Manchester New Islington - article, Lancashire Mag. style

Manchester - New Islington
History and current development. Old and new,
together in harmony.
Words and pictures Geoffrey Whittaker
The history and current
development of the New
Islington area is a fascinating
journey into an industrial
past and a hopeful future.
New Islington is one of
the seven “Millennium
Communities Programme”
areas and received funding
in 2002. Urban Splash are the
main developers. They are
the creators of the “Chips”
building, shown on the right.
An eight storey residential
structure designed by Will
Alsop, it is intended to be
a striking move away from
“mundanity” or slightly bonkers
depending on your taste in
architecture.
The development plan will
”create an orchard island,
a protective grove of Scots
Pines around the beach, and
wild-flowers and reed beds,
all helping to attract wildlife.
There will also be a variety of
follies, meeting shelters, bird
boxes and floating wildlife
islands that will create places
to stop, relax and contemplate
the environment.”
The Cottonfields development
is on the site of the notorious
Cardroom estate that was built
in the 1970’s and demolished
to make way for the new
development. The recession
temporarily halted progress
but new building is now going
on apace.
It’s not all about blitzing the
past, old buildings are being
sympathetically restored.
warehouse structures are being
converted into shops and
residential apartments.
Stubbs MIll a former machine