Development #5 – First Street
About First Street
Sitting between the Civic Quarter and Corridor Manchester, First Street represents a unique development opportunity in the city centre, combining major office development with a cultural and leisure offer alongside residential development. Having long been a regeneration priority for the Council, the area has seen significant investment and development. It is well connected to the Metrolink system, Deansgate and Oxford Road railway stations, the inner ring road, and local transport around the city centre. The First Street area is divided into three development areas:
- First Street North
- First Street Central
- First Street South, along with wider creative activity.
| Construction jobs | 450 |
|---|---|
| Number of jobs created | c.16,000 when completed (3,500 jobs to date) |
| Construction spend | £213million |
| Sectors targeted | Cultural, commercial, hospitality |
| Council tax revenue | £1.8million once all co-living units are completed. |
| Number of dwellings | Expected c.2,200 co-living bed spaces on completion. |
| Average local household expenditure from new occupants | £29million per annum and potential to support a further 175 FTE jobs. |
Social Value:
- HOME: £25million cultural facility
- Local labour agreement in place
- Additional indirect expenditure in the area of £15million
Testimonial – participants
Isobel Glenton, BFI Film Academy Participant. “It’s difficult to put into words how integral the BFI Film Academy at HOME has been to my career in film and the arts. When I took part, I was a student at Xaverian Sixth Form College, with no prior links or access to the industry. I went on to study Film Theory at King’s College London, and went on to work as a Production Assistant on a Marvel film and other roles in the industry. The BFI Film Academy gave me access to the industry that I would never have had otherwise. It also allowed my confidence and passion for film to flourish; I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”
Dan Hett, Manchester-based Digital Artist. “HOME has been genuinely instrumental in my job as a fiercely independent Northern digital artist over much of the past decade, and has been the hub for so much of the creative activity I’ve been involved in. For me, entities like HOME are at their best when they throw open their doors to a wide spectrum of the audience, and the success of shows such as the Manchester Open Exhibition has shown that there’s an appetite for diverse and accessible art within the city, something that HOME is continuing to facilitate brilliantly for everyone.”
WSP. “Being situated at First Street means that - given our connections to city centre businesses, co-professionals and clients - we are closer to the projects and organisations we work with that are transforming Manchester into a more connected and sustainable city for its communities and businesses. First Street’s focus on culture and the arts, together with the events and activities this attracts, is a real plus for wellbeing in the area, enhanced by attractive public realm, a blend of new buildings, and its impressive industrial heritage. We feel part of this new neighbourhood, and our move here has supported improved recruitment and WSP’s target to be net zero-carbon by 2025.”