spinningfields

{{see also|History of Manchester}}

The proposal to create a central business district originated in 1997 when Allied London purchased a number of buildings around the John Rylands Library. Allied London executive Mike Ingall was convinced of the site's regeneration potential and Manchester City Council was keen to redevelop the city centre after the 1996 Manchester bombing.{{Cite news |title=Spinningfields whirlwind |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1016810_spinningfields_whirlwind |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=18 September 2007 |access-date=2012-05-13}}

The development, named from a narrow street which ran westwards from Deansgate, is bounded by Bridge Street to the north, Quay Street to the south, Deansgate to the east, and the River Irwell to the west.{{cite news|url=http://www.visitmanchester.com/images/pdfs/CityCentreMap.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017220311/http://www.visitmanchester.com/images/pdfs/CityCentreMap.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-10-17|title=Visit Manchester - City Centre Map|work=Visit Manchester.com|access-date=2010-04-09}} The Financial Times said in 2012 that the development spread over {{convert|22|acre|m2}} and contained {{convert|3,000,000|sqft|abbr=on}} of office space.{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cbb48e66-61fa-11e1-820b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3Bdd6I92q|title=White collar: Spinningfields is emblematic of services' role|last=Hall|first=William|date=2012-03-05|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=2010-04-09}} By 2008, many had been completed and others were under construction or in the planning stages. The structural, civil and geo-environmental engineers were Capita Symonds Structures based in Cheadle Hulme.

Following the demolition of the old Manchester Magistrates' Court in 2006, the vacant space became Hardman Square, a new public realm area created in the centre of Spinningfields.{{cite news |author=Alex Bell |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/quay-house-final-plot-spinningfields-6320462 |title=City tower block set to be transformed |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=2013-11-19 | access-date=2014-08-28}} The area was never intended to be a permanent public space, but Allied London later decided not to develop on the land and instead leave it as a green area within Spinningfields.{{cite news |author=Jennifer Williams |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/screenfields-square-here-to-stay-6946314 |title=Screenfields Square is here to stay |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=2014-04-10 | access-date=2014-08-28}}

The 2008 financial crisis resulted in Allied London almost leaving the development half-completed, but the company reached an agreement with the city council who bought the freeholds of 1 and 2 Hardman Square and 2 and 3 Hardman Boulevard which allowed the development to proceed.{{cite news |author=Michael Fahy |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/article/20100317/FREE/100319859 |title=Allied London hails new agreement with city council |publisher=Crain's Manchester Business |date=2010-03-17 | access-date=2010-04-06}}{{cite news|url=http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3160087&c=1|title= Manchester City Council and Allied London reach Spinningfields agreement |last=Rigby|first=Jennifer|date=2010-03-17|work=Property Week|access-date=2010-04-06}} Deborah Linton of the Manchester Evening News claimed the cost of the freeholds would be in the region of £15 million;{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1198384_councils_15m_to_help_spinningfields_beat_the_crunch |title= Council's £15m to help Spinningfields beat the crunch |last=Linton |first=Deborah |date=2010-03-11 |work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2010-04-06}} and it later emerged that £15.9 million was paid.{{cite news |url=http://m.propertyweek.com/news/news-by-region/allied-refutes-stories-of-deal-with-lloyds/5014550.article |title= Allied refutes stories of deal with Lloyds |date=2011-03-04 |work=Property Week |access-date=2011-06-08}}

Allied London marketed Spinningfields' retail area as a "Knightsbridge of the North" after letting 2 Spinningfields Square (renamed 1 The Avenue) to Emporio Armani and Armani Collezioni. The scheme's flagship thoroughfare, The Avenue, was created to attract high-end stores, traditionally based on nearby King Street. The project has come under scrutiny due to its performance, with the Manchester Evening News describing The Avenue as a "ghost town",{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchesters-tale-two-shopping-cities-2508181|title=How Manchester has turned into a tale of two shopping cities|last=Cox|first=Charlotte|date=2013-04-03|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2013-07-15}} whilst contrasting its performance with the thriving businesses in the bohemian Northern Quarter elsewhere in the city.

File:3 Hardman Street Spinningfields.JPG By 2010, Manchester City Council noted in a report that around 16,000 people were employed in Spinningfields and that the area now accounted for over 35% of Manchester's prime office space.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/Spinningfields.pdf |title=Manchester City Council: Report for Resolution|date=2010-03-10|work=Manchester City Council|access-date=2014-08-28}} A large number of firms in Spinningfields were noted to be financial and professional services companies. Since 2001, twelve buildings had been developed including seven office blocks and 450 apartments, according to the report.

In July 2010, Allied London scrapped the 'Manchester Hotel' project which would have replaced Manchester House. Instead, a retail and office development incorporating a retail arcade linking Bridge Street to The Avenue was created by reconfiguring the building. Tower 12, the building in question, was also refurbished.

In July 2013, it was announced that work was set to begin on 1 Hardman Street, a five-storey office block, with tenant MediaCom to occupy the entire {{convert|17,000|sqft|abbr=on}} building.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/property/mediacom-signs-up-five-storey-block-5069042|title=MediaCom signs up to five-storey block at Spinningfields|last=Jupp|first=Adam|date=2013-07-11|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2013-07-15}}{{cite news|url=http://bdaily.co.uk/law/15-07-2013/ward-hadaway-advise-on-mediacom-spinningfields-letting/|title=Ward Hadaway advise on MediaCom Spinningfields letting|last=Dobson|first=Miranda|work=BDaily|access-date=2013-07-15}} Mike Ingall described it as "a watershed for the restart of commercial development at the estate, which has been on hold since the completion of 3 Hardman Street in 2009". In November 2013, Allied London submitted plans for a new office block, the Cotton Building.{{cite news|url=http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/540271-allied-london-gets-creative-for-new-spinningfields-block.html|title=Allied London gets creative for new Spinningfields block|last=Graham|first=James|date=2013-11-12|work=TheBusinessDesk|access-date=2014-01-30}} Planning permission was granted for the 10-storey building in January 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/property/allied-london-wins-planning-cotton-6473199|title=Planning permission secured for Spinningfields block|last=Jupp|first=Adam|date=2014-01-07|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2014-01-30}} Allied London began construction after securing a £15m loan towards the building; the North West Evergreen Fund provided £10m and Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Growing Places fund supplied £5m.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/allied-london-15m-loan-boost-7247720|title=Allied London in £15m loan boost|last=Jupp|first=Adam|date=2014-06-10|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2014-08-27}} In March 2016, with the building – renamed as XYZ – nearing completion and fully pre-let, Allied London sold it to Union Investment for £85 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/german-fund-pays-85m-for-xyz/|title=German fund pays £85m for XYZ|date=2016-03-11|work=Place North West|access-date=2017-05-08}}

Also in January 2014, Allied London submitted plans for the demolition of Quay House and the construction of Number One Spinningfields, a 19-storey high-rise designed by SimpsonHaugh and Partners. The building provides over {{convert|340,000|sqft|abbr=on}} of office space and features a restaurant on the top floor. Ingall stated that "No 1 Spinningfields will be the district's most imposing building to date and one of Manchester's most stand-out office buildings".{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/no-1-spinningfields---plans-6534696|title=No 1 Spinningfields - plans for new city centre skyscraper with 19th floor restaurant|last=Jupp|first=Adam|date=2014-01-21|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2014-01-30}} Allied London agreed to a pre-let with PwC for {{convert|50,000|sqft|abbr=on}} in March 2015, with demolition of Quay House beginning thereafter.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/professionals/pwc-confirms-no1-spinningfields-move-8870783|title=PwC confirms No1 Spinningfields move|last=Jupp|first=Adam|date=2015-03-19|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2015-04-30}} In February 2017, the building topped out, with full completion scheduled for July.{{cite news|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/no-1-tops-out-as-spinningfields-nears-completion/|title=No.1 tops out as Spinningfields nears completion|date=2017-02-20|work=Place North West|access-date=2017-05-08}}

File:Spinningfields bridge.JPG

The area is dominated by commercial office developments and has been described as the "Canary Wharf of the North";{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/the-north-west/118619.article|title=The North West|last=Harris|first=Joanne|date=30 January 2006|work=The Lawyer|access-date=2009-04-18}}{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1023409_new_tenants_in_spinningfields|title=New tenants in Spinningfields|last=Barry|first=Chris|date=8 November 2007|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=2009-04-18}} the Financial Times has noted, "London has Canary Wharf and Paris has La Défense, Manchester has its own modern financial centre in the form of Spinningfields".{{cite web |url=http://www.spinningfieldsonline.com/Homepage |title=Spinningfields |access-date=2010-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217134954/http://www.spinningfieldsonline.com/homepage |archive-date=2009-12-17 }} Its anchor tenants include Regus, Barclays, DAC Beachcroft, Deloitte, HSBC Bank, Global Radio, Grant Thornton International, Guardian Media Group and Royal Bank of Scotland.{{Cite news |title=North West Insider is delighted that Allied London is lead sponsor of its Essential Guide to Relocation. |url=http://www.spinningfields-manchester.com/page/1116/Spinningfields/News/Current/Press-Releases/North-West-Insider-is-delighted-that-Allied-London-is-lead-sponsor-of-its-Essential-Guide-to-Relocation |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202202715/http://www.spinningfields-manchester.com/page/1116/Spinningfields/News/Current/Press-Releases/North-West-Insider-is-delighted-that-Allied-London-is-lead-sponsor-of-its-Essential-Guide-to-Relocation |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2 February 2013 |work=Spinningfields Manchester |date=1 May 2007 |access-date=2012-05-13 }} Flagship buildings include 1 The Avenue and the Civil Justice Centre.

Across from 1 Hardman Boulevard is 2 Hardman Street, occupied by Deloitte and, after the Manchester Evening News moved out in 2010,{{Cite web|url=http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/gone/menoffice.html|title=Manchester Evening News Office - Deansgate|website=manchesterhistory.net|access-date=Feb 13, 2019}} DWF.{{cite web |url=http://www.legal500.com/firms/867-dwf/offices/1625-manchester-m3/tab/student |title=Legal 500 DWF |publisher=Legal 500 |access-date=2014-12-19}} Manchester Evening News vacated the site and relocated offices to Chadderton following the sale of the title from the Guardian Media Group to Trinity Mirror. 3 Hardman Street was constructed on the old Manchester Evening News building site. The 16-storey building was designed by Sheppard Robson was completed in 2009 and is the third-tallest building in Spinningfields as of 2023.

Residential buildings take the form of the 16-storey Leftbank Apartments,{{Cite web|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=12630|title=Left Bank Apartments, Manchester - SkyscraperPage.com|website=skyscraperpage.com|access-date=Feb 13, 2019}} which overlook the River Irwell. Situated in the area is the People's History Museum, a former pump house, and on the other side of the river is Salford Central railway station.

File:Civil Justice Centre glass facade.JPG is currently the second-tallest building in Spinningfields]]Spinningfields is home to various different law courts. Manchester Crown Court, in Crown Square, is in the area; adjacent is Manchester City Magistrates' Court and Coroner's Court. The Manchester Civil Justice Centre, an 80-metre (262 ft) tall building was completed in 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=9571|title=Civil Justice Centre, Manchester - SkyscraperPage.com|website=skyscraperpage.com|access-date=Feb 13, 2019}} The Civil Justice Centre was the first major court complex built in Britain since George Edmund Street's Royal Courts of Justice in London completed in 1882.{{cite news| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2195855,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=What a perfect place to get divorced | first=Stephen | last=Bayley | date=21 October 2007 | access-date=12 May 2010}}

Also completed in 2007 were 3 and 4 Hardman Square designed by Norman Foster. 3 Hardman Square was occupied by Halliwells LLP{{cite web| url = http://www.halliwells.co.uk/press_office/press_detail.cfm/aid/475| title = Halliwells.co.uk}} until it went into administration in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2010/oct/22/corporate-law-firms-boom-era-excess|title=Corporate law firm undone by boom-era excess|first=Alex|last=Aldridge|date=Oct 22, 2010|access-date=Feb 13, 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}} Number 4 is occupied by HSBC Bank and Grant Thornton.

Leftbank Apartments are close to a cluster of restaurants including Café Rouge, Carluccio's, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Giraffe, Ha! Ha!, Strada, Wagamama and Zizzi. Living Ventures owns four establishments in Spinningfields: Artisan, The Alchemist, Australasia, and Manchester House. Manchester House is a £3 million fine dining establishment which opened in September 2013 and featured on BBC2 documentary Restaurant Wars.{{citation |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/restaurant-wars-manchester-house-french-6993064|publisher=Manchester Evening News |title=Booking lines jammed at Manchester House and The French after TV show Restaurant Wars airs|date=2014-04-15 |access-date=2014-06-24}} Fast food operators represented include: Costa Coffee, Greggs, Philpotts and Pret a Manger. The Spinningfields area was voted by Manchester residents as being the most family-friendly area in Manchester in a 2013 study by hotel chain Premier Inn.{{citation |url= http://www.premierinn.com/en/news/news_category/the-only-way-is-manchester-this-christmas.html|title=The only way is Manchester this Christmas | publisher=Premier Inn |date=12 December 2013 |access-date=4 February 2014}}

A new street food initiative was announced for Spring/Summer 2015 named 'The Kitchens',{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/kitchens-spinningfields-street-food-traders-9004132|title=Street food traders to set up shop @_TheKitchens @Spinningfields|first=Emily|last=Heward|date=Apr 9, 2015|website=men|access-date=Feb 13, 2019}} which hosted a number of local traders on the Leftbank area of Spinningfields.

{{Update section|date=March 2023}}

File:Spinningfields Manchester.jpg

{{main|St John's, Manchester}}

Following the decision of ITV to relocate from its Granada Studios site adjacent to Spinningfields, in order to move to the nearby MediaCityUK development, the 13.5-acre plot on Quay Street became available for development.{{cite news|author=Dan Thompson |title= Granada Studios site sold in £26.5m deal|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/granada-studios-site-quay-street-6104700|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|date=2013-09-27 |access-date=2014-01-05}} After entering into negotiations with sellers ITV, Allied London, alongside Manchester City Council, acquired the land in September 2013 in a £26.5 million deal. The council and Allied London have created a partnership under the name of Manchester Quays Limited, and plan to jointly redevelop the site, renamed St John's, into a mixed-use area featuring apartments, retail and {{convert|1,200,000|sqft|abbr=on}} of office space.{{Cite web|author=James Graham |title=Allied London agrees £26.5m deal for Granada site|url=http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/521774-allied-london-agrees-26.5m-deal-for-granada-site.html|newspaper=The Business Desk|date=2013-09-30 |access-date=2014-01-05}}

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

• {{Cite book |author=Kellie, Euan | title=Rebuilding Manchester |isbn=978-1-85983-786-3 | publisher=DB Publishing

| year=2010 }}

{{Wikivoyage|Manchester/Spinningfields-Albert Square|Spinningfields - Albert Square}}

• [http://www.alliedlondon.com/our-projects/spinningfields Official developer's site]
• [http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500113/city_centre_regeneration/4274/contact_the_city_centre_regeneration_team Manchester City Council's Regeneration Team]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061214083200/http://www.manchesterupdate.org.uk/article70.htm Article at Manchester Update]

{{Manchester}}

Category:Areas of Manchester