Public Hint About New Library Theatre And Cornerhouse Site

PLANS for new buildings around First Street (that bit of empty land over the railway viaduct from the old Hacienda) are going to Manchester Council on 23 January.

We do know permission will be sought for the new joint Cornerhouse and Library Theatre building,  two hotels, small scale retail and food places, a multi storey car park and a new public square.

Anybody who wants to get a hint of the scale and scope of the ambition over the first stage 2.2 acre First Street North site should take a trip down to the only building presently complete in the area – 1  First Street, temporary home to the city council.

Here you can view some public consultation panels. Crummy ones.

The displays are functional at best, some panels are curling at the bottom, and the model of the site is so tiny you’d best take a magnifying glass. For a major new scheme with such a public profile it all seems a little low-key.

We do know permission will be sought for the new joint Cornerhouse and Library Theatre building,  two hotels, small scale retail and food places, a multi storey car park and a new public square.

The bigger of the hotels will be a 208 bedroom hotel that will sit behind the retail and bar units on Medlock Street.

Hidden away from public view, behind the Whitworth Street West railway viaduct and other new buildings, will be the Library Theatre and Cornerhouse building, designed by Mecanoo, an award-winning group of Dutch architects.

Confidential will debate the merits of the new location for these cultural assets when we get the worked up final visuals and plans in spring.

There will be drop-in sessions for local businesses and residents between 10am and 2pm and again between 5pm and 7pm this week where questions can be put to representatives of the project team before the plans are submitted.

If you want the details two applications will be submitted later this month, the first by Ask Developments for:

• Plot 1 next to rail bridge and Whitworth Street West - Hotel, 208 rooms
• Plot 1a next to Medlock Street - Small scale retail facilities and food and beverages
• Plot 3 on existing surface car park - Multi-storey car park, 700 spaces, hotel 110 rooms, and small scale retail facilities and food and beverages
• Plot 3a extension at front of 1 First Street - small scale retail facilities and food and beverages uses
• New public areas of the highest quality

The second application is by Manchester City Council for:

• Plot 2 next to rail bridge and Whitworth Street West opposite 1 First Street - Cultural building for Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company
• Public Realm

You can view the unspectacular proposals in person at 1 First Street this week on Wednesday (9am-5pm), Thursday (9am-7pm) and Friday (9am-5pm), 11-13 January. But honestly you might as well just view them here and save yourself a long walk.