New plans could restore mansion to former glory
A CLASSIC example of Georgian design, it has stood empty for 20 years.
Boarded up, damaged by the weather and vandals, it is in danger of being lost forever.
Rescue ideas have floundered. But now there is hope that the Grade II listed mansion in Salford’s Buile Park can be returned to its original grandeur.
Earlier this year developers suggested 60 publicly-owned homes could be built in some of the park to help finance a high-spec revamp of the building. But any plan for houses in the park was ruled ‘off the table’ after a backlash from residents.
Now a land deal involving the same developers, Capital and Centric, may be the building’s salvation.
A parcel of land elsewhere in the city will be put out to tender by the council. Capital and Centric will be invited to bid and if successful would build a mix of houses on the site some of which would eventually be owned by the council. The scheme would generate cash for the mansion revamp.
Salford Council is pursuing possible grants. The M.E.N. understands that one charity has indicated it could donate £1m and bids are also being made to the National Lottery.
Money the council has obtained under ‘106 agreements’ – where developers have to make a contribution – is also being set aside for the mansion.
A separate proposal for the mansion from an educational organisation which includes £1m towards the cost of refurbishment has also been drawn up and welcomed by campaigners.
The council insists that if the mansion does re-open, it should have an element of community use.
Campaigners and council insiders believe there is a momentum to finally rescue the building from a catalogue of failure over two decades.
Paul Rupa, of the Buile Hill Mansion Association, said: “Alongside Salford Council, we have been made privy to the very latest proposals that are on offer. These proposals are still being worked through but we believe the result will be something the whole of Salford will support.
“The association was formed to drive forward with our intention of renovating the building. We have created a committee, a business bank account, applied for charitable status, and are now in the process of bidding for funding.
“From a tiny group, the association now has membership of over 800 in four months. We have helped the council to undertake a city-wide consultation exercise to establish what locals require from their mansion house.”
The stately home was built in 1827 as the home of Sir Thomas Potter, the first Lord Mayor of Manchester and co-founder of the Manchester Guardian, forerunner of The Guardian. It closed in 2000 as the home for the Lancashire Mining Museum and has been boarded up ever since.
In 2008 the council approved plans by John Wilkinson, then chairman of Salford City Reds rugby league club, to turn the mansion into a £9m country hotel but permission ran out in 2014.
In 2010 Mr Wilkinson held talks with the Macdonald Hotel Group but the idea floundered.
In 2015 the council had talks with an undisclosed hotel group which was interested in converting the building into a boutique hotel and last year Capital and Centric revealed plans to build homes in an area of the park to finance the refurbishment of the mansion. Salford Red Devils Foundation was involved.
A drop-in session for the public to have a say on how the repaired mansion should be used has been organised by singer-songwriter and former manager of The Fall, Ed Blaney, and Capital and Centric tomorrow. It will be held in Buile Hill Hall, behind the mansion, from 1-5pm.
Tim Heatley, co-owner of Capital and Centric, said: “We know there are different factions and campaign groups but it is a year on since we had a consultation with the public and nothing has happened. When people stop talking buildings like this fall down. We have no argument with any residents group. If we are just the catalyst for conversation we don’t mind that.”
City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “The council is working with Buile Hill Mansion Association and local residents to find a way to re-use the mansion and to put us in a stronger position to bid for external funding for both the mansion and Buile Hill Park itself. We have explicitly ruled out houses in any part of the park and are committed to finding and delivering a long-term, sustainable use for the mansion which doesn’t rely solely upon the local taxpayer.” Former leader of Salford’s Liberal Democrats, Norman Owen, now a member of the Labour Party, said: “It is a big ask to put right something that has dragged on for 20 years. We have had too many false starts.”