Last piece in the jigsaw

Brendan Montague
Monday November 27, 2000
Manchester Evening News

THE £100m transformation of Manchester's Arndale Centre - the last piece in the city centre rebirth jigsaw - could he held up if pensioner Derek Newton refuses to move.

He is one of 100 city centre dwellers whose dream apartments with rooftop gardens tucked at the back of the centre will have to be demolished.

Manchester city planners have given the revamp the green light, but only if Derek and his neighbours are happily re-housed.

Jonathan Weymouth, development director for Prudential, which bought the Arndale almost three years ago, said: “If there is no settlement, the redevelopment can't proceed.”

The apartments are run as a co-operative with residents' rent going to pay off a joint mortgage and it is understood that all residents have to agree to a buy-out deal.

But Derek said: “We are going to stay, full stop. We will have a sit-in if necessary. United we stand.

“I've been here 20 years - why should the Pru come along and move us away?”

“It's ideal, it's central and there is very little vandalism. I will only move if they find us somewhere where as central.”

Ian Black, 27, has lived In one of the 60 homes for four years and said the move was a disaster. "It's a community, not just Individual flats," he said. “It's a unique place.”

Vera Green, a resident for 11 years was applauded when she told the council: "Residents have no wish to he relocated.”

The lawns and trees at the fifth floor of the PCS car park were “a superb resource, desirable for this area” she said.

Dimitri Griliopoulos, chairman of the Residents Association said: “We were among the first city centre residents and wanted to enjoy the quality of life we pioneered."

The council agreed to put a clause in the planning application saying the developers could not start work until residents were happy. A Manchester city council solicitor confirmed that the company could not force residents to sell up and leave.

Caretaker Roy Leach said: "I do not want to be shoved out to Moss Side at the mercy of Manchester city council. I want to choose where I live."

The Prudential’s Mr Weymouth said It was "a very complicated situation which I cannot discuss in public," and refused to say how much the company would pay out.But he said: "There is a tremendous amount of goodwill on all sides."

The Arndale Investment is seen as the last piece in the massive re-modelling of Manchester, which has followed the IRA bombing in 1996.