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Argent and Manchester Council Join Forces in Northern Quarter Re-Development


WEBWIRE

In a joint venture with Manchester developer Argent, Manchester City Council has agreed to invest in a Northern Quarter regeneration scheme designed to attract creative industries. The new 78,000 sq ft development, named The Hive, will house a combination of creative workspaces, contemporary offices and retail units.

The Council has also approved the idea of a competition to produce a remodelling of Stevenson Square, which borders The Hive, transforming it into a top quality public open space. The re-design will include tree-planting schemes and the use of natural materials.

Both schemes will contribute to the regeneration of the Northern Quarter, and help Manchester’s most talented entrepreneurs, artists and designers to find a home in The Hive’s workspace and contemporary creative offices. The Council’s City Strategic Plan 2008-2012 identifies the crucial role the area can play in meeting the needs of the media-related sector.

City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese said, “The Northern Quarter has a distinctive identity and has become a strong brand in its own right. We are determined to preserve that character while making the most of the area’s creative spirit.”

“The Northern Quarter has a crucial role to play as a platform for growth in the media sector and these two initiatives will help generate momentum.”

David Partridge, joint chief executive at Argent, said: “We are now in a position to progress our plans for The Hive, which is great news for the city.”

“Argent is extremely enthusiastic about talking The Hive forward, bucking the trend in today’s difficult business climate. The Council’s support in our development of our creative office space and retail units has been crucial…without their support the plans would not be progressing at this pace.”

An economic impact study undertaken by Arup estimates that by 2013 The Hive scheme will deliver 440 full-time equivalent jobs. The additional annual income generated for the city’s economy by the development is estimated to be £9.3 million.

For more information about the Hive’s creative office space and retail units or its central Manchester location, visit the website at: http://www.thehivemanchester.co.uk/.



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 Manchester workspaces
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 officespace in Manchester
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