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Heritage railway arches in Manchester city center to undergo £3.7m transformation by HOME arts center

A section of the iconic railway arches along Whitworth Street will be redeveloped into a new development space for emerging local artists. under START.

Having been around as a recognizable part of the city’s rich architectural and transport heritage for as long as we can remember, three of the family arches situated on Whitworth Street West are now about to be given a new lease of life that will also help support the beloved city. from Manchester. artistic community.

coming under the HOME Under the theater and arts umbrella with work carried out by the North West arm of Robertson Construction, the transformation will begin fairly soon and is scheduled for completion in May 2024.

Sitting between Whitworth Street West and HOME’s main arts building At Tony Wilson Place, which has been a popular cinema, gallery and restaurant since 2015, the new development center will provide vital space and resources for artists of all ages, disciplines and stages in their careers. wonderful things

Costing £3.7m, the ‘HOME Arches’ project aims to not only give the Whitworth Street West arches some TLC, but also to help nurture, attract and retain creative talent in Manchester providing them with high-quality, low-cost rehearsal and training space.

Plus, being connected to the ever-prosperous First Street The district will further strengthen it as a well-known downtown destination for artists and visitors alike.

Funding for the renovation was secured in 2021 following a £2.3m government grant, with a further £0.9m contribution from Manchester City Hall and around £0.5m from HOME, which is helping to cover some post-build costs.

The Arches project is part of a wider £20 million redevelopment scheme under the national Leveling Up fund, with the bulk of the £17.5 million scheme seeing the Upper Campfield and Lower Campfield Market buildings (both listed structures Grade II) lovingly transformed into a new Center for Technology, Media and Creative Industries.

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Issuing a statement following the announcement, HOME Director and CEO Dave Moutrey said they are delighted to provide “significant additional creative space for artists” and allow them to “grow the work we do with artists in the Northwest, through the theatre. , cinema, visual arts and digital works”.

As for the Council itself, leader bev craig He said: “These bows are part of our heritage that have sat unloved and underutilized for many years. This scheme is bringing them back to life for a very modern purpose: to complement our city’s thriving cultural economy.

“Culture has a very important role to play in the success of our city and its people, creatively, for health and well-being and economically. This project will improve this part of the city ​​centercreate new jobs and further strengthen Manchester’s cultural ecosystem.”

We can’t wait to see what the new historic railway arches look like under HOME’s loving stewardship and see the impact it has on local creativity and culture.

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Featured Image — Supplied

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