Owner wants to save what remains of fire-hit mill

The Hotspur Press building in Manchester city centre was almost destroyed by a fire

A property group which owns a mill that was recently gutted in a major fire has said it wanted to save what was left of the building.

The Hotspur Press building in Manchester suffered massive damage when a blaze broke out last month, with only its outer walls remaining.

Its owner, the MCR Property Group, said it wanted to "retain, reuse and repurpose" what was left and "assess the building and understand what may be possible in the future".

About 100 firefighters tackled the fire at the Georgian-era building on Cambridge Street on 23 June.

Tim Heatley said historic buildings presented logistical challenges

Experts have been unable to carry out a full forensic investigation into the cause of the fire because of site safety fears, and the building has been handed back to the owners.

In a joint statement, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: "There is no evidence to suggest anyone was in the building at the time of the fire."

Tim Heatley, from development company Capital & Centric, said he tried to buy the Hotspur Press building ten years ago "wasn't able to pay the highest price for it".

"I've been round that building, so I was gutted when it burned down. But hopefully it can be rebuilt and fingers crossed it's not lost forever," he said.

Work is underway to convert Talbot Mill in Castlefield, which dates from the 1850s, into luxury apartments

Steeped in history, The Hotspur Press building was built on the site of a previous mill that burned down in January 1801.

For nearly 50 years, from 1933 to 1981, it was where the Percy Brothers' boys adventure magazine The Hotspur was printed, with more than 1,100 editions rolling off its presses.

Several historic former cotton mills in Manchester have been preserved in recent years by converting them into luxury apartment blocks.

Only the walls of the historic mill remained after the fire

Heatley said historic buildings presented "huge logistical challenges".

He added: "It is a nightmare bringing these buildings back to life but they are worth it".

Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We want the owners of these buildings to work with the council to restore them in ways that work.

"We want the Manchester of the future to be a beautiful blend of old and new".

The Manchester tour guide Jonathan Schofield said lessons needed to be learned from the Hotspur Press fire

The Manchester tour guide Jonathan Schofield said: "I think Hotspur Press is a lesson, and the best thing we can do with our historic buildings is to occupy them".

"We need to live in them, convert them and make them into something different," he added.

In their joint statement, GMP and GMFRS said: "Due to the extensive damage sustained to the building in the fire, the site remains in an extremely dangerous condition.

"It is our joint professional opinion that the building cannot be made safe enough to allow a thorough forensic investigation into the cause of the fire.

"Furthermore, any potential forensic evidence is likely to have been destroyed in the blaze."