Brand new images reveal how Debenhams on Market street in Manchester city centre will look after it has gone through a huge transformation.

The iconic Grade II listed building currently stands empty on the bustling shopping street and is in need of some TLC. Once a busy department store, the empty building which was home to the household brand, is now covered in graffiti after it fell into administration in 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, looking sad and in desperate need of a facelift.

Last year, global real-estate investment firm AM Alpha, based in Munich, confirmed that works were to get underway to breathe new life into the structure and transform it into a mixed-use development compromising retail, leisure and office space.

However, after Debenhams vacated it fell victim to vandals as it had its windows smashed and became covered in spray paint — which saw it dubbed as the city’s scruffiest building.

Situated close to Piccadilly 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 ledges.

Exciting new digital images have revealed how the derelict site could look after it has undergone a major glow-up with works set to commence this year. The £68.5m redevelopment project was approved by Manchester City Council in January 2021. 

The plans will see the upper floors of the grand building turned into high-quality, modern office spaces while the ground floor will be home to a new shopping arcade. A four-storey extension will also be added onto 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.

Stephan Schmid, Senior Vice President at AM alpha: “Working with listed buildings is always a great privilege. We are proud to be able to give this historic Manchester landmark a new future and restore Rylands to its former glory in a very sustainable way.

“In this way, we are also helping to achieve Greater Manchester’s 2038 carbon neutrality target.” 

Local construction company Russell WBHO, which specialises in listed and sustainable projects, will act as a construction partner for the project, while local property companies OBI and Barker Proudlove have been appointed as letting agents. 

“It’s fantastic working with AM alpha on such an exciting project in our home town. Rylands is a well-known, impressive building,” says Will Lewis, founding director at OBI.

“The property is close to bustling areas such as Piccadilly Gardens and the Northern Quarter and will appeal to many local businesses. Due to the sought-after location, we already see a lot of interest from potential future tenants.”

Gareth Russell, founder and managing director of Russell WBHO: “We are delighted to be working with AM alpha to revitalise the historic Rylands building and position it in the market as a highly sustainable building. With our extensive experience in historic preservation and sustainable building, we will make AM Alpha’s vision a reality.”

A neighbourhood in Greater Manchester is home to some incredible pet friendly apartments — offering a modern lifestyle for professionals in the city.

Nestled between two great cities — Manchester and Salford — New Maker Yards features pet friendly homes, a jam packed event schedule and a beer house on site.

The Seven Brothers pub — with locally crafted ales — also welcomes pets, as we all know fur babies are part of the family. Your potential new local features a ‘dog wall of fame’ where all the resident pooches are featured.

Situated by the River Irwell and close to the Bridgewater Canal, this waterside neighbourhood is the perfect place to call home for you and your furry family member. 

Here, you can go for scenic walks and take part in activities together, including regular dog meet-up clubs, a puppy yoga event (April 23rd), and an annual ‘Ru Paw Drag Show’.

This doggy drag show runs over Pride weekend where residents dress up their dogs in cute outfits and enter a judging contest. The queens will then judge the pets on silly categories like ‘waggiest tail’ and ‘best dressed costume’.

For those who prefer not to own a pet or can’t due to allergies, New Maker Yards also has ‘pet free’ apartments — so there’s something to suit everyone.

New Maker Yards is a sociable and lively neighbourhood with lots going on. Being close to the city centre and near Salford Quays, there’s plenty of bustling bars, shops, cinemas, restaurants, coffee shops, and a whole lot more to entice you.

The free fitness classes (three times a week), and community groups like book club, dog club and seven-a-side football, will keep you busy and are ideal for meeting new people.

This urban village also has a changing weekly food truck every Thursday, with different local food traders to satisfy those mid-week cravings while you’re busy balancing work and life.

The apartments have options for either furnished or unfurnished rooms and balconies — many boasting stunning views of the city skyline.

There’s a spacious newly built co-working space which has popular coffee haunt, 92 Degrees, attached. It’s a suitable space for those working from home days, where the barista coffees will keep you going. 

Each contemporary apartment is designed to a high standard with modern furniture, built in storage and double size beds — and some even have outdoor furniture to lounge outside on.

If this sounds like the right neighbourhood for you, you can enquire to speak to the Get Living team about 1 or 3 bedroom apartments for rent here.

New artist sketches of the exquisite Northern location of Soho House Manchester have now been released — and they won’t disappoint!

Currently being developed on the site of the old Granada Studios, in the St John’s district, Soho House Manchester is one of the most anticipated openings of 2023, and its modern members club will mark the first of the brand’s Northern locations.

You can register your interest now, but for those still holding back for more, you might succumb to persuasion when you hear that facilities will include a luxury rooftop pool, restaurant, chill out areas, work spaces, terraces and upscale bars. 

And the new venue will also feature a state of the art gym – great news for all those workout-aholics – with Soho House revealing the entirety of the first floor will be dedicated to ‘an extensive members’ gym’.

Members will be able to workout in style as they make use of a free weights area, boxing zone, studio space, steam and sauna rooms, and an outdoor terrace. Changing rooms will be equipped with high end showers, vanity areas and relaxing ‘lounge spaces for members to unwind after training’. 

The website says: “The city has reinvented its industrial past to become an exciting cultural hub, with a rich history in music and the arts and a thriving community of creative industries. Located within the former Granada Studios in the heart of the city, Soho House Manchester will have various spaces for members to eat, drink, socialise and workout.”

We look forward to seeing how plans for Soho House develop over the coming months. You can register you interest in becoming a member on the Soho House Manchester website.