Manchester New Square, Whitworth Street & Princess Street



In a blaze of yellow, the Manchester New Square development is under construction in August of 2018 on the north-east corner of Whitworth Street and Princess Street.   The project is scheduled for completion in 2020 and will, according to its website, comprise four buildings.

 

The design is by the Manchester based architectural practice. of SimpsonHaugh.  They describe the development as, "... a high quality new mixed use development, to complement and enhance the important existing historic context, and to carefully and sensitively reconnect the site to its surroundings, including Rochdale Canal. At ground floor level there will be a mixture of artisan restaurants and retailers, along with a private residents’ gym, lounge and 24 hour concierge. The apartments are all generously proportioned and larger than can be found in other new developments in the city. Secure basement car and cycle parking is also available."













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Earlier Images








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This is the second project to be located on this important site between Manchester's Gay Village adjacent to the Rochdale Canal and the cluster of 19th century warehouses along Whitworth Street.  Circa 2009 work stated on a project called "Origin".  As the hoardings announced at the time, it was intended to provide 180 apartments, a 210 room boutique hotel and a significant amount of office space. 



Ground work started, two tower cranes were erected and a basement was constructed that is apparently 4 storeys in depth.









Then work came to a halt and the site stood untouched for several years until work began on Manchester New Square.


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In the 19th century this site was home to three warehouse buildings.  The Goad Map of 1893 shows the layout (see in my simplified copy below).  The area of the new development is indicated by the pink shading.



The buildings were textile warehouses of various heights. The tallest of the three, belonging to the Lloyd's Packing House, was also home to a bank at the corner of Princess and Whitworth.  You can see the buildings in the images below.

Looking eastwards along Whitworth Street.




Loooking north along Princess Street



The images above are from the 1970s.  You can also see tthe buildings in the aerial photograph below that dates from May of 1946.  The area of the Manchester New Square development is shaded in red.  Note that the area marked in the Goad Map as a "Tile Yard" now contains a large building.



The 1909 Slaters Directory for Manchester & Salford lists the occupants of these three buildings as follows:


42 Whitworth Street and the bank on the cormer of Whitworth Street and Princess Street in the Lloyd's Packing House building.




Numbers 113 and 115 facing on to Princess Street:



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Before the 19th century warehouses were built on this corner, the site was relatively undeveloped with a few terraced houses occupying the site, as you can see in the OS map of 1844-49.  At that point, Whitworth Street didn't exist although it was to roughly follow the route of Fishpond Street.

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