Council backs West’s plans to complete post-bomb jigsaw
Manchester City Council's cabinet today endorsed a redevelopment strategy by West Properties for the Ramada Complex in Deansgate.
The two-acre site around the 1970s hotel forms the northern end of Deansgate close to where it meets Piccadilly and Market Street, scene of the IRA bomb in 1996 that triggered redevelopment of the area.
West plans a mixed-use scheme that could create 3,000 jobs over 10 years and will comprise:
- Two new streets emerging from a substantial new urban square at the corner of Deansgate and Blackfriars
- Pedestrian terraces incorporating restaurants and new public areas along the River Irwell linking the listed Victoria and Blackfriars Bridges
- 4 or 5 star hotel with around 250 guest rooms plus restaurants, bars and a single-span ballroom
- 280,000 sq ft of Grade A offices
- 60,000 sq ft of flexible retail
- 250 residential apartments
The council said the redevelopment will improve a poorly performing area into one generating £90m Gross Value Added for the city's economy each year.
Sir Richard Leese, Manchester City Council leader, said: "The Ramada Complex represents one of the most exciting redevelopment opportunities in the city centre.
"It is the final piece of the vision established to guide the redevelopment of the area of the city damaged by the 1996 bomb to be realised."
Francis Hilton, director of West Properties, added: "We look forward to sharing our vision with the people of Manchester over the next couple of weeks and submitting a planning application before the end of the year"
