THING OF THE WEEK

A GOOD TRY… The North West retained its crown as the kings of Northern property rugby at the annual Tri-Region tournament this week. They beat Yorkshire 21-14 in the Rose Bowl in their own backyard and also ran out 33-14 winners against the Midlands. Yorkshire claimed second place with a narrow 18-12 victory over the Midlands. A big shout out to the companies that sponsored the event [deep breath]: Panattoni, Citivale, Allenby Commercial, CDT, Barberry, Carter Jonas, Higgs, Whittan, Chancerygate, CBRE, Oak Moss, LM6, Colewaterhouse, Sixteen, Rock RE, SGI Consulting, Pinsent Masons, and ACS.

The tournament is held every year to raise money for children’s charity Wooden Spoon. You can donate by scanning the QR code below.

Credit: via Appeal PR

NEXT CHAPTER… We all love a doer-upper. How about this one in Burnley? The Colne Road Library, which ceased being a book haven in 2008, is going under the hammer later this month. The 3,000 sq ft building, most recently used as a community hub, has a guide price of just £150,000 – not bad when you consider it only needs “minor repair works”, according to auctioneer Pugh.

While it is unlikely the building will be brought back into use as a library, Ed Feather, director at Pugh, said the building has potential.

“The former library is in a busy area with a mix of residential neighbourhoods, shops and other amenities. It’s a really historic building and part of the town’s municipal heritage,” he said.

“Subject to a buyer gaining the relevant planning consent, there are a range of potential future uses that this building would lend itself to, including residential development. We are excited to see who buys it – and what the next chapter will hold for the former library.”

Credit: via Citypress

SISTER ACT… It is fair to say the reception to the rebranding of ID Manchester, a 4m sq ft innovation district, has been mixed. Bruntwood SciTech and the University of Manchester have renamed the scheme Sister – a moniker designed to conjure up feelings of collaboration and unity.  

Whether it works as the name of one of the country’s largest regeneration projects remains to be seen. But it has at least got people talking, which is half of the battle. 

Credit: PNW

TEEPEE TIME… Winter is coming. How do we know? The teepee is going up at Oast House in Manchester’s Spinningfields. This year’s wigwam, which will provide somewhere warm for people to drink their pints of Madri, is bigger than ever and it has been flung up just as the weather starts to turn. If drinking copious amounts of fizzy liquid in a tent is not your bag, but you like the confused feeling a few pints can bring, Manchester now has a new place you can go to avoid the rain – the Museum of Illusions opened on Market Street this week. 

Credit: via planning documents

PRESTON PADEL… It is time for your weekly update on the Padel invasion currently sweeping across the North West. The squash/tennis hybrid, reportedly the country’s fastest-growing sport, is popping up everywhere there is a vacant bit of space. 

This week, plans emerged for two courts in a vacant 10,000 sq ft former Office Outlet store in Preston. Where will courts pop up next? Manchester City Council could perhaps avoid any future cost rises on the town hall project if it decides to use the grade one listed building as a huge heritage padel complex.