A major warehouse arts centre is coming to an unloved corner of Manchester city centre — but only a temporary basis.
The venue will be called Love Factory, and is part of the ‘Found’ events programme. That programme is a core element of the Victoria North project, a huge development from Angel Meadow to Collyhurst that will house 35,000 people by 2040.
As developers revamp the corridor from Angel Meadow along Dantzic Street, they have applied to convert two warehouses into an events space. This is being done on a ‘meanwhile use’ basis.
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Effectively, it means that developers are putting the ex-industrial units to use while building work for 634 homes, 128 of which are affordable, is ongoing nearby. Now, planning permission has been given so that Love Factory can open in the warehouses on Dantzic Street.
Bosses at the Far East Consortium (FEC), who are working with the council on the project, says the decision will allow people to enjoy ‘Victoria North as soon as possible’.
Jake Scott-Thrale, asset manager at FEC, added: “The next 10 years will see Victoria North flourish – supporting a series of thriving, inclusive neighbourhoods that celebrate our city, its culture, its people and its vibrancy.
“As development moves forward, it’s important that we reconnect the city with these lost corners and make sure that Manchester residents can start enjoying what Victoria North will become as soon as possible.
“This long-awaited planning consent formalises the first phase of our meanwhile use strategy for Victoria North which sits under the recently launched Found umbrella and underlines our commitment to promoting and working with young entrepreneurial operators such as Connecting Dots Group who will be the custodians of the Love Factory.”
In full, council planners have approved proposals which ‘comprises the temporary change of use of two vacant warehouses and associated land to arts, music and cultural venue/event space’, documents show. The proposals were approved on September 30.
“The programme of forward-thinking cultural activations provides an ideal opportunity to reinvent and add integral social and economic value to the area,” the letter from Asteer Planning, operating on behalf of Connecting The Dots, continued. “The strategy aims to remove any preconceptions and demonstrate the value of meanwhile use to entice future footfall.”
Further documentation shows that no structural changes will be made to the exterior of the building, with a licence allowing Love Factory to operate between 11am to 11pm.
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