Member Article

The Factory Manchester and Allied London begin £78 million St. John’s project

Manchester’s former Old Granada Studios, St. John’s will play host to a large scale, flexible arts space to support the expanding cultural offer in the city supported by significant funding from central government.

Revealed in conjunction with the £78 million funding from Government, The Factory Manchester, will be capable of transforming from a 2,200 seat theatre to an immersive artistic environment with a standing capacity of up to 5,000.

St. John’s is set to become the home of Manchester’s enterprise and creative community, and The Factory Manchester will play a key part in encouraging further arts projects to utilise the area.

The announcement follows government endorsement of the redevelopment strategy of Manchester and in particular the North West of England, which will see Allied London refresh the site’s existing buildings as well as integrate new ones.

The developer’s plan for St. John’s, which is currently awaiting council planning approval, involves a mixed-use neighbourhood incorporating residential, hotel, commercial, retail space and cultural destinations which interconnect public realm and extended green space.

CEO of Allied London, Michael Ingall said: “The Factory Manchester will play a powerful part in the creation of St. John’s.

“There will be several important complementary parts to this new neighbourhood and all these parts will come together to create a purpose and a soul, with culture, art and performance mixed with enterprise to create a very exciting place to be, as well as live and work.

“Manchester City Council’s support for Government funding for the creation of The Factory only furthers our joint ambition to make St. John’s a genuine new and exciting mixed use neighbourhood, and this asset will be welcomed by the arts community nationally.

“It really is a game changer for the North West.

“St. John’s is already proving a major new neighbourhood within Manchester and the confirmation of The Factory Manchester’s involvement is a sign of the positive impact we expect the new space to have on the local community and economy.”

Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese said: “Manchester is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and culture plays a central role in our growth strategy.

“Having a thriving cultural life helps us develop, attract and keep talented people, and is a fundamental element of a truly vibrant international city.

“The Factory Manchester will also feed the growing demand for arts as the city continues to grow and provides a Northern base to grow skills for those wanting to work in the creative industries.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .