Historic Mill Demolished for Modern Student Flats

0:00On March 12th, Manchester City Center's old Hotspur press mill, built in 1801, is finally getting torn down after a big fire last June left. It unstable. Developers plan to replace it with a 36-story block of student flats on Cambridge Street. The site sat empty since the printing press shut down in 1996 and fell into disrepair. Manor, the company behind the project, first got approval earlier this year to keep some original walls and add the tower around them, but delays from a rejected listing bid and material changes stop progress. Developer Ian Williams-Slaven explained to planners that the ruins are too dangerous to enter, so full demolition is needed for safety. Counselors on Manchester City Council heard the pitch and voted unanimously to greenlight the updated design. The new plan features a fresh facade that copies the mill's classic look, keeping the visual style close to what was first proposed. It also includes a 10,000-square-foot public square and new walking paths linking to nearby streets.

1:02This move balances modern student housing needs, with a nod to Manchester's industrial past, paving the way for construction to start soon.