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I was working in the Northern Quarter when ‘Alfie’ was being filmed. Queues of yellow cabs outside our office window! We rather wished they’d kept the fake delis and diners that suddenly materialised! While there are certainly architectural similarities - (and for good reasons) perhaps even some social ones - to NYC, Manchester isn’t a ‘mini Manhattan’, it’s Manchester and it’s not trying to be anywhere else. There is a very English tendency to compare places here with locations abroad as though they are mere imitations or shadows.

It's pretty clear that developers/architects over-exaggerate the height of their plans initially, because they know it will be tempered down to the height they actually want it by NIMBYs.

British cities have the same ugly identikit glass and steel soul less and modernist architecture made from kits built off site...the same kits built off site and delivered to every other city so everywhere has the same anonymous, depressing feel...paving slabs everywhere, anti religious terrorism furniture (giant plant pots, bollards and concrete blocks everywhere), just horrible

The transformation of Manchester’s skyline is staggering. It’s a totally different city to when I dropped here 30 years ago. Love it on one hand, but it does concern me that it’s being price hiked too far

Central Street? That's where Ocean software computer games company used to have their offices in the 80s and 90s. No. 6 ?

The University of Manchester quadrangle is magical in the evening. They replaced the paving, gardens and lighting. The lighting is at low level and it feels magical in the evening. Probably not so much now that Winter is coming.

Very interesting but you ruined it with the too loud music.

"Local residents were not happy with..." generally means it's the right thing to do.

Another brilliant video Aidan! Really enjoyed this one

I lived in Oak House. But Friday nights were always the O.P Bop night. RIP. 😢

Love the content, thanks for continuing to document the ongoing changes of our city.

what do you mean about the views almost being like an American city also well done for 5k subscribers

Great video Aidan, i'am a regular visitor to Greengate and have seen a tremendous change in the last 3-4 years. It's location to the centre of town is key to this area and will see more developments/shops/bars etc popping up in the coming years. The Eagle is a great little boozer and i'm so glad they have kept it as this will keep a bit of the old Salford instead of the usual generic watering holes. The baths are also staying as you have said but not sure yet what the plans are. The 10 railway arches opposite the car park that 'The Arch Company' are refurbishing are coming along nicely too (Asda have put in for a small store in two of these). It will be very interesting to see where this area can go to in the future, as in my opinion its a massive improvement and i know there is the social housing debate compared to new developments and we would all like to see both in a ideal world. Keep up the good work!

Aiden, great review of the area. I lived just off Trinty Way very near to the Renault garage and sadly I wouldnt recognise the area now at all. However Blackfriars Road, GreenGate had one of the very first Smart Car showrooms and all the old industrial workspaces. The ancient Manchester Racquet Club building. Had many a pint in the Blackfriar pub, The Eagle, the Albert Vault, The Kings Arms, The Egerton Arms, The Salfod Arms. Interestingly there was an older pub, now demolished, called Bricklayers Arms(?) on a small cut through road of Hodson Street, more or less opposite the Renault garage and the car park entrance to the Stay Inn hotel. Further down Blackfriars Rd was a small greasy spoon cafe and take away run by a charismatic bloke/dj. The only new regerated developments were starting in the Post Office and that big lighting/furniture showroom by the AO arena/Victoria station junction of Trinity Way and Deansgate. The Abito wasnt yet a reality just plenty of surface car parking 😎 Well enough prattling on today, Cheers DougT now over Seymour Grove area. Edit: I nearly forgot the pub once known locally as The King Billy just off a road behind the Renault garage. Now demolished I suspect.

I get really concerned about these apartment developements sold with rent subsidies for 2&3 YEARS even 5 years!! What happens at the end of them? Will we see a rent collapse or negative property values. Also developers build in inflations bustings maintenace charges often missed by buyers as first few years fixed??

Another great video report: thanks Aidan. Especially because there's no involvement from the all-pervasive Simpson Haugh!

Its great to see your old photos alongside to contrast the change. I liked the one with all the Salford Tower Blocks in. A few of them will have demised since it was taken I imagine. Great video as always. Thanks for doing.

I’m so upset about One Heritage it would be the most beautiful tower in the city so typical it’s stalled. I think another generic tower will replace it.

Yes , Aidan is Mr Manchester 😁👍🏻

All the shiny, modern apartment blocks and yet my eye is drawn to the Waterloo pub and the Eagle Inn. I hope the former doesn't become yet another victim of the wrecking ball.

Thanks for a great video. I went to school on greengate and lived in the Blackfriars area for many years. I wouldn't recognise it now. I haven't lived in Manchester or Salford for 30 years but I still have fond memories. Thanks once again

Great as always. I'm going with early 90s on the picture. Umm 93. There really isn't anything else like your channel. Wait.5k subscribers?! That's big!

Camera quality is excellent

Manchester is now Britains second city.

Thanks to you I know more about Manchester development than my own city.

Thank you Aidan for the update. 😀👍 One Heritage. I understand your mate Euan Kellie was instrumental in it passing planning. It seems to have joined a quorum of other developments in torpor. Having passed planning (which is time-limited) but not construction. Hope Progressive Living doesn't join them. Heard the news about Viadux2 ? That's not in torpor either as Salboy have announced their third iteration. The 76 storey tower stays but a hotel replaces the retail units and there will be fewer apartments above. The tower will be around 4 meters bigger. The 20-odd storey affordable dwellings tower still stays. In Ancoats two new towers are planned on the site of Stockton's Furniture near the site of the new Civil Service Data Centre (Ex-Central Retail Park). The two towers, 47(?) storeys and 20-odd storeys respectively.

Waiting to see a video on the Red Bank and Vic North :)

debt scrapers.

Amazing photos and description... big thanks!

Manchester needs a crossrail/Pic vic tunnel idea back trams are great but we need an iner city high capacity system

Manchester's city scape is gradually becoming the most dynamic in the UK. Apart from London.

Another fantastic video. Your videos are so interesting. I worked in Manchester 25 years ago, and saying it's unrecognisable is an understatement. Keep up the good job of documenting these transformations, thanks Aiden.

The pub (eagle inn) will have a big revival

Hey Aidan , I’m interested in social history, like yourself, it’s amazing how our cities are changing, I worked in Manchester centre when I was a young man but I get lost nowadays when I drop my granddaughter off in town, I suppose it’s progress, I just worry that youngsters may struggle with high rents, anyway thanks for your presentations, they’re excellent

Never understand why they build a nice new tower and leave trees growing out of the foundations…..it looks such a mess

This video was a bit delayed due to technical problems. Recorded on Saturday, edited Sunday and Monday, uploaded today. I intended just to do a video of about 4 or 5 minutes, but there was so much to see and research in the Greengate district, it turned out a bit longer than usual! Thanks in advance for your comments! AidanEyewitenss is now 5k!

🎉

Great presentation, thanks. I’ve seen ‘hell is a city’ and it’s so interesting to see the views of old Manchester, from the city centre to the edges of the moors where the terraced houses just stopped abruptly

I remember moving into the first modern purpose built apartment block in Manchester - urban splash's Timber Wharf. The Manchester skyline was so different back then. It is amazing to see the changes.

Great insight to all the developments in Manchester. Do you have anything on Michigan Towers in Salford Quays..?

Theres new “mini scrapers” in dublin since your last visit and new devlopments

Always love the old photos! ❤

1992.

1971

I love the terracotta arches at the bottom It’s great to see new architects designing these high rises in Manchester not just Simpson haugh

Aidan hi. Thanks. Peeping over the bridge one can see the former Palatine Hotel built around 1842 (The same period the road was lifted to it's present height.) This belonged latterly to Chetham's but apparently it was swapped with the city council for the land where the old Hunts Bank railway offices once stood where now is the Stoller Hall. Palatine hotel has been gone for a while so it was a long time ago. Please note some important information has happened. Salboy have not raised the white flag over Viadux2. Quite the contrary. Their third plan for the site includes the 76-storey tower but the retail units have gone, replaced by a hotel with fewer (slightly) apartments above. The affordable homes tower also survives. In Ancoats plans have been announced for a 47-storey residential tower and a 20-odd storey residential tower on the site of Stocktons Furniture.

Thanks for that. 👍 Important news. Viadux2. Salboy have not raised the white flag. Quite the contrary. They have announced their third plan for the site. The 76 storey tower remains but the retail units at lower level go and is replaced by a hotel. The affordable homes tower also survives. Also in Ancoats plans for two new residential towers, 47-storeys and one 20-odd storeys on the site of Stocktons Furniture have been announced.

Theres afew new “high rise” buildings in dublin and new developments since your last visit!

Great.

I enjoy these a few snippets to keep you absorbed. Thank you😊