Following on from the news of the archways near HOME getting a fresh look, plans to turn a row of railway arches in Manchester into shops, bars, restaurants and cafes have now been approved. The ten arches located on Corporation Street near Red Bank, many of which currently sit empty, will be developed as part of a £4 million scheme.
These railway arches in Manchester, not far from The Sparrows and soon-to-open Half Dozen Other bakery, form part of a national project led by The Arch Company to bring 1,000 empty or derelict spaces across England and Wales back in use by 2030. Historically, the arches were predominantly used for industrial purposes however under these plans submitted to Manchester City Council they could become a new dining and shopping destination.
The 10 arches can be found in a section of the viaduct that carries both rail and Metrolink lines out of Manchester Victoria train station. Architects SGP are also redeveloping similarly disused railways arches in the Greengate[/trackLink] area of Salford – just over the other side of Manchester Victoria train station.
The scheme forms part of Project 1,000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. The Arch Company says its investment in them will help these “prominently located units to realise their potential and create a vibrant environment for the people of the city”.
Craig McWilliam, CEO of The Arch Company, said: “Project 1,000 is an exciting and ambitious programme that demonstrates our commitment to creating thriving environments for a diverse mix of small businesses and their communities. Our long-term investment will create space for 1,000 businesses and support approximately 5,000 jobs by the end of the decade.”
The Arch Company has other schemes already underway in Manchester including the redevelopment of arches on Temperance Street and Bennett Street. The developer became responsible for 253 spaces across Manchester and Salford in 2019, after purchasing 5,200 spaces in total from Network Rail.