The beginning of the end of an eight-year Mancunian saga

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

In six days, it will be the beginning of the end for an eight-year-long Mancunian saga. That’s because proposals to build a new nine-storey office for 7,000 civil servants and one hectare park, featuring 96 trees and three play areas, look set to be given planning permission by the council.

Both are eyed for the former Central Retail Park site, on Great Ancoats Street, and a new report confirms council planning officers have recommended the projects get the green light, which could be the beginning of the end of an eight-year-long saga.

It began in 2017, when Central Retail Park, formerly home to Toys R Us and Argos among others, was purchased by the council for £37m.

The shops closed down in 2019, and then the 10-and-a-half acre site went into limbo. Initially, the council hoped to use the existing retail car park as a huge pay-and-display, but was blocked following a High Court challenge by campaigners two years later.