FIRST STREET NORTH CREATING PLACES FOR PEOPLE

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1 About This Consultation Manchester City Council and Ask Property Developments are seeking to develop First Street North, a 2.2 acre site to the north of the Number One Building, within the 20 acre First Street Development Framework area. The First Street North proposals include development of a cultural facility including the Cornerhouse and Library Theatre, 2 hotels, small scale retail units and food and beverage uses, a multi storey car park and a new public square for the city. These proposals represent the next important phase of development at First Street which is to become the heart and focus of a distinctive new mixed use office led neighbourhood. The development of a new dedicated cultural facility is critical to the regeneration of First Street which in itself is fundamental to the future economy of Manchester City Centre and the wider Regional Centre. We welcome your views and comments on all aspects of the Planning Application proposals and your comments will help shape the plans which will be submitted to Manchester City Council in the coming weeks. First Street Site FIRST STREET NORTH First Street North Site

2 FIRST STREET NORTH The First Street Site Regional Context The site is located in a prominent gateway position into the Regional Centre marking the entrance to the City Centre from the airport and the south. The northern part of the site was historically home to a variety of manufacturing uses including the Gaythorne Gasworks with terraced housing located to the south. The historic manufacturing use of the site meant that the land was heavily contaminated and required remediation. In more recent times BT occupied the northern part of the site and their offices, known as Grand Island, were located on the present site of the Number One Building. In 2007 BT vacated the premises and the following subsequently took place creating a platform for new development: Number One built to BREEAM Excellent Creation of high quality public realm The proposals for First Street North represent the next critical phase in the development of the First Street Masterplan. The planning application to be submitted will comprise: a cultural facility including the Cornerhouse and Library Theatre; 2 hotels; small scale retail units and food and beverage uses; a multi storey car park and a new public square for the city, all of which will help to create a new City Centre destination driving footfall into the area. This will provide a catalyst for the wider office led regeneration of the site which is fundamental to the future of the economy of the City Region. Completely remediated to Environment Agency regulatory requirements Gaythorn Gasworks in 1920 s BT Building, 1992 Site remediation works, 2008

3 The Opportunity The development of the First Street site represents a significant opportunity for the further growth of the Regional Centre and the wider City Region through the development of a distinctive new mixed use office led neighbourhood. The site is positioned in a highly sustainable location with links to key city centre areas including the Oxford Road Corridor and the Civic Quarter. The area around Whitworth Street West, Knott Mill and Castlefield is an important location for creative and knowledge-based business. With this in mind the site is an ideal location for a new cultural facility relocation combining the Cornerhouse and Library Theatre to provide a strong people-based attraction which increases pedestrian activity to First Street and the surrounding area. Alongside these developments the opportunity exists to deliver a wide range of complementary uses which establish the place. Cornerhouse Over the last five years the Cornerhouse has significantly expanded, supported by Manchester City Council and ACE Lottery funding, however this expansion is constrained by the configuration of its current buildings. The Cornerhouse team is extremely ambitious and wants to create growth in audiences for both Cinema and Contemporary Art. A key focus for the Cornerhouse is to develop an interdisciplinary, audience-focused, digitally connected art factory that is unique to the UK and probably to Europe. The current buildings simply cannot provide the facilities required to achieve this. Library Theatre Company The Library Theatre Company is also looking for a new home to support its artistic aspirations. A key ambition is to extend its strong community and outreach programme and to become a more transparent and accessible company, sharing creative skills, opening up back of house facilities as learning spaces offering opportunities for catering, retail and hospitality. The First Street site represents a strong opportunity to realise the combined aspirations and expansion needs of the Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company in a joint vision for brand new, state of the art cultural facilities creating a unique contemporary arts organisation. This landmark new home for the merged Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company will create a dynamic, vibrant and ambitious arts organisation, central to the regeneration of First Street, which includes the delivery of a significant central business destination. Town Hall Complex Beetham Tower Manchester Central Civic Quarter Palace Theatre Deansgate Station Cornerhouse Oxford Road Station Knott Mill Creative Cluster MMU Campus Key transport route to South Manchester and Airport library manchester theatre company library manchester theatre company

4 The Development Framework A Development Framework has been prepared setting out a vision for the area with core guiding development principles alongside a Masterplan, which is fully endorsed by Manchester City Council. The first Development Framework was endorsed by the Council in 2005 and updated in 2007 and 2010 to respond to changes taking place in the City Centre office market and wider economy. The 2010 updated Framework recognises the very significant role that the site can play in stimulating investment and development activity across a much wider neighbourhood than the 20 acre site itself. The Framework identifies that commercial office development will drive forward the First Street regeneration agenda but also highlights the importance of the early delivery of complementary leisure, amenity and retailing facilities to attract office occupiers to the site. The mix of uses proposed include civic and cultural facilities, leisure and retail uses including hotels and residential (including student housing) driven by commercial office uses. The complementary facilities outlined including the cultural facilities are essential to the creation of a strong neighbourhood identity for First Street. The Framework also explains that the creation of cultural facilities will have a massive beneficial impact, delivering in one move a radical re-positioning of the site as a creative quarter. The application proposals aim to deliver the transformational change set out in the Framework to provide amenities and jobs, increase the amount of people visiting the site and create a sense of place required to ensure that First Street is well placed as one of Manchester s most important regeneration opportunities. First Street North Site Boundary

5 FIRST STREET NORTH What are the First Street North Proposals? 2) Manchester City Council Our proposals include the development of five plots of the First Street Masterplan and areas of new public realm. Plot 2 - Cultural Building - Theatres, Gallery, Cinema spaces, associated back of house areas (Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company) Two separate planning applications will be submitted by Manchester City Council and Ask Property Developments for the following: Public Realm 1) Ask Property Developments ST E ET W TRE S H ORT W IT Plot 1 Hotel (208 rooms) PLOT 3 WH Plot 1a Small scale retail facilities and food and beverages uses PLOT 2 PLOT 1 Plot 3 Multi storey car park (700 spaces), Hotel (110 rooms) and small scale retail facilities and food and beverages uses No1 FIRST STREET PLOT 1A Plot 3a - small scale retail facilities and food and beverages uses PLOT 3A New public areas of the highest quality PLOT 2 PLOT 1 PLOT 3 PLOT 1A PLOT 3A No1 FIRST STREET

6 The Benefits Our proposals represent an opportunity to deliver transformational change to a critical regeneration area in Manchester City Centre. The development will offer many benefits including: Regeneration Significant investment in the area transforming the image of the site and its surroundings. In addition, the proposals will kick start the next stage of development at First Street which is to become the heart and focus of a distinctive new mixed use office led neighbourhood fundamental to the economy of the Regional Centre and wider City Region. Creation of a unique, dedicated cultural facility which will attract visitors to Manchester and increase footfall to the area. Creation of new public spaces with a dedicated local events diary Education and Employment Learning opportunities will be provided through the Library Theatre Company s and Cornerhouse s extended community and outreach programmes offering unique audience engagement for Manchester residents We estimate that the First Street North scheme will provide around 126 construction jobs with an expected local employment target of up to 70%. In addition, up to 601 permanent jobs will be created at a range of levels and occupations. PLOT 3 WHITWORTH STREET WEST PLOT 2 No1 FIRST STREET PLOT 1 PLOT 3A PLOT 1A

7 Hierachy of p Hierachy of v Servicing rou FIRST STREET NORTH Well Connected The site is extremely well connected with links to key city centre areas including the Oxford Road Corridor and the Civic Quarter. In addition its location between two city centre train stations, Deansgate and Oxford Road, provides efficient public transport links to the site from the wider Manchester area and beyond alongside the nearby Deansgate Castlefield tram stop and bus services. The location of the site to the south of the city centre makes the site very accessible, via both public transport and by car, appealing to the wider audience that will be attracted by the cultural facility. The proposals have been designed to increase pedestrian and vehicular connectivity strengthening linkages with the surrounding area. In addition, it is anticipated that the existing free Metroshuttle bus service will be routed through the First Street site. The proposals include a multi-storey car park which will provide 700 spaces providing sufficient bays for visitors to the site and the wider City Centre area. In addition, ample visitor and employee cycle spaces will also be provided. A Transport Assessment has been completed which has concluded that the proposed development will not have a negative effect on the surrounding highway network. Vehicle and Pedestrian Movement FIRST STREET TOWN370.2(08)1006 R02 NOT TO SCALE AT A4 Vehicle and Pedestrian Movement Hierachy of pedestrian routes Hierachy of vehicular routes Servicing routes

8 The Environment Sustainability is at the heart of the future vision for First Street and the creation of a green culture is a key aspiration during operation of the facilities. The First Street North proposals have been designed to achieve the highest possible environmental standards in line with Manchester City Council requirements. A wide range of sustainable measures are proposed including: Each building will aim to achieve BREEAM Excellent as a minimum A site wide waste strategy is being prepared which will include facilities for recycling Community and educational activities will be held to raise awareness of low carbon technology and opportunities In addition, major new landscaped public spaces will be created improving the immediate environment. Some of these spaces will also be used as an outdoor performance space and for a range of community events and activities. The impact of noise has been assessed through the Environmental Impact Assessment which will be submitted alongside the planning applications. No adverse impacts have been identified in regards to the noise generated by the use of the proposed outdoor performance space. Equally, the effect of railway noise on the users of the proposed buildings will not be significant. Landscape Masterplan

9 What Happens Next? We re aiming to submit the planning applications for the First Street North Proposals in the coming weeks. Subject to planning consent being obtained, we will target start on site in autumn 2012 and that each building will be completed and operational by summer Have Your Say We d love to hear your views on these exciting proposals - please take the time to fill out the questionnaire available. Comments should be received by Monday 16th January The Statement of Consultation submitted with the planning applications will provide an overview of the responses received during this consultation and how any concerns have been addressed. Thanks for visiting.