Old Granada studios consultation opens
Concept designs by a dozen architects showing their interpretation of the residential redevelopment of the old Granada studios went on show last night at the opening of an informal public consultation.
The two-day drop-in sessions will run today and tomorrow at the old studios off Quay Street for the public to sketch out on large plans of the site their ideas for future uses.
Mike Ingall, chief executive of Allied London, which has a five-year option to acquire the site from ITV subject to planning permissions being achieved, told guests at the consultation launch that the scheme, called St Johns Quarter, would be residential-led but could involve a mixtue of other uses. He said Manchester's population needed to increase greatly to enable the city to sustain itself economically. Around 3,500 units could be developed on the site over the next 15 years.
On show in the room during the informal consultation – formal masterplans are not due to be produced for another 18 months – is a lengthy slideshow with images from architects and urban designers meant to inspire ideas from public consultees. These are not finished designs adopted by Allied London, which has not yet announced its design team.
Invited to draw up concept designs were EPR Architects, Conran & Partners, BDP, Gensler, Child Graddon Lewis, Sheppard Robson, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, John McAslan + Partners, Ian Simpson Architects, Bennetts Associates, Broadway Malyan.
The sessions are open to the general public and will run from 3 – 7pm on Friday 31 January and 10am – 3pm on Saturday 1 February. A dedicated website has been set up with further details, where feedback from the sessions will also be shared; www.createmcr.com
