The forgotten old market hall set to be transformed with levelling up cash

Lower Campfield Market, on Liverpool Road in Manchester, is an iconic structure that has woven itself into the city’s historical fabric.

But let’s be honest, it’s been overdue for ‘a bit of love’ for a while now.

In more recent times, it has been used by the Science and Industry Museum, housing the Air and Space Hall until its closure in 2021.

Lower Campfield Market

And now the deal has been struck for the site to take on a transformative journey.

Manchester City Council has forged legal agreements with development partner Allied London for the restoration, refurbishment, and outfitting of the Grade II-listed Upper Campfield Market and Lower Campfield Market buildings.

A £17.5m investment

This ambitious project, fuelled by £17.5m of Levelling Up funding, envisions a modern hub for burgeoning media and tech firms.

The scheme is a pivotal step towards rejuvenating these heritage buildings, fostering innovation and creativity within the St. John’s locale.

The plans unveiled propose the birth of the Campfield tech, media, and creative industries hub, to be managed by All Work & Social on its managed workspace platform.

Adding to the initiative, Castlefield House, owned by Allied London, will undergo repositioning to offer complementary workspace for tech and media businesses, aligning with the overarching masterplan.

The History of Lower Campfield Market

The Lower Campfield Market Hall, `a beautiful building, was completed in 1878 as an open-sided market hall at Camp Field.

Over time, it evolved, closing its doors as a market in 1900.

Subsequent renovations in 1909 transformed it into the illustrious City Exhibition Hall, a beacon of excellence in enclosed, adaptable structures.

Campfield, a key player in the Culture In The City project, secured nearly £20m of Government Levelling Up funding in 2021, with a portion earmarked for the conversion of heritage railway arches into a creative talent development centre operated by HOME.

Anticipated as a magnet for start-ups, recovery, and scale-up businesses in the tech, innovation, and media sectors, Campfield will offer 83,000 sq ft of modern workspace.

This includes a minimum of 400 hot desks, meeting rooms, event spaces, and various facilities accessible on both a permanent occupier and drop-in basis.

Excitingly, on January 8, the venue received approval for the provision of alcohol and late-night refreshments within the co-working space, marking a significant milestone in the project.

With construction already underway, Campfield is slated for completion by spring 2024.