Part of a building has collapsed after a major blaze broke out in Manchester city centre. The fire, at the old Hotspur Press printing works on Cambridge Street, broke out at about 17:00 GMT, close to Manchester Oxford Road railway station. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said neighbouring apartment buildings had been evacuated. It urged the public to stay away from the area and said 20 fire engines from across Greater Manchester were on the scene. A spokesperson for the fire service said the blaze had spread to three floors of the building. "Two aerial units are in use to prevent the spread of the fire," they added. "The two apartment blocks at number 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated. "A cordon is in place on Cambridge Street and we ask that the public stay away from the area. "Residents nearby should keep doors and windows closed due to smoke in the area." Footage taken at the scene showed parts of the building had collapsed. National Rail said all lines were blocked and warned that services running through the station may be cancelled or delayed until 21:00 BST. It said rail replacement buses were running for Northern customers from Manchester Oxford Road at 18:20 BST and 18:25, calling at all stops to Warrington Central. Buses were also leaving Warrington Central at the same times, calling at all stops to Manchester Oxford Road. A bus will depart Manchester Oxford Road at 19:00, calling at all stops to Earlestown. TransPennine Express said rail replacement buses had been requested for the following routes: East Midlands Railway said it had bus replacements services on standby at Warrington Central, Stockport and Sheffield. TransPennine Express said customers at Liverpool Lime Street could use their ticket at no extra cost to travel on TransPennine Express services to Manchester Victoria. It also advised customers at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road to use the free Transport for Greater Manchester bus link to Manchester Victoria, where they could change for connecting services towards Liverpool. The fire-hit building, also known as Medlock Mill, closed as a printing site in 1996. Developer Manner's plan to regenerate the historic building into a 36-storey student tower was given planning permission in May 2024. However, it recentlyredesigned its proposalsand they will now be submitted to Manchester City Council, theLocal Democracy Reporting Servicesaid earlier this month. Listen to the best ofBBC Radio Manchester on Soundsand follow BBC Manchester onFacebook,X, andInstagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Building partly collapses after major fire
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"Partial Building Collapse in Manchester Following Major Fire Incident"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
A significant fire erupted at the old Hotspur Press printing works on Cambridge Street in Manchester city centre around 17:00 GMT, leading to a partial collapse of the building. The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) responded swiftly, deploying 20 fire engines from various locations across Greater Manchester to tackle the blaze, which affected three floors of the structure. In the wake of the fire, emergency services evacuated nearby apartment buildings and established a cordon around the area. Fire officials advised the public to avoid the vicinity due to smoke and potential hazards, while residents were urged to keep their doors and windows closed to minimize smoke inhalation risks. A spokesperson for GMFRS confirmed that two aerial units were deployed to help contain the fire and prevent its spread to adjacent properties.
As a result of the fire, National Rail announced disruptions in train services running through Manchester Oxford Road railway station, leading to cancellations and delays expected until 21:00 BST. Rail replacement buses were organized for travelers, with services operating between Manchester Oxford Road and Warrington Central. The affected building, also referred to as Medlock Mill, has a history of being a printing site until its closure in 1996. Recently, a developer received planning permission to transform the site into a 36-storey student tower, although they are currently revising their plans for submission to Manchester City Council. The incident highlights ongoing challenges related to the redevelopment of historic sites in urban areas, particularly in the context of fire safety and emergency response preparedness.
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