Brand new images have revealed how the former Debenhams store on Market Street will look after a huge £70m transformation.
The site has lay derelict on one of the city's busiest shopping streets since the department store went into administration back in December of 2020.
Debenhams was later bought by Manchester-headquartered fashion giant Boohoo but all its stores were closed, leaving the site, known as the Rylands building, to become vandalised and even dubbed as the city's 'scruffiest' building by local leaders.
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However last year, global real-estate investment firm AM Alpha confirmed works would get underway to transform the Grade II listed building into a mixed-use development compromising retail, leisure and office space.
But after Debenhams vacated, the once-proud department store was left covered in graffiti and had its windows smashed, as a the developers were warned that the overhaul could have been stalled by the town hall until they smartened up the appearance of the building.
Situated close to Picadilly Gardens, the multi-storey building was originally built in 1932 as a warehouse by J. Gerrard and Sons of Swinton for the Rylands textile company. It was designed by local architects, Fairhursts, in an Art Deco style, complete with a decorative corner tower and zig zag window lintels.
After suffering damage during the Manchester blitz, department store Pauldens moved to the Rylands building where it thrived until the early 1970s when Debenhams took over the business - remaining as Debenhams right until its eventual closure.
But exciting new images have revealed how the site could look after extensive makeover with work due to start this year. The £68.5m redevelopment was previously approved by Manchester City Council in January 2021.
See the gallery below:
The upper floors of the grade II-listed building will be transformed into office space while a shopping arcade will be created on the ground floor. A four-storey extension will also be added to the site.
Enabling works for the transformation of the vacant building have already begun, with main works scheduled to start in 2023 and completion expected in early 2025.
Construction company Russell WBHO is acting as a construction partner for the project while property companies OBI and Barker Proudlove are letting agents for the building.
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