New plan to expand St John’s Vision

A revamped regeneration framework is being drawn up to extend the scope and vision of the emerging St John’s Quarter in Manchester city centre, including placing the planned £110m theatre and arts hub The Factory at the centre of a new creative enterprise zone and creating an “international standard” exhibition gallery at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).In a report compiled ahead of a council executive meeting next week, Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein has outlined plans for an updated St John’s Strategic Regeneration Framework which would “extend the influence” of the huge Allied London scheme.It said the framework, based around the former ITV Granada Studios site, should be expanded to include MOSI’s own masterplan to develop its estate. A first phase of this could result in the creation of a new “international standard” exhibition gallery, to become a “beacon for contemporary science” and rival London’s dominance.The grade II-listed Upper Campfield Market would also be included in the framework, a building which could potentially accommodate “some of the region’s most talented and ambitious operators” and provide “a space for culinary experience, innovation and enterprise”. Lower Campfield Market, currently used as MOSI’s Air and Space Gallery, could also be redeveloped to provide “multi-use space for innovation, cultural experience and enterprise”.In addition, Sir Howard’s report sets out progress in taking forward proposals for The Factory, which is located in the heart of St John’s.Scheduled to open in 2019, The Factory will create a permanent home for the biennial Manchester International Festival and will be a commissioning venue for theatre, TV, film, music, dance, technology, media and science.