedestrianising cities is very provincial. Market street may as well be in Dewsbury now. When I was a child it was vibrant with traffic and the great department stores.

@Liverpool Romance and Elephant:

There are SOME areas in SOME cities where pedestrianisation doesn’t help – in areas with few shops and no night time economy, removing cars can leave them feeling derelict and even unsafe at night.

But businesses, especially retail, only benefit from pedestrianisation (with considered exemptions for blue badge holders and perhaps for buses, taxis and residents). Our health and our climate benefit too – especially if that road and parking space is replaced with trees and SUDS.

Removing cars from urban areas with thriving retail and tourism is always a good idea.

We jaded to have cotton mills, we used to have heavy industry, we used to have coal mines, we used to have a port………..things change and you have to reflect adapt and move on………this is a key part of the city’s evolution

@W Yes agree. There are longstanding proposals to pedestrianise London’s Oxford Street.

Big cities recognise the benefits pedestrianisation, it’s only less lively provincial cities where it doesn’t work, mainly due a lack of a night time economy and established residential community but it does need to be done judiciously. Pedestrianising around a big dead zone like the Arndale centre probably isn’t the best idea.

Interesting to hear those from Manchester and Liverpool who post strong opinions regularly seem to think that pedestrianisation is small town. The pedestrianisation of parts of Leeds, amongst other towns/cities, has been a success and has contributed tremendously to the streetscape in most areas.

@Man City 12:17 I would have to disagree, I think the large department store has had its day. I work close to HOF and have been into the store which on many occasions probably had less than 50 customers on the whole shop floor. To be honest, I’m surprised the place has lasted this long.

It’s not like they are pedestrianising the whole of the city centre. Deansgate will still be open to a point, and much of what is after all an expanding city centre will be accessible by car. As for comparing the effects of pedestrianisation of parts of the city to New York or Rome, that makes about as much sense as comparing it to smaller places like Liverpool or Newcastle ie none. Different places, different requirements. Now that the integrated transport plan is actually underway we can start linking the Metro with the buses and trains and hopefully introducing a sensibly priced Octopus style ticket. That I believe is the plan but until then I shall be in my car.

In reply to Bernard F. The redevelopment of the Kendalls building incorporates the demolition of the run down adjoining 60 yr old multi storey car park. The redevelopment of this site significantly improves the area. Might be worth walking around the area to make a more informed comment.