It is hoped by the Co-operative Group, the company behind the scheme, that improving the northern part of Manchester’s city centre will attract more businesses and investment.
Advertisement
Eight fire engines raced to the former CWS building, near Victoria railway station, when the alarm was raised at around 5.30pm.
Commuters are facing major disruption after last night’s city centre fire caused part of the Metrolink to shut down.
The cause of the blaze is not yet known – however a fire service drone was being sent up this evening to inspect the rooftop.
It was not immediately clear whether there had been any injuries.
Trams, trains and buses have all been seriously delayed as a result of the fire, leaving many people struggling to get home.
The £800m project aims to transform a a 20-acre mixed-use site with new housing, offices, entertainment premises and shops.
Fire crews at the scene said the fire had covered two sides of the seven-storey building, sending up a thick plume of smoke.
The project is not expected to be completed until 2029, but the fire at the CWS building may delay that schedule.
The fire service announced at 8pm that the incident had been a challenging one but that it would soon be scaling down the operation.
Later he told media at the scene that his crew had done a “fantastic job” in tackling the fire.
Advertisement
Members of the public also tweeted footage of the fire earlier in the evening.
