Property News - Artisan gears up for Manchester building projects

Artisan has started demolition works on the former Co-op biscuit factory in the Ancoats area of Manchester. The company acquired the site in 2001, and it will be Artisan's first mixed-use scheme.

The first round of construction at Albion Works on Pollard Street is expected to take 40 weeks.

Work will continue in two phases. Planning permission was awarded to the company in December 2001 for phase 1, and February 2003 for the second phase.

The planning permission includes approval for 10,000 sq ft (930 sq m) of retail space, as well as offices, residential areas and the reinstatement of a former arm of the Ashton Canal as a central water feature.

In a joint venture with Peel Holdings, Artisan also plans to develop the 6.5 acre (2.6 ha) Advent site, located adjacent to Albion Works.

Both sites fall into the New East Manchester Regeneration Zone and sit opposite a proposed Metrolink stop. The Advent scheme will include 10,000 sq ft (930 sq m) of retail space.