Plans to refurbish the Orangery in Heaton Park have been approved by the council.
The work to the Orangery part of the Grade 1 listed Heaton Hall, will include external repairs to the masonry and stonework as well as the internal refurbishment, which will focus on new flooring, a full redecoration, new doors, upgraded toilets and a full overhaul of the electrical and heating systems. It will also include a new low carbon air source heat pump in line with the council’s commitment to become zero carbon by 2038 .
This will take place alongside a full electrical rewire of the whole of Heaton Hall and is the latest in the continued investment which saw the Council and Historic England invest over £2.1m in 2018-19 in works to the external fabric of this Grade 1 listed building to ensure it remains wind and weathertight.
Manchester City Council will work with Construction partner Manchester and Cheshire Construction on this first fix to fit out the building which will take approximately twelve months to complete leaving a blank canvas for any future operating partner.
This work is the culmination of work where the Council has engaged with the market to look at what Orangery could do in the future and realise it’s incredible potential, and this will include identifying the right operational partner to help to deliver this ambition of a high-quality dining and event space right in the heart of Heaton Park.
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: “We are delighted that we can now get started on bringing this much-loved part of the building, steeped in history, back into use. We are determined to inject energy and vigour into this beautiful building and in the future work with a partner that will do it justice and bring it back into use as an events space to ensure its long-term future. I look forward to exciting times ahead.”
David Blood, Chair of Friends of Heaton Hall said:
“The Friends of Heaton Hall is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year and we look forward to continuing to work alongside the Council and Historic England to restore the Orangery so that it can open its doors to visitors once again. We are excited by the news and hope that more people will get to experience a special place that is Heaton Hall.”
