Latest news with #HotspurPress
ITV News
12-07-2025
- General
- ITV News
Sections of Manchester's Hotspur Press building due to be demolished this weekend
Sections of Manchester's iconic Hotspur Press building are due to be demolished this weekend. The historic mill, believed to be among the oldest in Manchester city centre, was severely damaged when a huge blaze tore through the building on 23rd than 100 people were evacuated from buildings nearby, with smoke being visible for miles. Following the fire, an order for emergency demolition work was put in place. The Demolition is set to start on Saturday night into Sunday morning, to minimise disruption to the train line running past it. Machines were in place as workers prepared to get started on Friday. A spokesperson for MCR Property Group, which own the building, was present at the site. They said parts of the building have been safely removed as part of planned work. 'We've been instructed to carry out controlled work to make the site safe, that's our priority right now. Local shops have been informed, and police are on standby to make sure the area stays secure.' Meanwhile, the fire has reignited debate over why the building was never listed. Three heritage groups, including SAVE Britain's Heritage, have now submitted a Freedom of Information request, demanding answers after the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, rejected Historic England's recommendation to protect the site.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Mancunian Way: Going underground
Andy Burnham says he is 'deadly serious' about taking Greater Manchester's transport system subterranean. He wants to run trains and trams under Manchester city centre. The mayor's rather surprising announcement came at the end of an event to launch the new, 10-year Greater Manchester Strategy. And Mr Burnham said the underground policy was what he was most excited about. READ MORE: Dean Barnes trial: Burglary victim cleared of causing death by dangerous driving as thief who rode stolen bike convicted READ MORE: Mum murdered by ex dumped outside as his sisters tried to help cover up brutal killing He wants it to start with a new, underground Piccadilly station. 'We will need infrastructure on a bigger scale to cope,' he told Ethan Davies. It's not exactly a new idea. A 'Picc-Vic' subterranean tunnel was planned in the 1970s, before it was cancelled. No timelines for the underground system have been offered but Mr Burnham wants 'detailed' costed plans by 2030. Watch this space. While waxing lyrical last night, Mr Burnham said the next decade will be the best 'since the Victorian period'. Part of that is down to a new plan to run five new 'mayoral development corporations' (MDCs) - aimed at slashing red tape and speeding up development. In the town of Middleton, comedian Steve Coogan will be leading the charge. New homes and businesses, improved roads and a Metrolink stop could all be part of the regeneration. And Mr Coogan, who hails from Alkrington, says it's an 'exciting opportunity' for him to give back to a town that helped him in his early years. 'I feel I owe the people of Middleton a debt. That's why I'm happy to be involved and talk to people in Middleton and ask them what they want and what they need. 'You can't change the world, but you can change the things in your locality if you get involved. So I'm getting involved.' You can read more about the plans here. This lovely image shows Heaton Park as preparations start for the huge Oasis homecoming gigs. You can catch up with all our Oasis stories - and there are a few - right here. Demolition work has started at the Hotspur Press building after it was gutted during a devastating fire. A huge blaze erupted at the building - one of the city's oldest surviving cotton mills, which was later repurposed as a printing press - on the evening of June 23. More than 100 people were evacuated from nearby blocks of flats, while trains were stopped on the line near Oxford Road station. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it would have to be partially demolished. Specialist workers are currently on site and carrying out preparation work. Chris Slater has more detail here. Greater Manchester could see four major hospital rebuilds and new developments amid changes to frustrating rules that stopped the region from transforming crumbling buildings. After a years-long mission to get the funding, and a Manchester Evening News campaign, up to £1.5bn was finally approved by the government for the overhaul of the Victorian-era North Manchester General Hospital. But NHS capital spending rules have prevented three other major hospital building projects in Greater Manchester. Changes to those rules could break logjams for Stepping Hill Hospital, wythenshawe-hospital>Wythenshawe Hospital, and The Christie Hospital, says the region's NHS chief. Health reporter Helena Vesty has all the details here. Two years ago, Alex Spencer was performing to shoppers on Market Street. Last night he took to the Castlefield Bowl stage in front of thousands as a support act for The Black Keys. The 18-year-old started busking at the age of 12 and has made a name for himself releasing three EPs and showcasing tracks via BBC Introducing. 'If I never went out busking I'd never be here where I am now,' he told Adam Maidment. 'The best thing about busking is that you never know who is watching.' Read more about Alex here. Friday: It's another scorcher with sunshine all day and top temps of 30C. Roads: A577 Mosley Common Road, Astley, in both directions closed due to roadworks between B5232 Bridgewater Road and A572 Chaddock Lane until July 22. A6 Chapel Street westbound, Salford, closed due to long-term roadworks from A6041 Blackfriars Road to A34 New Bailey Street. Until January 19. A5067 Chester Road westbound, Old Trafford, closed due to roadworks between A5014 Talbot Road and A56 Bridgewater Way. Between 9.30am and 3.30pm Mondays to Sundays until October 31. Towering: Plans to build one of the UK's tallest skyscrapers in Salford look set to go ahead in a major development for the city. The massive tower could stand at 273m tall, in a £1bn project by Henley Investment Management (HIM) to build up to 3,300 homes across 10 buildings at Regent Retail Park. More here. Razed: An eyesore Northern Quarter car park is to be demolished to make way for a new development. Four new public squares will be built on the site of the Church Street multi-storey. More here. Blossoming: Castlefield Viaduct will double in size after securing £2.75m of funding, the National Trust has announced. The 'sky park' was opened to the public in 2022, initially opening for a year-long trial but it proved such a hit that the National Trust kept it open. Details here. It was a place of outlandish pranks, love affairs, legendary drunken parties and the first home many people ever had in the city. Sadly, all that remains are photographs and memories that generations of former students will never forget. Now reduced to rubble, Owens Park Tower was once the gold standard in student digs. Lee Grimsditch has been looking back at why.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fire service shares Hotspur Press update as cordon remains 11 days on from blaze
Hotspur Press is being inspected every day after last week's devastating blaze - but the site remains unsafe. Flames soared from the historic former mill last Monday afternoon (June 23), with an inferno leaving much of the building crumbling to the ground. The Manchester Evening News revealed on Wednesday how the city centre site has been deemed 'too unsafe' for a full investigation into the cause of the fire to begin. READ MORE: Diogo Jota: Police confirm cause of Lamborghini car crash after Liverpool star and brother Andre Silva killed READ MORE: The cocky murderer who thought he was too clever to be caught It's understood that partial demolition is needed to take place before authorities can carry out the full inspection. In an update shared this morning (Friday), Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed it was continuing to inspect the building for any hot spots, with work to determine the 'next steps' for the site still ongoing. A GMFRS spokesperson said: "The fire at Hotspur Press has been extinguished and the building remains cordoned off for peoples' safety with crews inspecting the building daily to check for hot spots. "GMFRS is working closely with Greater Manchester Police, local authority partners and the building owners to work on next steps and ensure a safe and thorough investigation can be completed." Around 140 residents were forced to evacuate nearby apartments after the fire broke out last Monday. A major incident was declared and later stood down. A cordon remains on Cambridge Street surrounding the Hotspur Press site. A spokesperson for MCR Property Group, which owns the site, said earlier this week: "We continue to work with our development partner Manner, alongside GMFRS, GMP and Manchester City Council's Planning and Building Control teams, to manage the Hotspur Press site following the fire. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE "The immediate priority has been to make the structure safe, both for the general public and to allow investigation teams to carry out their work. "This process is being undertaken carefully and in stages, with every effort made to retain as much of the building as possible, in line with structural guidance." The Hotspur Press site was earmarked for redevelopment by Manner, with the façade and iconic 'Percy Brothers' signage due to be retained.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hotspur Press 'too unsafe' to investigate cause of devastating fire
The Hotspur Press site which was ravaged by a devastating fire in the city centre last week has been deemed 'too unsafe' for investigators to probe the cause of the blaze, the Manchester Evening News understands. An inferno erupted at the building on Cambridge Street at 4.30pm on Monday (June 23), which spread to neighbouring blocks of flats and stopped railway services to and from Oxford Road station. More than 100 residents were evacuated due to the fire, with smoke masking nearby streets. The fire service later confirmed the mill will now need to be partially demolished. READ MORE: "Sometimes I want to shout move!": Life next to yellow box junction raking in thousands in fines READ MORE: 'My son made one silly mistake and paid with his life - this is my plea' Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here It's understood that the site, which was completely ravaged from the inside with parts of the roof and wall beams crumbling to the ground, remains unsafe. Because of that, the authorities are unable to investigate the cause of the fire before a partial demolition takes place. The fire service is understood to be carrying out inspections of the site several times a day. Due to delays in starting the investigation and access issues to the site, no cause is known. It is understood the council continues to monitor the site from a building control viewpoint. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE A spokesperson for MCR Property Group said: "We continue to work with our development partner Manner, alongside Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council's Planning and Building Control teams, to manage the Hotspur Press site following the fire. "The immediate priority has been to make the structure safe, both for the general public and to allow investigation teams to carry out their work. This process is being undertaken carefully and in stages, with every effort made to retain as much of the building as possible, in line with structural guidance." Road closures and a large scene have remained in place since the blaze in order to keep the area safe. Manner's plans included retaining the façade and iconic 'Percy Brothers' signage at the mill, which closed as a printing press in 1996 and fell into dereliction in the intervening decades. A student tower, clad in bronze, was set to rise to a height of 36 storeys. An earlier version of the project, with the tower clad in brick, was given planning permission in May 2024. However, work could not start because an application to list the building was submitted to the government shortly after. It was rejected in January, but was re-submitted for a review. --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Petition launched to rebuild Hotspur Press 'in its original form' after devastating fire
A petition has been launched calling for Hotspur Press to be rebuilt 'in its original form' following a 'horrific' fire partially destroyed the mill. A blaze ripped through the Victorian building, which fell into dereliction after closing as a printing press in 1996, at 4:30pm on Monday (June 23). The inferno spread to balconies on nearby blocks of flats, and its smoke stopped railway services to and from Oxford Road station. On Wednesday (June 25), the fire service said crews were still dowsing the blaze and confirmed the mill will now need to be partially demolished. READ MORE: Teenager disappears after boarding flight at Manchester Airport READ MORE: The Greater Manchester streets where more people claim PIP than anywhere else Now, a petition has been created calling on Manchester council and developers for it to be rebuilt 'in its original form'. It said: 'We call on Manchester City Council and all relevant developers to commit to rebuilding the Hotspur Press — faithfully and fully — in its original form. 'The recent fire has robbed Manchester of one of its most iconic and historic buildings, a cornerstone of the city's skyline and industrial heritage. Hotspur Press was not just bricks and mortar — it was a living reminder of the city's printing legacy, a symbol of Manchester's character and soul. 'What we don't need is another anonymous block of luxury flats that serve investors over residents. We are tired of seeing our history erased for profit. We demand that what is rebuilt reflects the identity, memory, and voice of the people who actually live here.' The petition also calls for 'a city-wide commitment to protect Manchester's architectural heritage before more of it is lost forever'. Developers Manner had planning permission to retain Hotspur Press' facade and iconic Percy Brothers signage, and build a 36-storey student tower on the site. Despite planning permission being given in May 2024, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands work never started due to delays in a battle to list the building, which was initially rejected and then appealed, and Manner opting to change the cladding material on the tower from brick to bronze. Last night, a Manner spokesperson said the firm was 'truly heartbroken' about the blaze: "Like all of Manchester, it was truly heartbreaking for us to watch the horrific fire spread through The Hotspur Press on Monday. 'Over the last two years we have worked conscientiously to develop a plan for the regeneration of The Hotspur Press that would celebrate its rich history and heritage. We are absolutely devastated to see the extent of the damage that has been caused, and it is incredibly hard to come to terms with what is now left of this important building. "Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected, and we thank the fire crews who have worked tirelessly at the scene to bring the fire under control. 'We are now assisting the emergency services with the investigation to understand the cause of the fire and will continue to liaise closely with Manchester City Council and local residents in this part of the city." On Monday night, as the fire was being fought, council leader Bev Craig said: 'A final thank you to the city's emergency personnel for their ongoing efforts tonight, acting quickly to keep the fire under control and keeping our residents safe." Manner and Manchester council have been contacted for comment.
