Street North West: Life after the IRA Bomb Walking Tour

STREET North West would like to invite you on a walking tour exploring the day the IRA Bomb detonated in Manchester and the consequences for the subsequent development for the city centre.

The tour will be hosted by Ed Glinert from New Manchester Walks and followed by a presentation and discussion with Mick Timpson, lead designer on the EDAW Manchester City Centre regeneration masterplan.

Some background...
On Saturday 15 June 1996, a man with an Irish accent phoned the Manchester media to tell them of a bomb set to go off in the city centre. Because he gives the correct code word, the authorities realise this is serious. The 3,300lb bomb exploded in Manchester City Centre injuring 220 people and causing immense physical, social and economic damage. The bomb threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of people and the future of many businesses, destroyed buildings and dealt a severe blow to the economic base of the heart of the region. Some 49,000 square metres of prime retail space and 57,000 square metres of office-based activity were lost.

The rebuilding of central Manchester was immediately recognised as a national priority. Right from the start it was decided not merely to repair and reinstate what had been damaged, but to adopt a much more radical approach - turning the adversity of the bomb into an opportunity to re-plan and rebuild the heart of the City Centre. The first major step forward was the launch of an international design competition to produce a Masterplan which would set out a vision for the new City Centre and act as a guide for the rebuilding programme.

The competition resulted in the selection of the widely acclaimed EDAW Masterplan, which has proved invaluable in shaping and defining the future of the City, in raising the level of expectation and aspiration, and in giving added impetus to the continued regeneration of the wider City area. From broad urban design principles through to detailed architectural solutions the Masterplan set the aspiration for nothing short of the highest quality of design which we see realised today in Manchester.

Who?Young urban designers and anyone interested in the built environment

Where?Meet outside Selfridges at 17.50. Presentation to be held at the offices of Turley, 1 New York Street, Manchester (drinks and nibbles will be provided)

Cost: Tickets cost £3.50 (to be paid on arrival)

Booking: Please RSVP tostreet-north-west@urban-design-group.org.uk