Abandoned city centre canal office left derelict for decades set to become flats

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

An abandoned canal office in Manchester city centre is set to be turned into flats. The plans to convert Bridgewater House, a Grade-II listed former canal office next to Deansgate Square in Great Jackson Street, have been approved.

The red-brick Georgian style canal office, which was built three centuries ago but has stood derelict for decades, consists of two townhouses on Chester Road built before 1787 with an extension on Crown Street dating back to 1842.

Property firm Watch This Space, which has bought the site from Deansgate Square developer Renaker, is now planning to restore the two-storey building.

The £13m project includes building a new four-storey apartment block. The developer, which has recently refurbished another listed building in Princess Street, considered several options for the future of the building - including commercial space and a hotel - but settled on this scheme of 53 apartments. READ MORE: 'Manchester's music scene needs you - just as much as you need it' The plans involve partially demolishing boundary walls to make way for the 33 new build apartments to be constructed where the car park currently stands.