Chorlton Consultation Begins

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July, 2023

CHORLTON CONSULTATION BEGINS

We’d like to hear your views on plans and what you’d like to see happen

We are drawing up proposals to redevelop the Chorlton Shopping Centre site in South Manchester and want to hear the views of neighbours and the wider community on what they would like to see happen.

The site offers huge potential to provide a mix of new homes, modern shops and improved landscaping to once again be the focal centre of this thriving suburb.

One Chorlton is the start of this conversation with a website giving more information and the chance to comment and we are also encouraging people to complete questionnaires and write to us.

This initial consultation will close on Monday August 21st and the feedback we receive will help inform a detailed masterplan which we hope to be able to consult on later this year.

Managing Director Georgina Lynch, said: “Chorlton has its own unique character and energy and we want to understand local ambitions for the area and what we should be considering as we work on the masterplan.

“Building on the site’s potential, we want to create a neighbourhood that responds to how people live, work, shop and spend time today with energy efficient new homes, new shops and outdoor spaces where people can spend time.

“We want to engage as widely as possible with all sections of the community and look forward to the first conversations about One Chorlton with further consultation, including in person events, planned for later this year as plans for the site evolve.”

Find out more and have your say here: www.onechorlton.co.uk

There will also be regular updates on Instagram @onechorlton and Facebook onechorlton

New Homes To Launch in Macclesfield

12

June, 2023

NEW HOMES TO LAUNCH IN MACCLESFIELD

A wreath of poppies was laid at the former King’s School in Macclesfield

The first new homes on the former Kings School site in Macclesfield are on track to be completed by late autumn.

Sales of properties at the King’s Gate development will launch this summer to pre-registered buyers with a national launch later in the year.

Craig Lynch, from the developers, the PJ Livesey Group, said: “This is a high-profile site, hugely important for the future of Macclesfield and we have had an unprecedented number of people register their interest so far.

“King’s Gate will provide a mix of homes from flexible four/five-bedroom family properties to heritage conversions and new build apartments creating a truly mixed community to be within walking distance of all amenities.

“Seeing the first properties nearing completion is an exciting stage of the development and we can’t wait to open the doors to local buyers and welcome visitors.”

The first homes to be released for sale will be three-bedroom detached houses overlooking the cricket pitch and a number of large, three storey, semi-detached houses with rear gardens bounded by the site’s original stone wall. The top floor, with a recessed terrace has flexibility to be used as a bedroom suite or alternatively as a leisure/relaxation area.

Further phases will include the main school building which is being converted to luxury apartments and the original historic Library which is being converted to create just six, spectacular period homes.

Latter phases will include contemporary mews houses and individually designed newly built apartments.

In total, the development will offer just 81 homes, mixing newly built and conversion properties set around the original cricket green.

The School’s original gates are being restored and will be replaced.

Craig added: “As well as an excellent specification we are working to make the new homes as sustainable as possible with a selection of homes offering PV panels and battery storage, triple glazing and heat recovery systems.

“We want King’s Gate to set a new standard, not just for quality but for being a sustainable new community as befits the site’s long history.”

People who have registered their interest via the PJ Livesey website will be the first to receive information on pricing and plot releases as it becomes available.

Terry’s Original Clock Man Returns

24

March, 2023

TERRY’S ORIGINAL CLOCK MAN RETURNS

Back inside the tower itself and up behind the clock faces

When the hands of the magnificent Terry’s Clock Tower in York started turning again there was one very special person in the watching crowd.

Peter Mortimer, now almost 90 years old, was responsible for maintaining the original Terry’s Clock Tower mechanism during his time working for the famous company.

He was heartbroken when the clock stopped working when the factory closed in 2005.

But 18 years on he was there to see a new mechanism installed and given a VIP trip back up inside the tower to see it working once again.

He said: “It was very special to go back inside the tower itself and up behind the clock faces. The mechanism is a wonderful feat of engineering and it was lovely to see it. It is a tribute to the teams that they managed to source identical parts to make it work again. It brought back happy memories.

“The mechanism takes care of itself and only really needs checking twice a year when the clocks changed. Hopefully this one will tick away for another 100 years.”

We were proud to learn that Peter maintained his connection with the Terry’s site even when the site closed, buying an apartment in The Residence, the main factory building which, like the Clock Tower itself, has been converted into apartments.

He said: “I enjoy living here and I have been looking forward to this day for a long time and I am so pleased that I got to witness it.”

Also on site to see the clock switched back on were Robert and Marion Archibald who will soon be moving into an apartment in the Clock Tower.

They travelled from Chester for the day to witness the historic moment and Marion said: “It was a great occasion. Terry’s Clock Tower is a heritage landmark for York and we are so pleased the clock is working again.

“We feel very proud that, through the management committee, we will be the new custodians of such an important building.”

The £60,000 restoration project was funded jointly by the PJ Livesey Group and Henry Boot Developments.

The clock tower will be opened as a small museum on a limited number of days each year to allow members of the public to see the clock mechanism and read information boards telling the story of Terry’s of York, which have been compiled by local resident Stan Young.

Chorlton Shopping Centre Regeneration

28

March, 2023

CHORLTON SHOPPING CENTRE REGENERATION

We’ve been selected to design a new future for the Chorlton Shopping Centre

We are delighted to have been selected by the Greater Manchester Pension Fund as development partner to design and deliver a new future for the Chorlton Shopping Centre site in South Manchester.

The 3.2 acre site, bounded by Barlow Moor Road, Wilbraham Road and Nicolas Road, comprises of the shopping precinct, together with Graeme House and an adjoining 200 space surface car park.

The brief is to create a thriving and sustainable neighbourhood that captures the spirit of Chorlton, with a mix of new housing and shops together with new public spaces and cycle routes.

PJ Livesey development director, James Woodmansee, said: “This is a huge opportunity but also a huge challenge to get right and it has to meet the needs of the Chorlton community.

“We want it to be the centrepiece of the neighbourhood, a place where people come to shop, to meet and to live, with a range of high quality housing available to meet all needs.

“This new partnership marks the start of new life for the precinct site, and it also marks the start of extensive consultation about what that new life should be and we want local people to help us shape that.”

Formal public consultation will begin later in the year and existing retailers will continue to trade as normal during this process.

Gareth Conroy of Avison Young, property managers to The Greater Manchester Pension Fund, added “GMPF look forward to working in partnership with PJ Livesey to deliver an exceptional development in this key location. Sustainability will be a focus of the project and we look

forward to evolving the existing development framework to create something special which has a positive impact on Chorlton.

“The project is further evidence of GMPF’s continued investment within Greater Manchester, helping to stimulate the local economy whilst at the same time delivering much needed new homes.”

If you want to have your say or register your interest please go to the One Chorlton Website and fill in the questionaire.

Have your say here

Visit the One Chorlton website here

Terry’s Clock Tower Keeping Time Once More

16

March, 2023

TERRY’S CLOCK TOWER TICKS AGAIN

After 18 years, Terry’s Clock Tower clock is keeping time once more for the city of York

Thanks to the skills of specialist horologists and some deft detective work the rare mechanism needed to get the distinctive hands moving again has been reconstructed, and, at 12 noon on Wednesday March 15th, the famous clock started working again.

Managing director Georgina Livesey, said: “It was a momentous day and we are very grateful to the team at Smith of Derby for providing the skills to make it happen. The Terry’s clock was once known as the ‘kitchen clock of York’ and part of the City’s heritage and we are very proud to have played our part in seeing it restored.

“Terry’s is synonymous with York and the buildings are now saved and repurposed for generations to come.”

Smith of Derby were commissioned to restore the clock faces and track down original parts to recreate the mechanism in a project that has cost more than £60,000, funded jointly by P J Livesey and Henry Boot Developments who acquired the entire site when the factory closed.

Sales and complex projects manager for Smith of Derby, Martin Butchers, said: “It is hugely satisfying for everyone who has worked on the Terry’s project over the years to complete the job and see this magnificent rare clock keeping time for York once more. I hope Noel Terry would be pleased.”

The restored the original four clock faces etched with the words Terry York which were replaced in a massive operation in 2019.

The space will now become a Terry’s Clock Tower Museum, open on a limited number of days each year with visitors able to see the intricate clock workings and also to learn more about the story of Terry’s of York on boards compiled by local York resident Stan Young.

We will post updates on the Museum opening dates when announced.

This Development is Now Completed.
For Further Information About the Project Click the Button Below.

Why Harry feels right at home in Standish

17

February, 2023

WHY HARRY FEELS AT HOME IN STANDISH

“It’s the perfect property for me, in the perfect spot”

Harry Parker had fallen in love with the Standish Estate way before PJ Livesey started the redevelopment of the 30-acre site.

He explained: “My mum was involved with marketing the site when it closed as a hospital and on many occasions when she had to visit for site meetings I would go with her.

“I was always energised by the atmosphere of the place. The huge trees, the wildlife and the greenness of the site. So, when PJ Livesey began work to convert the heritage buildings and to build the new houses I was obviously interested.”

Harry worked locally for Ecotricity before going into business with his father and he is now head of European sales for a software company.

He said: “I work 100% remotely so that was a factor when looking to buy a property. I had looked at others but really my heart was at Standish and when the properties in Phase2 were released I was thankfully in a position to buy.”

He chose a three-bedroom mews property with a terraced garden and private parking and moved in just before Christmas 2022.

He said: “I feel very fortunate in that I was able to live with my mum for a while and save hard for a deposit.

“The house is perfect for me. It is open plan downstairs with bi-fold doors onto the garden so is very light and bright and I use the large second bedroom as an office. I’ve already noticed how efficient the heating is and how warm it stays which is important when I am home all day.

“Where I used to live was very community focussed and I feel it is already like that at Green Walk. Because of the setting people just go for walks around the development and look at the trees and the wildlife and stop and say hello.

“And if I want to explore further I can walk 100 yards and I am out onto open fields and woodland walks.

“It’s the perfect property for me in the perfect spot and it’s amazing to think I have had a connection with the site for many years and now here I am. It was obviously meant to be!”