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Wednesday, 13th June 2007

Breathing new life into Piccadilly

Jill Burdett

REVAMPED: 79 Piccadilly

MORE than a decade ago a Cheshire based businessman made a shrewd investment buying 13 buildings around Piccadilly from Booths Charities.

They were a raggedy mix of old textile mills, warehouses and offices buildings, ten of them listed, and in various states of occupation and repair.

The neighbourhood’s fortunes faded in the late 1990s as the last of the textile companies died out and moved on.

However, the recent resurgence of the area, thanks mainly to the concerted efforts of the Piccadilly Partnership and the might and cash of the companies that form it, things have changed dramatically and finally the restoration of these old buildings makes financial sense.

The first to be reborn is 79 Piccadilly – a building walked past by thousands each day on their journey to and from the train station, but most probably have not looked up to appreciate the intricate detailing on the red brick and sandstone, or indeed the wonderful windows.

Inevitably its new use is as apartments, and it looks set to be one of the character buildings in the city, with the units owned by the people who actually live in them creating a sense of community.

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Luxury

It’s a long way off complete but after 18 months of toil they have finally finished the first floor and fitted out two show apartments to give an idea of the level of luxury specification they are putting in.

A grand new front door off the main street leads into a perfectly preserved hallway decorated on both floor and wall with the original decorative tiles and a stone staircase with wrought iron balustrade that winds right the way up the building.

INTERIORS: Luxury design

In the apartments there are wide boards of solid oak for the hall and living area, good doors and wonderful original windows – although they are hidden behind the double glazing. The standard kitchen and bathroom fit is good, but the higher specification with Wenge wood units and mirror tiling is great.

The man behind Eastern Green is not big on publicity and fronting the company as well as overseeing the restoration is property manager Jacqueline Anderson Eyre. She said: “This is the first of the buildings we are converting and we wanted to make it very special. We have been around and looked at everything available in the city and do not think there is another listed building that has been done to this standard.

“We have owned this and several more for many years but believe what is happening in Piccadilly right now is phenomenal and it would not have been possible without the Partnership. They were able to talk to the city about key things like moving bus stops and widening the pavements which has made such a difference.

“We believe that this will become the best neighbourhood in Manchester, close to the station and the Gardens and what better address can you have than 79 Piccadilly.”

Investment

The increased investment in the area has seen a boom in residential schemes with other conversions by the likes of Maghull as well as new builds like Issa Quay helping to create a new residential area. The Partnership estimates that there will be 2,000 new apartments in the area in the next five years.

Values here have traditionally been lower than elsewhere in the city and while prices for 79 will not be revealed until the launch tomorrow, Anderson Eyre claims they will offer good value.

Jennifer Bennett, associate director at agents Julie Twist, said: “The market at the moment is to be swinging back in favour of owner occupiers and it is this type of development that is attracting them. They want a combination of a piece of history and high specification.

“And this is the area of the city where people who watch the market are keen to invest.”

For more information call Julie Twist Properties on 0161 834 8486.