Plans submitted for multi-million-pound scheme to transform ten derelict arches in Manchester into vibrant new leisure and retail spaces

14 Apr 20232 min read

A long row of dark brick railway arches repurposed as modern shops with glass facades, beneath a tree-lined embankment.

Ten derelict railway arches in Manchester are to be redeveloped into new destinations for food and drink, leisure and retail businesses to occupy.

The Arch Company has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council for the redevelopment of ten railway arches on Corporation Street, Manchester. Recognising the potential of these centrally located arches, our proposal will see substantial investments made to transform the previously unloved arches into destinations for new leisure, food and drink and retail businesses to move into.

With the majority being vacant for at least ten years, the arches are unlettable in their current condition. Our £4m scheme will create contemporary spaces, which nod to the industrial heritage of the arches. This will include new glazed frontages, new services and drainage and internal lining to make the accommodation dry and ready for new businesses to occupy.

Historically, these arches were predominantly used for industrial purposes, however, as the urban landscape changed, these types of businesses moved elsewhere. Our investment will help these prominently located units to realise their potential and create a vibrant environment for locals to enjoy.

Investment into spaces like this falls under The Arch Company’s £200m development plan – Project 1000 – to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. Other schemes already underway in Manchester include the development of arches on Temperance Street and Bennett Street. The Arch Company is the UK’s leading small and medium business space provider and jointly owned by Blackstone and Telereal Trillium.

Rob Roddy, Portfolio Asset Manager at The Arch Company, said: “Corporation Street is a fantastic location for leisure and retail businesses to make their own – we see incredible potential in these railway arches. As part of our development plan, Project 1000, we’re committed to investing in 1,000 spaces by 2030 and hope these arches in Manchester will form part of these plans.”

The Arch Company became responsible for 253 spaces across Manchester and Salford in 2019, after purchasing 5,200 spaces from Network Rail. This is the biggest concentration of railway arches outside of London. At the point of sale, 1,400 spaces were left vacant, and require significant investment and development before they will be suitable for occupation.

For more information about our available spaces to let in Manchester please register your interest here.