3 MAJOR PROJECTS 2 BIG HOLES 1 PRISON | Manchester Building Boom 31 Aug 2024

[@AidanEyewitness]

I've managed to present another video after a week - actually a week and a day, but hopefully I can move to weekly updates, other commitments permitting. Many thanks for your comments, I'll respond to as many as I can!

[@sidesplitter9497]

Another great update! I would love to see weekly videos but don't feel you have to do it! I'm sure we'd all prefer you to make videos when you feel inspired, not just when the 7th day turns.

[@KDanes]

Can't believe this channel has less than 5k subs ... deserves 100k subs. The information you provide is superb

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks for that and thanks for the likes on this comment. It’s just a matter of time. Every 100k channel had only 5k at one point. I intend to post more regularly and have other things on the pipeline. We’ll get there. Many many thanks!

[@KDanes]

​@@AidanEyewitness Yes mate keep going we support you ..this is a hidden gem of a channel. Your reporting and documentation in these videos is fantastic... we're seeing a city changing rapidly in real time.. these videos will also be invaluable for future generations that have an interest in Manchester. Top quality work

[@IIJOSEPHXII]

I just watched the theatrical trailer for Hell is a City. Stanley Baker, Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasance - what a cast! Donald Pleasance used to come in my bar in 1988. It was at the bottom of Quay St across the road from Granada Studios called The Variety Club. I was round there recently and was surprised to see the building the bar was in still standing while nearly everything else has gone in that area. Vielen dank fur's uppenloaden. .

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@IIJOSEPHXII Kein Problem! Yes it had an all star cast. Very interesting about the Variety Club. The film is very watchable, very much of its time. The views of the city are incredible, for instance the Fatted Calf off Corporation St, where the Arndale is now.

[@neilbrooks5099]

Wonderful to see Manchester growing up and up

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks for your comment. Not everyone agrees! 😊

[@dudejames5681]

@@AidanEyewitness I wonder why. Renaker. Our journey to net zero carbon. We are on a journey to net zero carbon with regards to the construction process, and operational energy required to power every development, following the RIBA carbon targets. 22 September 2019: “Firms that align their business models to the transition to a net zero [carbon] world will be rewarded handsomely. Those that fail to adapt will cease to exist.” 23 September 2019, “Changes in climate policies, technologies and physical risks in the transition to a net zero world will prompt reassessments of the value of virtually every asset. The financial system will reward companies that adjust and punish those who don’t.” Remarks given during the UN Secretary General’s 'Climate Action' Summit 2019 Mark Carney Governor of the Bank of England.

[@linndrumfan1959]

​​​@@AidanEyewitness I believe they are called "NIMBYS" ? 🤔😆

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@linndrumfan1959 😊

[@michelevalletta3966]

@@AidanEyewitness High buildings don't destroy culture. Collective frustration and escapism does.

[@bernardmcmahon351]

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

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, the views around Corporation Street before the Arndale Centre are stunning. Yes it's funny when they drive into the Pennines, the houses suddenly stop! It's still like that today!

[@mikeede49]

I worked at an upholstery warehouse on Dutton Street in the mid 60s, not by any stretch of the imagination could I have envisaged how it will look in a couple of years from now. Good video once again.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Ah very interesting. Do you remember the Manchester Ice Palace on Derby Street?

[@mikeede49]

​@@AidanEyewitness Yes I remember it well.

[@LizThomas-gk9sb]

Brilliant video once again. Great to see the bigger projects coming along nicely. Can't wait for the next update!

[@AidanEyewitness]

That’s great to hear. Hoping to post more frequently.

[@jacopogiraudo7257]

Always clicking when seeing AidanEyeWitness. Please keep up with your great work!

[@AidanEyewitness]

That's great! Many thanks. More videos are in the pipeline!

[@benjaminwilson2945]

4:55 I am glad they will keep the original facade.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, me too! It’s very impressive and historically significant.

[@Roddersville]

Thank you Aidan - and as you will know the skyscrapers do not end there…there are even more in the pipeline… beautifully documented and informative as ever.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Many thanks for the great feedback. I really appreciate it!

[@StephenPritchard-f9j]

wouldt t be incredible to have one building the same height as the freedom tower in manhattan i was there in september and its amazing ❤

[@wailomer7835]

As always, superb and informative video. Your narration linking the past to present is remarkable. Manchester is transforming into a world class city

[@AidanEyewitness]

Very glad to hear your comment. I have vivid memories of Manchester and Liverpool from my earliest childhood and that motivates me to document the current transformation. Many thanks.

[@JohnnyZenith]

Piccadilly Gardens plans unveiled later in the year and Viadux 2 will be approved. I absolutely loathe the term 'mini-manhattan'. I absolutely love your videos. What I want next is HS2 to Manchester. St Michael's will look fantastic with the tower and the town hall unveiled.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks as ever for your thoughts. I used the term ‘mini-Manhattan’ just to annoy you! 😂

[@JohnnyZenith]

@@AidanEyewitness Lol. Well done.

[@mattrea9088]

Hi Aidan, great video as always. The brickwork being built at the Waterhouse gardens project is traditional and not a veneer. Im a bricklayer and hate to see projects use veneers

[@AidanEyewitness]

Many thanks for the info, I will post an ‘erratum’ message in the description. I have a great respect for the craft of bricklaying.

[@euan7310]

You will be visiting 'New Jackson' for another decade! Once contour towers are done, they will be building another 4 identical looking ones and one 'tallest of thr bunch' just behind South Tower. Going to look amazing when all done 🎉

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, I have my work cut out for me. I think it’s very important to document the ongoing development, as they did with the Empire State and the Eiffel Tower.

[@rinkydinkmcruk]

Plus two more in front of the contour towers - think it’s called park place or something

[@JoePender-w6z]

Great video Aidan

[@AidanEyewitness]

Many thanks, I appreciate your feedback.

[@mazin627]

I like the design of Elizabeth Tower, Victoria Residence. It's the one with the stepped towers. I didn't know it's name until I looked just now, so I hope I have its name right. I didn't think I liked architecture much until I these new towers started going up and now I am really like them. I think it's because they are so ambitious that they make a statement, whereas much of the previous modern buildings were very non-descript.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. Not everyone likes them!

[@davidowen2396]

A "massive hole" in Manchester ....there used to be many such neighbourhoods in the 1980s lol....looking very good nowadays. Thanks for another great video. I'm going to look for Hell is a City....

[@AidanEyewitness]

I think there are still a few places around Manchester that are a bit of a hole, though not a 'hell hole'! I've got Hell is a CIty on DVD.

[@mattsmith7301]

Very good stuff mate 👍🏻

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@mattsmith7301 Wow I am honoured! Many thanks! ✈️

[@benjaminwilson2945]

10:32 I thought the bridewell was a pub? Funnily enough I was attending a party inside the Bridewell only a few days ago.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, Bridewell is used for small prisons and police stations after the prison in Bridewell, London. 😊

[@benjaminwilson2945]

@@AidanEyewitness Yeah, I found out. I was talking about the one in Campbell square.

[@saintevildoers3904]

Well done mate , enjoying the content

[@AidanEyewitness]

Very good glad to hear that. 😊

[@Charlie_Ses]

Nice video. I lived in Manchester for a few years around 2010, can't believe how much has changed since then. Back then Beetham Tower was the only high rise in the centre pretty much, how times have changed. Any idea who is funding all this building and all these towers and why?

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@Charlie_Ses Yes that’s true, a striking transformation. And it is ongoing. The funding is from various sources, including overseas. I think they see it aa a good investment. Many thanks.

[@ians3586]

Very interesting video. I had no idea that Strangeways Prison was such a beautiful edifice (or at least some of it is). I wonder what the thinking was back in Victorian times that made it so. I'm sorry to hear you're having a problem with your drone. Hopefully it will be easily resolved.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes the prison is an impressive architecture, though it has a modern and high security walls. My colleague takes care of the drone so he is in charge!

[@tan4eva]

The Strangeways Riots took place in 1990, not 1989 as you stated in this video, which is great as always. I was 7 at the time when the riots took place & remember as a kid seeing all the coverage on the news etc.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, you're right. That's annoying - I saw it with my own eyes from Bury New Road and I even looked up the Wikipedia page to check the info but I overlooked the year. Many thanks for the correction and I've put an error notice at the beginning of the description.

[@dp3658]

Id love an update on London Road fire station if there is one. Beautiful building that needs some care.

[@AidanEyewitness]

I’ve not seen any updates about it for a while. I understand renovation work is ongoing, but it seems to be taking a long time. I’ll look out for updates.

[@English_Dawn]

Thank you for the infilling (sic). Question. The undeveloped part of Middlewood Locks is the elephant in the room🐘. Various schemes but offices have been seemingly dropped. It's in a top commercial position next to 3 business districts, St John's, New Bailey and Spinningfield. With Viadux2 not decided can the devolopers of Middlewood Locks put some World towers or their own, perhaps maybe sell the land to Renaker or Salboy the big players after the Blue Ribband? Strangeways Hall the home of the Ducie Family used to be a main cattle rearer for the Manchester market. How things changed with the area declining. The gentrification of the city grows apace. Aparently in St. Michael's Phase 2 apartments could be going for £6m.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes the empty land is very evident from the air. Good ideas there. Not many farms in Strangeways today!

[@clemfandango619]

Excellent vid, as always. Red Nev's development is looking like a complementary mix old and new. Manchester films? 24 hour Pahty People. The Parole Officer. Charlie Bubbles. There was a Richard Beckinsale film i can't remember the name of. Some good shots of 1960s Old Trafford.

[@AidanEyewitness]

To see Manchester in the 60s, Hell is a City and A Taste of Honey are best. For Liverpool, there's Violent Playground, 1958, also starring the great Stanley Baker and also David McCallum. Great scenes of north Liverpool, but not one Scouse accent heard throughout the film!

[@clemfandango619]

@AidanEyewitness thanks for the recommendations. I did get into those 60s kitchen sink dramas, but I found them a bit grim after I'd watched a few of them. I thought 'A Taste of Honey' was Salford - I'm that parochial! My mother and her family lived in Plymouth Grove in the 60s, so I was only interested in Manchester. Cheers.

[@jasongray4517]

At what point do developers simply run out of land to build on in central Manchester? (and why does Manchester feel so much bigger than Liverpool, when it really isn't?). Terrific, informative video, as always.

[@clemfandango619]

These towers are mostly around the edge of town.

[@AidanEyewitness]

You’ll see from the drone shots that there are plenty of empty pieces of land all around the edge of the city centre. And more building land can be gained from knocking old buildings down (not listed ones!)

[@linndrumfan1959]

That would make a good film title! 😆😉

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@linndrumfan1959 Haha… about a crooked property developer who ended up in prison. Not sure about the holes!

[@linndrumfan1959]

​@@AidanEyewitnessIndeed! As for the holes? Oh, behave! 😂

[@Lord_Liverpool]

You make fantastic videos Aidan, well done. Would you consider visiting Leeds, Sheffield, Preston, etc., and maybe even London? By the way, what camera are you using? Your videos are so clear. Thanks.

[@AidanEyewitness]

I’ve already done one video on Leeds and am planning to visit those cities. I have used many cameras down the years, Kodak Brownie, Nikon & Canon film & digital, Sony Handycam, but today I use the incredible iPhone 14 Pro. The script and sound are also important. Many thanks

[@footballfanar9717]

​@@AidanEyewitness I read a few months ago about Sheffield getting Yorkshire's tallest tower. I don't know much about the project, although I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was student accommodation. I just thought you may be interested.

[@Lord_Liverpool]

@@AidanEyewitness I will check out some of your other videos, they are absorbing. It's such amazing picture quality from a smartphone. Keep up the good work!

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@Lord_Liverpool Yes, it’s a miracle of modern technology!

[@CoastersandPop]

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

[@AidanEyewitness]

Well, property is driven by money but if there is plenty of competition and a good supply of places for people to live, including affordable options, the price hikes will hopefully be not too bad.

[@retronostalgic]

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

[@AidanEyewitness]

I didn't know that, man thanks for sharing this info.

[@davidjb-750]

Ren-aker… Every days a school day. Bit like Marc Bolan 😊

[@AidanEyewitness]

Sorry I don’t get the reference. I’m a fan of Marc Bolan.

[@davidjb-750]

Bolan was taken from the name of his favourite artist BOb dyLAN

[@matthewbenedict-newton7109]

Are you going to cover the new and exciting revelations about Salford Cathedral? The interior is going to be amazing.

[@AidanEyewitness]

I will look into that. The main focus of this channel is new arcihtecture and development, especially high rise, but I am personally interested in all architecture, particularly restorations like this one. Many thanks for flagging this up.

[@nicolasnicolas3218]

10:50 Looks good to me, could stay like that for students

[@AidanEyewitness]

That’s Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadephia USA, they decided to keep it as it was and turn it into a museum. I saw Al Capone’s cell, with nice furniture and decor. The Bridewell in Liverpool is okay as a student residence.

[@JamesGoesOutside]

I think I might have cycled past you on Friday, just north of the airport runway. Wasn't sure if it was you though so didn't mention that I am a viewer :D

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, near Shadow Moss Road? I often cycle there for the (cycle) lanes and planes. I was wearing a blue and white helmet. Another guy recognised me once on south side and another in Terminal 3. I took a selfie!

[@JamesGoesOutside]

@@AidanEyewitness Yes! On the path between Ringway road roundabout and aviator way! I’ll say hi next time

[@ansonk3576]

Not heard of anything about the Prison even it is 2024. Are they really going to diminish?

[@AidanEyewitness]

You’ll see from the comments, the prison is not going to be decommissioned any time soon.

[@domtaylor2271]

Enjoyable as ever but the idea of Strangeways being decommissioned as a prison is an old one and there's no reason to believe the MoJ would have a change of heart, especially given how tight the existing estate is (think they said only 10 prison beds in the whole country the other day). A pity as the physical bulk of the prison is a barrier to coherent regeneration of the area

[@AidanEyewitness]

Well I like to think about what’s possible, even if it’s not practical or likely. Many thanks

[@wendywolfman]

Are you an architect or something like that Aiden? What is it that you do and is it related to the channel?

[@AidanEyewitness]

No, but I’ve always been interested in architecture as well as city development, transport especially aviation and languages. My degree is German and French. I teach German and English online. Really, I’m a content creator using still & moving images as well as the spoken and written word, with music. My other channel is @AORLanguages. Many thanks

[@benjaminwilson2945]

10:00 That's unlikely to happen any time soon with the national shortage of prison spaces.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Maybe further into the future! In an ideal world!

[@elizaann8495]

Alfred Waterhouse designed Rochdale Town Hall Clock Tower

[@AidanEyewitness]

Ah yes, it’s quite similar to Manchester town hall. Must go and see it now it’s been renovated

[@lancemoutray2832]

Can't we see a wonderful unique structure bulit instead of the same old same old. Im not sure about Manhatton, more Benidorm

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@lancemoutray2832 You have a point there. Can you give an example of any new buildings in other cities that could serve as a model for Manchester?

[@lancemoutray2832]

@@AidanEyewitness London has the Shard and the Gherkin amongst others. Something truly iconic instead of Lego blocks

[@ianbanks2844]

Thank you for this production . As regards Strangeways , both councils might want to pull down the prison and redevelope the site , but the Home Office in London have , as usual , consistently poured very cold water over the idea . They have made it very clear that they have no interest whatsoever . So yet again, the London obsessed unelected mandarins who run this country from London and the south east are demonstrating their utter contempt for the rest of the country . And as we are now ruled by Marxist and "" peaceful " dictators , that situation is only going to get even worse .

[@AidanEyewitness]

Okay thanks for the information. It’s Grade II listed so not sure if it can be just pulled down. It’s not going to happen any time soon. I agree the country is too London-centric.

[@xfishygobyebyex4950]

I would bet a bit of money that the Renaker owners watch these videos 😊

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, but why no message “Nice vid, mate” from ‘Dazzer the property billionaire’? 😊

[@xfishygobyebyex4950]

@@AidanEyewitness He probably doesn’t even have a youtube account! I imagine he’s too busy! But I do reckon he’s pulled up a video in his office before to see dome outside perspective of his company.

[@teviottilehurst]

Why doesn't Manchester build taller? London can't because of the Civil Aviation Authority's maximimun height limitations. Be the first city in the UK to have a 100 floor skyscraper

[@AidanEyewitness]

This is a good point, but building heights are also a reflection of the economic conditions. But the way things are looking, Manchester is going to build taller in the next few years and will overtake building heights in London.

[@Ste2023]

No local people allowed to live in them

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@Ste2023 Can you explain what you mean exactly?

[@nicebeevor]

Yet more Simpson Haugh dross - aaaaaaagh!!!!

[@AidanEyewitness]

Are there any buildings or architects in Manchester or in another city that you think would provide a better model for new construction in Manchester?

[@VivieneMara]

Great Jackson street towers are going to look horrible when all done. The green towers that come next just all copies and hardly any height difference just going to look a big mess

[@AidanEyewitness]

Well I have posted a visualisation of the completed district in a previous video is there a skyscraper district in another city you think is good?

[@VivieneMara]

@@AidanEyewitness it’s the amount of twins and quads where else is this done ? London has 2 towering skyscraper districts they all have different height and ceiling shapes all we get al flat tops and same heights the green and contours that are coming are the same height as the 3 sisters not sure how you can happily say different

[@peterkelly4716]

I am completely and utterly bemused as to how and why you can be enthused by these ' developments'

[@AidanEyewitness]

I’m just documenting them as the audience are fascinated by them. I have my own thoughts about them. This process is an important stage in the development of Manchester and other cities and needs to be documented.

[@rinkydinkmcruk]

I’m completely confused how you can’t be enthused

[@cartoonvandal]

Are you the nutter from Birmingham?

[@domtaylor2271]

Do you live near any of them? I'm not far from Waterhouse Gardens. Do I like the design? Not especially. Do I think it's a much better use of the land than a big car park? 100% yes. Manchester is building a lot of mediocre stuff, but the perfect is the enemy of the good

[@liamwarren7590]

Such boring ugly architecture.

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@liamwarren7590 Can you point to any examples of recently built architecture you think are interesting? Many thanks for your comment.

[@hiyorisarugaki1830]

Flat everywhere. Nobody from manchester can afford them.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Well some people from Manchester can afford them, if they are on a high salary.