Derelict mill could be turned into student flats

The 19th century printing mill has been shut for more than 25 years

A derelict former printing mill that has sat neglected in a city centre for more than 25 years looks set to be given a new lease of life.

Manchester City Council will decide on plans to transform the Hotspur Press in the city centre into a 595-bed block of student flats at a meeting next week.

A new public square and commercial unit at the base of the building are also included in the proposals.

The site on Cambridge Street has been closed since 1996.

The plans would see the former printing mill turn into a 15-storey block of flats

It comes after years of stalled plans for the former printing mill, including a 2020 proposal which was given planning permission but never materialised, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The proposal for the new 15-storey block of student flats, by London-based developer Manner, could add an estimated £3.6m to the city's economy, according to a council report into the scheme.

Parts of the 1801 mill would be demolished as part of the project.

If approved, it is expected the building's first occupants could move in by 2028.

But some have objected to the plan, including Manchester Metropolitan University, which said only 6% of the rooms would be affordable, below the 20% the university wanted to see.

The final decision on the project will be given at Manchester City Council’s planning committee on 30 May.