Warnings not to demolish part of Hotspur Press mill
PLANS to part-demolish and redevelop one of the city centre’s most iconic mills are being recommended for approval next week, despite warnings from conservation experts.
Developers want to refurbish part of the 19th Century Hotspur Press complex – off Cambridge Street, near Oxford Road station – while also knocking down some of its original fabric to create more than 170 apartments, shops, offices, restaurants and potentially a gym, bowling alley or medical centre.
Much of one part of the mill complex, which was built in 1801 and has long been in a poor state of repair, would be demolished, with just its front facade and north-facing gable end kept.
Behind that frontage a new 28-storey tower block is planned, containing most of the apartments.
The other part of the mill, dating from 1800, would be kept in its entirety and refurbished.
Under planning rules, Historic England did not require consultation on the proposal, but Manchester’s conservation areas and historic buildings panel called for the entire complex to be kept.
“The whole of the mill should be retained without such a dramatic intervention,” it said in its response.
“Large sections of the buildings should not be demolished.”
“The mill complex forms an important grouping with the Dunlop building and Cambridge Street Mill and the tower would not relate to this important context,” adds the panel.
“The buildings have a significant group value and should be embraced ‘as found.’
“The tower would put the new space in shadow and would dominate the group and destroy its cohesiveness rather than tie into it.”
Two public objections have been received to the scheme, one of which called it ‘truly hideous,’ arguing it would be better to ‘destroy’ the mill ‘than to butcher it.’
Planning officers say they would be ‘minded’ to approve the development, however, subject to negotiating a Section 106 payment for affordable housing elsewhere.
“The site is appropriate for a tall building and the development would be well designed and of a high quality,” says the report.
“It would fulfil an important role in providing residential accommodation within the city centre.”
As well as new apartments and commercial space, new owners Elmloch Ltd plan a new public square, linking to nearby First Street, while a new ‘loggia’ – an open corridor – would provide views of the River Medlock.
The plans will go before councillors next Thursday.