The decision on whether to allow The Hotspur Press in Manchester to be brought back to life is set to be announced in the coming days by the Government.
Manchester City Council had approved the ambitious plans for the building in May, which include restoring the historic façade, preserving the iconic Percy Brothers signage, creating a new 10,000 sq ft public square and delivering 595 student bedrooms.
However, the major regeneration project was thrown into doubt after a last-minute listing application to Historic England was sent
The national heritage body has now submitted its confidential recommendation to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which is expected to make its final decision before the end of the month.
Historic England previously assessed The Hotspur Press in 2019 and it was deemed not worthy of listing.
Since the listing application, 822 local residents, politicians and business leaders have submitted letters calling for the rejuvenation of The Hotspur Press to be allowed to go ahead.
Supporters of the scheme include Manchester City Council, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership business-led thinktank, resident groups from the neighbouring Chorlton Mills and Macintosh Village communities, and hundreds of wider Manchester residents.
Manner, the regeneration-led developer behind the proposals, says The Hotspur Press could be ‘condemned’ if their plans to convert the derelict mill complex do not go ahead.
They say ongoing delays would lead to the building, which has been empty for decades to deteriorate even further – with the very real possibility that the building has only one or two winters left in it.
Following Manchester City Council’s planning approval in the spring, Manner had hoped to have contractors on site before the end of the year – but those timescales have already been pushed back. If DCMS decides to list the building, the approved plans would have to be redrawn with no guarantees that a viable alternative scheme design could be found.
Richard James, Managing Director of Manner, said: “We are now at the final stage of this listing process which has already created significant delays to the redevelopment of The Hotspur Press. Our campaign to allow our ambitious and sensitively designed scheme to go ahead has been met with overwhelming community support – and we thank everyone who has taken the time to write a letter.
“We have always wanted to do more than just save this iconic building: we want to create a place the local community can be proud of. We call on ministers at the DCMS to recognise the views of local people and Manchester’s political leaders and to allow our approved plans that the community and planning committee supported to progress.
“If The Hotspur Press is listed, it will not save it. All it will do is potentially condemn the future of this wonderful building and its history, and have the community lose out on the public realm benefits that they want.”
