The Co-operative is to build a huge market in the heart of Manchester as it looks to capitalise on the economic, environmental and social benefits of the retail platform and add some retail nouse to the industry.
The site will be set alongside the city’s Victoria Station and adjacent to the Arndale shopping centre and cover eight hectares, 30-50,000sqft of which will be a market.
The remainder is likely to be taken up by offices as well as leisure and residential uses.
Ruairidh Jackson described the plans to delegates at the fourth National Markets Conference. He said: “The model for the Co-op is a good one for running a market. We are a co-operative owned by our members so we don’t have to answer to anyone in making this kind of thing work.
“We make and re-invest our profit in local communities we serve and this long term view means we can offer as offer more than just a retail offer.
“We are retailers so we know how to put products on the shelf and get them sold. We know how to generate a market that drives AB customers as well as attracting other social groups to achieve the wider goals of the group.
“There will be a mix of uses from offices to leisure as well as night time uses so it doesn’t become isolated. We are under no illusion that we can just stand back and watch it work, it will be tough.
“You will have to walk through the market to get to our offices which we will be in for 35 years so if it doesn’t work we will see it.”
Jackson said the market would tie in with the companies values in relation to education, family, transport and the environment and that the retailer had looked at examples of market such as Berlin and was aiming for a “classic, Victorian style” look.
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