Longsight’s iconic Co-op Building has recently had a £300 thousand update as part of Great Places Housing Group’s annual investment works programme.
Originally home to the Beswick branch of the co-operative movement the building, it now houses 19 flats, 3 retail outlets and Northmoor Community Association’s (NCA) Community Centre which offers a wide range of services and activities for residents. The Grade II listed building, originally built by the cooperative society in 1912, has undergone significant repairs to external façade. This includes the reinstatement of the four eagles that adorn the building’s iconic tower, as well as replacement sash windows for its first-floor flats. The five-month renovation project, delivered in partnership with Casey and IGL Surveying Ltd, also saw the refurbishment of 103 Northmoor Road which housed NCA’s Social Enterprise Community Laundrette. This will now be their “˜Northmoor Hub’ where residents will be able to get information and support on a range of issues including health and wellbeing, welfare and benefits advice and employment and skills.
Significant improvements have also been made to the existing retail space at the front of the building. Shop fronts have had much needed repairs and the interior of the three retail units have been refurbished with plans to reopen the spaces to house tenants who were previously in the units.
It is hoped that works will help Northmoor Community Association provide an even stronger support offer for local residents as the neighbourhood looks to emerge from the current pandemic. There are also plans for a community event to celebrate the recent updates to the centre later in the year.
Commenting on the recent works, Tony Muir, Director of Assets at Great Places, said:
We’re delighted to have completed work on this landmark building. Great Places has a significant presence in the area and the community centre is a key part of our commitment to enhancing the life chances for our customers and the wider neighbourhood. We hope the improvements will help ensure this iconic building continues to be a vibrant community hub in the heart of Northmoor and strengthens the support offer for the community.
Alan Taylor, Operations Director, from Casey’s added:
We are pleased to have been part of the Beswick Co-op scheme and working in partnership with Great Places Housing Group and IGL Surveying. We have extensive grade 2 listed building experience and have been able to use this to transform and restore this historic building and improve the lives of the local community.
Brent Gaskell from IGL Surveying Limited, said: Refurbishment of a Grade 2 listed building always represents unique challenges, however the particular planning restrictions coupled with the extremely poor condition of the existing building fabric made the scheme even more challenging. The strong working relationship developed between IGL; Great Places & Casey’s has been fundamental in meeting these challenges to preserve the building for incoming commercial tenants and future generations.
David Callicott from Northmoor Community Association added
We are very grateful to have been able to work in partnership with Great Places Housing Group, with Brent from IGL Surveying and the team at Caseys with the repurposing and refurbishment of 103 Northmoor Road and helping us to come within our limited budget. We’re delighted with the results and are looking forward to celebrating the new space with the community and valued stakeholders.
