A prominent site in Manchester City Centre is set to undergo an ambitious redevelopment, which will see almost 3,000 jobs created over 10 years.
 
Manchester City Council's top-level executive has endorsed a redevelopment strategy for the Ramada Complex in Deansgate, designed to unlock its potential.

The complex, dominated by a 1970s hotel, consists of two acres situated at the northern end of Deansgate close to where it meets Piccadilly and Market Street.

According to the council the site currently detracts from the setting of Manchester Cathedral and the city's medieval core including the neighbouring Cathedral and Parsonage Gardens Conservation Areas. The hotel and the complex's other buildings also fail to connect well with the River Irwell.

Under the redevelopment strategy the existing buildings would be demolished, making way for a landmark mixed-use scheme including:
* Two new streets emerging from a substantial new urban square at the corner of Deansgate and Blackfriars
* A new series of pedestrian terraces incorporating restaurants and new public areas along the River Irwell linking the listed Victoria and Blackfriars Bridges 
* A 4 or 5 star hotel with around 250 guest rooms plus restaurants, bars and a single-span ballroom
* Around 280,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation
* Around 60,000 sq ft of flexible retail accommodation
* Around 250 residential apartments
It is estimated that the redevelopment will generate almost £90 million Gross Value Added (GVA) - a measure of the goods and services produced in an area used by the Office for National Statistics to measure the health of its economy.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said:

"The Ramada Complex represents one of the most exciting redevelopment opportunities in the city centre.

"It is the final piece of the vision established to guide the redevelopment of the area of the city damaged by the 1996 bomb to be realised."

West Properties is due to submit a planning application before the end of the year.