Manchester: An under construction historical building collapsed

On Saturday, January 25, a historic red-brick building, constructed in the early 1900s, collapsed on Ashley Road in Hale. Prior to the collapse, cracks had begun to form in its walls, which worsened after strong winds from Storm Eowyn hit on Friday. Fortunately, the three-storey building had been empty for at least two years.

A video from an eyewitness shows the dramatic moment when the building gave way. The footage captures the moment when a section of the red-brick wall detached from one side of the building before crashing to the ground, creating a plume of dust. It is worth noting that last Thursday, the building was deemed unsafe when the Knot Hair Studio, located next to the structure, reported cracks in their floors. As a result, authorities immediately assessed the situation. To ensure public safety, Trafford Council ordered the closure of the Knot Hair Studio and the nearby Mouse House Print Shop.

The new owner of the building, before its collapse, had planned to convert it into a private medical practice. He had submitted a design statement to Trafford Council with plans to retain the building's original shopfront entrance while adding a separate staff entrance and fire exit on the Bath Place side. Additionally, they planned interior renovations, including consultation rooms, a reception and waiting area, a counseling room, an accessible WC/shower, an education suite, and offices. The rear basement's commercial kitchen was to be removed to create a landscaped courtyard on the lower ground floor. Prior to the collapse, extensive construction work had already been undertaken, including excavation at the rear, likely to expand the basement or build on top.