Ancoats Urban Village
To the west of Great Ancoats Street is Manchester City Centre, and to the east lies the area of Ancoats. Its boundaries run from Every Street to the south, and Oldham Road to the North, stretching as far east as Weybridge Road.
Ancoats is made up of three areas- Ancoats Urban Village, New Islington and the Ashton Canal Corridor.
The area’s proximity to the city centre means it benefits from all the central shops and bars as well as the up and coming Northern Quarter with its rich bohemian atmosphere. Only a ten minute walk from Piccadilly train station and situated directly on the inner ring road, it is perfect for residents commuting out of town as well as those coming to work in Ancoats.
Ancoats Urban Village is known as the world’s first industrial suburb and has one of the largest concentrations of Grade II and Grade II* listed building in Manchester. Many of these mills are currently being restored and turned into modern yet sympathetic apartments and commercial space.
New Islington is Manchester’s Millennium Community that will attract 2,500 new residents to the area through the creation of a number of developments as well as a brand new primary school.
The Ashton Canal Corridor has already seen the construction of several new developments as well as work on-site for a number of canal side apartments including Islington Wharf and City Lofts.
Leisure
Within Ancoats is the New Islington Eco Park. Due to open to the public in 2007, this contemporary space will become a haven for wildlife and residents alike. With a boating lake, reed beds and its own beach, the park will be a sanctuary for all residents of Ancoats, the surrounding area and Manchester as a whole.
The Ancoats Public Ream project will see the creation of a new Public Square for Ancoats, next to St Peter’s Church. The National Embroidery Centre is also set to relocated its new exhibition space from Hampton Court to St Peter’s Church.
Renowned urban artist Dan Dubowitz is producing numerous works throughout Ancoats. One piece has already been completed, Serafino’s Stone, situated opposite St Peter’s Church and several other projects are currently underway throughout Ancoats, including his eagerly anticipated Peep Holes.
For residents who enjoy a bit of nightlife, Sankey’s Soap, which first opened in 1994 with famous club nights including Bugged Out and Golden, is located in Ancoats and is still a thriving part of Manchester’s nightlife.
Nearby in Miles Platting is a community swimming pool. It runs a wide range of aquatic lessons for swimmers of all ages, from pre-school through to adults alongside a health and fitness suite.
Bordering on Ancoats is St Michael’s Flags and Angel Meadow, a small and quaint open space that local residents can enjoy. After a recent grant the area has been improved with solar lighting and new plants, helping to create a safer environment for residents to use.
Sankey’s Soap
Behive Mill, Jersey Street, Miles Platting M4 6JG
Telephone: 0161 228 7013
Miles Platting Pools and Fitness Centre
Varley Street, Miles Platting M40 8EE
Telephone: 0161 205 8939
Education and Learning
Ancoats has just one primary school within its boundaries. Corpus Christi with St Anne’s RC Primary School teaches 100 pupils aged 3-11 spread throughout four classrooms.
In December 2006 St Anne’s was announced as the most improved school in the country, making a 173% improvement in English, mathematics, and science over the past three years.
Plans are also in place for a brand new primary school to be located in the heart of New Islington.
Corpus Christi with St Anne RC Primary School
Carruthers Street, Ancoats M4 7EQ
Telephone: 0161 273 2417
Community
Ancoats has always had a strong sense of community dating back to the industrial revolution when the area was heavily populated with people from all over the world who came to work in the mills. With the anticipated influx of people moving into Ancoats, a new modern community is beginning to emerge.
Ancoats Buildings Preservation Trust
Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6JG
Telephone: 0161 278 1755
Several churches are located in nearby Miles Platting, each offering a variety of facilities to the local community. Trinity Methodist Church, on Butler Street, runs a disabled group, a charity shop as well as a children’s group. And a range of community services are run from the Church of Apostles and Saint Cuthbert’s including fitness classes and coffee mornings.
Trinity Methodist Church
Butler Street, Ancoats M44 7EJ
Church of Apostles and Saint Cuthbert’s
77 Ridgeway Street, Miles Patting M40 7DT
Health
Ancoats is the site for a new £6.5m state-of-the-art health centre that will provide a number of services includingminor injuries, family planning, podiatry, mental health services, and a pharmacy. The 24,500 sq ft facility is expected to be completed in October 2007. In addition there are two current surgeries:
Dr O’Shea
46 Radium Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AY
Telephone: 0161 236 6633
Dr SZ Ahmad
126 Bollington Road, Ancoats M40 7HD
Telephone: 0161 681 1353
The Evolution of Ancoats
Ancoats Urban Village
The 50 acres that make up the Ancoats Urban Village has been declared a Conservation area, to help preserve the rich architectural and historical heritage. Major work has already begun to restore the buildings to their former glory, turning the disused space into a mixture of apartments and commercial areas.
Ancoats Urban Village Company (now part of New East Manchester) is an agency that was established to promote Ancoats and assist in its development. With their unparalleled knowledge they can ensure that the area makes full use of its potential in terms of its unique architectural and historical heritage.
Several major restoration projects are already underway with some near completion. The sympathetic redevelopment of Royal Mills, one of the oldest cotton mills in the country, has seen many residents moving in, with the completion of the commercial space imminent. Structural repairs on the adjacent Murrays Mill were finished in late 2006 and work will begin on the interior conversion to apartments and commercial space.
Developments include:
Royal Mills – Phase 1 of Royal Mills is now complete with over 100 apartments now filled. The ground floor of this award winning building is to be used for commercial space, which is currently in the process of being let. (Complete)
Express Networks – Now on the third phase, Express Networks, the rear of which is the former Daily Express building, offers a range of serviced office units and apartments built to a high-tech specification. (Complete)
MM2 – A joint venture between Gleeson and Persimmon, MM2 was the first significant new build in Ancoats. Built as two separate blocks, the scheme offers 65 two bed and 11 one bed apartments with a further 16 live/work units. The ground floor boasts a number of retail units which are currently being occupied. (Complete)
BS41 – Due to complete in June, this unique building by developers City South, scheme will comprise 50 apartments ranging from one, two and three bedrooms as well as 9,000 sq ft of high quality office space. (On-site)
Sarah Point – A mixed use development designed by Lifshutz Davidson and developed by BSC. This new build will also incorporate a retained slender former warehouse. (On-site)
Ice Plant – Originally built to store meat and fish in the early 20th Century, this four storey building will utilise its large arched windows when it is developed. (Planned)
Heart of Ancoats – Situated in the centre of Ancoats, this predominantly residential development by Artisan will create a number of town houses as well as an open space next to the church tower. (Planned)
Stockbridge Airco – Currently housing a fan-manufacturing company, this site will be redeveloped by developer Silverlane to create 182 apartments and over 8000 sq ft of commercial/retail space. (Planned)
45 Bengal Street – This mixed use scheme received planning consent in March to create 135 apartments and over 22,000 sq ft of commercial space. (Planned)
Ashton Canal Corridor
The most southern area of Ancoats, the Ashton Canal corridor is dominated by a number of developments by Manchester based firm Artisan. Ovale, Albion Mills and Vulcan works provide a range of new build accommodation as well as restored old mills. Work on site has also recently commenced with a City Lofts development.
Developments include:
Ovale – Its name is taken from the Italian word for ellipse, this unique building houses 36 apartments all contained within a spherical glass shell. With floor to ceiling glass and curved walls, Ovale offers a very opulent place to live. (Complete)
Albion Mills - A mixed scheme by Artisan situated close to the Ashton Canal, the scheme has created 230 apartments along with a media office centre, bars, restaurants and a new public square. (Early phases complete)
Islington Wharf – This flagship development by Isis will see the creation of a number of family-sized apartments as well as one and two bedroom flats. It will also feature communal space as well as a 27 story tower.
City Lofts Milliners Wharf – Developed by City Lofts Group, Milliners Wharf is a collection of 261 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments located on the banks of the Ashton Canal. Formerly the site of a hat box factory, the development promises full height sliding windows and contemporary design.
Eastside – Located on the former Advent site, at the bottom of Every Street, this £100m scheme by Artisan will see the creation of over 140 apartments on the 6.5 acre site. (On-site)
Vulcan Works – Once John Hetherington’s principal cotton factory, Vulcan works will consist of a refurbished and converted textile mill alongside a new purpose built block, to create 215 apartments. (On-site)
New Islington
New Islington is Manchester’s Millennium Community located in the centre of Ancoats. Based on a Masterplan by Will Alsop, on completion it will include a state of the art health centre, primary school and an Eco Park. Built on the site of a former council housing estate, the first phase of public sector housing is now complete and the second phase due to complete in Spring 07.
Population
The Ancoats neighbourhood is currently home to 900 residents. This number is set to soar as new residents begin into residential developments in Ancoats Urban Village, New Islington and along the Ashton Canal Corridor. It is estimated that the population will reach in excess of 7,000 over the next few years.
Documents and reports