THING OF THE WEEK  

WALK OF CHAMPIONS… Liverpool FC has lodged a planning application to create a “Walk of Champions” at Anfield. The plans will comprise up to 180 bronze plaques celebrating key figures and moments throughout the club’s history. Good luck finding a piece of bronze big enough to depict that chaotic night in Istanbul in 2005. 

Credit: Place North West

DOWN UNDER… Musu, soon to open in the former Randall & Aubin unit off Bridge Street, joins a growing list of new Japanese restaurants coming to Manchester. Great news if you love Sushi, but what about those whose tastes are a little more antipodean? Well, Circle Square may have the answer. The perennially busy Federal, which has sites on Deansgate and High Street, is to open its third location at Bruntwood’s Oxford Road development. And as if that was not enough, New Zealand restaurant Tahi, which showcases the Maori way of hospitality, is also due to open at Circle Square.  

GREETINGS… The first day of a new job is arguably daunting enough without being welcomed by a very tall, very enthusiastic man in a smoking jacket. That is what happened to Will Crane, the new head of valuations and sales at proptech firm Mr Investa. His new employer paid for a personalised welcome to the business from Twitter sensation and Jan Molby enthusiast Troy Hawke of the Greeter’s Guild. Smash it.

DRAMATIC READING… English Cities Funds’ 211-home development Novella completed this week and the consortium marked the occasion in an interesting manner. As well as the usual hi-vis-group-shot-in-front-of-the-building snaps, ECF commissioned Salfordian poet Kieran Knowles to write a piece about the city. If these streets could speak, which tells the story of how Salford has grown and evolved, is read out by a number of familiar faces. Take a look at the inspiring performances by clicking play on the video above.  

Credit: Google Earth

DEVIL IN THE DETAILS… Great Places has had brownfield funding from the GMCA revoked after a nearby resident raised concerns over the land’s brownfield status, according to local media reports. The funding would have gone towards Great Places’ plans to build five affordable homes and 12 specialist apartments for people with learning disabilities in Walkden. The site in question sits between Crosby Avenue and Crompton Street and had been allocated £255,000 from the government’s Brownfield Housing Fund. After being prodded by the resident, further investigation by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Salford City Council found that the site was not technically brownfield as it has not been developed on before. Salford City Council has said that there are no plans to ditch the Great Places project though, as it will provide much-needed affordable housing.