Spinningfields

Spinningfields
Hardman Square
Metropolitan borough	Manchester
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M3
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Manchester Central
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Spinningfields is a large business, retail and residential development in Manchester, England that lies in the western portion of the City Centre, between south Deansgate and the River Irwell. The Spinningfields complex is the masterplan of Allied London Properties, a London-based property development and investment company. It takes its name from Spinningfield—a narrow street which ran westwards from Deansgate; in 1968 Spinningfield and the site of the buildings immediately to the south were turned into Spinningfield Square, an open paved area with a statue called "Freedom of the Press" complementing the adjacent Manchester Evening News building.

However, due to the financial crisis of 2007–2010, Allied London's ambitious plans were in jeopardy of leaving Spinningfields half completed. However Allied London reached an agreement with Manchester City Council in a rescue deal, which involved the council buying various plots of land on the sites in a freehold agreement, namely 1 and 2 Hardman Square and 2 and 3 Hardman Boulevard, from Allied London at an unknown price. The council did not disclose the amount they paid, yet Deborah Linton of the Manchester Evening News claimed before the deal was made that the sum of money would be in the region of £15 million for the plots of land; it was later revealed that £15.9 million had been paid.

Location

There will be a total of 20 buildings within the Spinningfields area, spread over 6 acres (24,000 m²), and their construction status varies; as of 2008 many are completed, others are still under construction, while other buildings are still in the planning stages. The developers are Allied London. The structural, civil and geo-environmental engineers are Capita Symonds Structures based in Cheadle Hulme.

Spinningfields is widely believed to be an area that is fast becoming the Canary Wharf of the North, with the Financial Times noting, "London has Canary Wharf and Paris has La Défense, Manchester has its own modern financial centre in the form of Spinningfields".

The Spinningfields area assumes the shaped of a slightly warped box, being boxed in by Bridge Street to the north, Quay Street to the south, Deansgate to the east, and the River Irwell to the west.

The present day

The Manchester Civil Justice Centre currently stands as the tallest building in the Spinningfields district and as the fifth tallest in Manchester

Hardman Boulevard, with the Leftbank Apartments in the background

The area is predominantly commercial office developments. There are two buildings occupied by the Royal Bank of Scotland; 1 Hardman Boulevard and 1 Spinningfields Square. The latter building opens onto Deansgate and, due to its accessibility to pedestrians, contains a deli and a restaurant in its ground floor.

Across from 1 Hardman Boulevard is 2 Hardman Street, which is occupied by the Manchester Evening News and Deloitte. Facing this building is 3 Hardman Street, which was constructed on the site of the former Manchester Evening News building. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the 16-storey building was completed in 2009 and, aside from the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, is the tallest in the development in Spinningfields, but could lose the title to the proposed 140 metre 1 Hardman Square.

There are residential buildings within Spinningfields in the form of the 16-storey Leftbank Apartments, which overlook the River Irwell, as well as government buildings, including the Civil Justice Centre of Manchester, an 80 m (262 ft) high building completed in 2007. The old criminal courts also lie within the Spinningfields area. Just outside the area, facing the Civil Justice Centre, is the People's History Museum and, beyond that, Salford Central railway station.

Also completed in 2007 are 3 Hardman Square and 4 Hardman Square, which were designed by Norman Foster, himself originally from Stockport, now part of Greater Manchester. 3 Hardman Square is occupied by Halliwells Solicitors and Number 4 is occupied by HSBC Bank and Grant Thornton.

Spinningfields Leisure

The area around the Left Bank residential development contains a cluster of restaurants including Southern Eleven (American BBQ experience); Café Rouge; Carluccio's; Gourmet Burger Kitchen; Giraffe; Ha! Ha!; Samsi; Strada; Wagamama; and Zizzi. Living Ventures plans two new establishments: The Alchemist (bar); and Australasia (fine dining restaurant) to open in late 2010/early 2011. Despite being linked to the scheme, it seems that Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italian will not be opening at Spinningfields—a location on King Street seems the preferred option.^{[citation needed]}

It is rumoured that Armani plans to open an Armani Caffe at the rear of its new store at 1 The Avenue.^{[citation needed]} Fast food operators represented include: Bagel Nash; Greggs; Philpotts and Pret a Manger.

Spinningfields Retail

Allied London marketed Spinningfields retail offer as a "Knightsbridge of the North" following a pre-let to Emporio Armani & Armani Collezioni at 2 Spinningfields Square (renamed 1 The Avenue). However, the scheme's flagship thoroughfare 'The Avenue' struggled to attract the likes of Cartier, Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany whilst others such as Paul Smith pulled out of the scheme (1 Crown Square). The slow take-up led to the opening being pushed back from Autumn 2008 to Autumn 2010.

The revised line-up now (as of August 2010) comprises:

• All Saints (c.8,500 sq ft)
• Armani Collezioni & Emporio Armani (c.8,000 sq ft) - relocating from King Street
• Brooks Brothers
• DKNY
• Ermenegildo Zegna (operated by Flannels)
• Flannels (c.20,000 sq ft (1,900 m²) relocating from 3 Manchester locations)
• Hugo Boss
• Joseph (operated by Flannels and relocating from King Street)
• Kurt Geiger (relocating from St Ann's Square)
• LK Bennett
• Mulberry (c.3,200 sq ft (300 m²) relocating from King Street)
• Nicky Clarke (relocating from The Triangle)
• Oliver Sweeney
• Rigby & Peller
• TM Lewin
• WH Smith

In July 2010, Allied London scrapped the 'Manchester Hotel' concept which would have replaced Manchester House. Instead a retail and office development incorporating a new retail arcade linking Bridge Street to The Avenue at its western end would be created by reconfiguring the building.

Waitrose has been announced as the anchor tenant occupying a unit fronting Bridge Street.

Future developments

1 Hardman Square, which lies partially along Quay Street (not far from Sunlight House) is still in pre-planning stages, but is believed to be the tallest proposal of the development. A design of a building with a sloping roof and with a height of 165 m (541 ft) was submitted but has since been scrapped and new proposals being worked on thought to be around 140 metres in height. It will be designed by Norman Foster and construction cannot begin until the demolition of Quay House, which still lies on the current site.

The John Rylands Library (opened 1900) lies within the Spinningfields area, and a major extension and renovation of the building was completed in 2007, including a new entrance and reading room.

Although mostly commercial, the buildings within Spinningfields will contain various boutique retail outlets.

Gallery

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  Civil Justice Centre

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  3 Hardman Square (centre)

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  3 Hardman Street

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  Hardman Square

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  Armani Store, Spinningfields

External links

• Official developer's site
• Article at Manchester Update
• Overview of the area from Eye On Manchester