Spinningfields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spinningfields |
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| Central Business District | |
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 Spinningfields
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| OS grid reference | SJ832981 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MANCHESTER |
| Postcode district | M3 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Spinningfields is a modern part of Manchester city centre in North West England. It was built in the 2000s between Deansgate and the River Irwell. This huge project, costing £1.5 billion, includes 20 buildings. These buildings offer lots of space for offices, homes, and shops. The area is named after an old, narrow street called Spinningfield. In 1968, this street became an open paved area called Spinningfield Square. Important buildings here include the Manchester Civil Justice Centre and 1 Spinningfields, a tall office building.
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How Spinningfields Began
The idea to create a new business area started in 1997. A company called Allied London bought many buildings near the John Rylands Library. Mike Ingall, an executive from Allied London, believed the area could be greatly improved. Also, Manchester City Council wanted to rebuild the city centre. This was especially important after a bombing in Manchester in 1996.
The new development was named after an old street. It is located between Bridge Street to the north and Quay Street to the south. Deansgate is to the east, and the River Irwell is to the west. By 2012, Spinningfields covered about 22 acres. It had over 3 million square feet of office space. Many buildings were finished by 2008, with more being built or planned.
After an old court building was knocked down in 2006, the empty space became Hardman Square. This was a new public area in the middle of Spinningfields. It was not meant to be a park forever. However, Allied London decided to keep it as a green space.
Challenges and Growth
A big money problem, called the financial crisis of 2007–2010, almost stopped the project. Allied London nearly left the development unfinished. But they made a deal with the city council. The council bought parts of the land, which allowed the building to continue. This helped Spinningfields keep growing.
Allied London wanted Spinningfields to be a fancy shopping area. They called it a "Knightsbridge of the North." They hoped to attract high-end stores. However, some people thought the shopping area was quiet. They compared it to the busy Northern Quarter in the city.
By 2010, many people worked in Spinningfields. About 16,000 jobs were in the area. It had over 35% of Manchester's best office space. Many companies there were in finance and professional services. Since 2001, twelve buildings had been built. These included seven office blocks and 450 apartments.
In 2010, a plan for a new hotel was changed. Instead, an office and shop area was created. This new area linked Bridge Street to The Avenue. An existing building, Tower 12, was also updated.
In 2013, work began on 1 Hardman Street. This was a five-story office building. A company called MediaCom moved into the whole building. This marked the restart of new building projects in the area. In 2014, plans for a new 10-story office block, the Cotton Building, were approved. This building was later renamed XYZ. It was sold for £85 million in 2016.
Also in 2014, plans were made for a very tall building called Number One Spinningfields. This building has 19 stories and offers lots of office space. It also has a restaurant on the top floor. It was completed in 2017.
Spinningfields Today
Today, Spinningfields is mostly filled with office buildings. It's often called the "Canary Wharf of the North." This means it's a major financial hub, like Canary Wharf in London. Many big companies have offices here. These include Barclays, Deloitte, HSBC Bank, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Important buildings are 1 The Avenue and the Civil Justice Centre.
Next to 1 Hardman Boulevard is 2 Hardman Street. Deloitte and DWF have offices there. 3 Hardman Street was built on the site of an old newspaper building. This 16-story building was finished in 2009. It is one of the tallest buildings in Spinningfields.
For living, there are the Leftbank Apartments. These are 16 stories tall and look over the River Irwell. The People's History Museum is also in the area. It used to be a pump house. Across the river is Salford Central railway station.
Spinningfields has many law courts. Manchester Crown Court is here, along with the Magistrates' Court and Coroner's Court. The Manchester Civil Justice Centre is an 80-meter tall building. It was finished in 2007. This was the first major court building built in Britain since 1882.
Also finished in 2007 were 3 and 4 Hardman Square. Number 4 is home to HSBC Bank and Grant Thornton.
The Leftbank Apartments are near many restaurants. These include Café Rouge, Carluccio's, and Wagamama. There are also places like Artisan, The Alchemist, and Australasia. Manchester House is a fancy restaurant that opened in 2013. It was even featured on a TV show! You can also find fast food places like Costa Coffee and Greggs. In 2013, Manchester residents voted Spinningfields as the most family-friendly area in the city.
In 2015, a new street food event called 'The Kitchens' started. It featured local food sellers on the Leftbank area of Spinningfields.
Key Buildings in Spinningfields
| Address | Alternative name | Height (meters) | Number of floors | Built | Main Tenants |
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| 1 Hardman Square | 1 Spinningfields | 91 | 21 | 2017 | PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Wework |
| 3 Hardman Street | 75 | 16 | 2006 | Barclays, BDO, General Medical Council | |
| 3 Hardman Square | 49 | 9 | 2007 | Landmark, Worldpay | |
| 1 Hardman Boulevard | 43 | 10 | 2004 | Royal Bank of Scotland | |
| 2 Hardman Boulevard | 42 | 8 | 2016 | Global Radio, Shoosmiths | |
| 1 Spinningfields Square | 40 | 9 | 2009 | Coutts, Natwest, Royal Bank of Scotland | |
| 45 Hardman Street | Vantage Point | 38 | 10 | 2010 | Allied Irish Bank |
| 1 Byrom Place | 31 | 8 | 2006 | JMW | |
| 2 Hardman Street | 31 | 7 | 2008 | Deloitte, DWF | |
| 4 Hardman Square | 27 | 6 | 2006 | Grant Thornton, HSBC | |
| 2 Spinningfields Square | 1 the Avenue | 23 | 5 | 2009 | Brewin Dolphin, CMS |
| 1 Hardman Street | 20 | 5 | 2014 | Mediacom | |
| XYZ Building | ? | 7 | 2017 | Global, NCC, Shoosmiths LLP |
What's Next for Spinningfields
The TV company ITV decided to move from its Granada Studios site. This area was right next to Spinningfields. So, in 2013, Allied London and Manchester City Council bought the land. They paid £26.5 million for it.
The council and Allied London are working together. They plan to rebuild this area, now called St John's. It will have a mix of apartments, shops, and offices. This shows that Spinningfields and its surrounding areas are still growing and changing!
