25 June 2008
Morgan Ashurst presents keys to three revitalised historic
buildings in Ancoats
Colin Fearns, Morgan Ashurst business development director,
recently handed over a set of brass Victorian keys to Martin Lloyd,
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) head of property, to
celebrate the completion of preservation work on three historical
buildings in the Ancoats quarter of Manchester.
Morgan Ashurst, which has local offices in Salford Quays,
carried out conservation work to three early Victorian buildings
with the guidance of English Heritage.
“All three buildings are being revitalised as part of the
regeneration of the Ancoats district,” said Colin Fearns, Morgan
Ashurst business development director in Manchester. “The buildings
were in a derelict condition and needed to be made structurally
sound in order to protect them from further weather erosion and
create a safe environment for future development of the
buildings.”
Colin added: “It is very exciting to see the future of historic
buildings in this area being secured, as well as providing useful
amenities for the area.”
New Little Mill, which is a six-storey Grade II listed building
and formerly a textile mill, received preservation work which
included a new temporary roof cover to help protect the existing
roof which was in a poor condition. Being a very large structure of
over 1,200,000 sq m, it also needed repairs to the external
brickwork and original steel supporting columns throughout.
Improved ventilation also now allows the building to breathe and
minimise damp.
The structure of Jactin House on Hood Street, which was formerly
a hostel providing accommodation for workers in the surrounding
mills, also needed extensive structural underpinning and
revitalisation. The four-storey Victorian building was strengthened
using steel beams and a new concrete slab over the basement. The
brick walls and original terracotta window sills were repaired in
line with English Heritage guidelines.
The two-storey red brick building located in 87 Great Ancoats
Street, which was once a small Victorian shop, also received roof
and brickwork repairs as well as steel bracing and improved
ventilation.
The Ancoats district is of great historical interest, not only
to Manchester but globally. It is Manchester’s original industrial
quarter and has claims to be the world’s first industrial suburb,
spurring the industrial revolution in nineteenth century
England.
The regeneration of Ancoats is a key priority for the NWDA and
the preservation and handover of these buildings will enable the
Agency to take forward their redevelopment as part of the Urban
Village project. By the time the project is complete, the Agency
will have invested £68 million in the transformation of the
area.
Martin Lloyd, head of property at the NWDA, said: “Revitalising
these important buildings is another step forward in the drive to
regenerate Ancoats and create a new urban village for the area.
This important restoration work will enable the NWDA to take
forward the redevelopment of the buildings, which are earmarked for
a mix of commercial and residential uses that will significantly
add to the area’s appeal as a place to live and work.”
Ends
Photos: (left to right) Martin Lloyd, head of property at the
Northwest Regional Development Agency takes possession of a set of
Victorian keys given by Colin Fearns, Morgan Ashurst business
development director, outside Jactin House to celebrate the
completion of preservation work on three historical buildings in
the Ancoats district of Manchester.
Factfile:
- Ancoats is just over 1km north-east of the central retail
and office area of Manchester city centre.
- The Rochdale canal forms the southern boundary.
- Ancoats is rich in industrial and architectural heritage,
spanning the development of urban cotton spinning and related
activities from the late 18th century to the early 20th
century.
- It was designated a Conservation Area in 1989.
- Along with Castlefield and the Worsley Basin, Ancoats is on
the UK tentative list for inscription as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO.
- The Conservation Area contains 14 listed buildings, seven of
which are Grade II*.
- Ancoats is often referred to as the world's first industrial
suburb.
- The development of Ancoats began in the late 1700s, and
peaked during the Industrial Revolution, when Manchester became
known as 'Cottonopolis'.
Editor’s Notes:
Morgan Ashurst is a leading full-service construction business with
more than 2,000 employees in the UK. Supported by a national
network of local offices, the company works for private and public
sector clients on projects from £50,000 to over £300 million.
Morgan Ashurst’s construction activities range from small works,
repair and maintenance services to large-scale complex projects
across the airports, commercial, defence, education, healthcare,
industrial, leisure and retail sectors. It is part of top five UK
construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall plc which
operates through five specialist divisions of fit out,
construction, infrastructure services, affordable housing and urban
regeneration.
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of
England’s Northwest and is responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life
Media Contacts:
Liz Coyle-Camp/Tanya Gardiner, 01747 871752 or tanya@emc2publicrelations.com