Faith in the big picture
The Times
June 12, 2007
BYLINE: David Quinn
David Quinn reports on Manchester’s Spinningfields development
THE regeneration of Manchester after the bombing of the city centre in
1996 is usually associated with the creation of new shops. While it is
true that shoppers have flocked to Selfridges and Harvey Nichols since
then, office workers have also found something bold and luxurious to
settle into.
Spinningfields has become Manchester’s first choice among businesses
seeking somewhere smart. The development is also becoming a focus for
retailer and restaurant activity itself -Armani, Hugo Boss and
Carluccio’s have recently signed for space and 400 apartments have been
built.
Allied London Properties identified the site between Deansgate and the
River Irwell in 1997 and began to buy its 9 hectares (23 acres). Mike
Ingall, chief executive, says the aim was to provide something
different. “We realised the potential to expand Manchester’s traditional
office core was restricted by small buildings and a semi-medieval street
pattern.
“We decided to provide something new, with floorplates of more than
1,860 sq m (20,000 sq ft).” Manchester City Council bought into the
idea, realising Spinningfields could help to attract new inward
investment. A masterplan of large-scale buildings around open public
squares was made. But not everyone was enthusiastic. Commercial property
agents could not see the big picture. Ingall says: “Only one agent
backed us. Most thought I was from a different planet. We were taking
the central business district to the western side of Deansgate, which
was seen as a taboo.”
Bob Dyson, then at Dunlop Heywood and now North West chairman of Jones
Lang LaSalle, was that agent. Dyson says: “Nobody thought there was the
demand from occupiers to support the development but that made Mike more
determined. I shared his view that we could create an environment where
people wanted to be.”
Since then, it is difficult to overstate the impact Spinningfields has
had on Manchester’s commercial property market. The development, where
3.5 million sq ft is planned, secured almost 30 per cent of the 2006
800,000 sq ft city-centre office take-up, says WHR, a Manchester
property consultant.
Copyright 2007 Times Newspapers Limited
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