Stockbridge Airco Works, Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester - Historic Building Investigation

Manchester Life Development Company has submitted a planning application (Ref:
110077/FO/2015/N1) for the redevelopment of land bounded by Blossom Street,
Bengal Street, Murray Street and Jersey Street in the Ancoats area of Manchester
(centred at NGR 385010 398708). The proposals allow for the erection of a part
seven- and part eight-storey mixed-use building, comprising ground-floor commercial
units and 158 residential apartments with associated car parking and landscaping
works. The construction works required for the proposed development will necessitate
the demolition of a former industrial building, known as the Stockbridge Airco
Works.
In order to secure archaeological interests, the Greater Manchester Archaeological
Advisory Service, in their capacity as archaeological advisor to Manchester City
Council, recommended that it would be appropriate to undertake a programme of
historic building investigation to inform the development process, in accordance with
the National Planning Policy Framework, paragraph 141. The programme of work
recommended comprised an historic building investigation commensurate with an
Historic England Level II/III-type survey.
The historic building investigation was carried out by Oxford Archaeology North in
September 2015 and revealed three phases of construction within the site, all probably
dating to the second half of the nineteenth century, and representing the replacement
of earlier buildings depicted on both the Ordnance Survey plan of 1850 and
Adshead’s plan of 1851.