The Sharp Project has turned into something of an unexpected success story for Manchester City Council, writes Simon Binns.
When it bought the former telly factory in Newton Heath, for £6m in 2008, with a mind to convert it into a hub for independent media companies it was viewed as a bit of a cheap and shabby response to Peel's shiny new MediaCity over on Salford Quays.
But it's now full and, arguably, Sharp is generating more diverse content. There's even talk of Sharp 2 and 3.
The council even says it would consider selling a share of its 200,000 sq ft media hub or franchising the brand to other countries.
Speaking to EG at the unveiling of another new tenant at the Newton Heath facility, American 3D modelling form Eon Reality, council leader Sir Richard Leese said the authority had been 'swamped with offers' from potential investors, franchisees and other world cities about the Sharp Project.
"People have come to us and asked us if they can have one," he says. "That might mean franchising it out or selling a part of it to a private investor, but in both cases, they would have to share the vision for what we are trying to achieve here," he said.
"We've had interest from Mexico, India, Sweden, Brazil, as well as London. How much is it worth? I don't know that yet, but we'd always be willing to have the conversation."
Sir Richard said the council intended to refurbish and rebrand other public buildings in and around Manchester under the Sharp Project brand, starting with the adjacent One Central Park building, where Eon has taken 10,000 sq ft with an option to expand.
Much of the credit has to go to Sue Woodward, the canny former managing director of ITV Granada brought in to lead the Sharp Project. Woodward had a hand in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Manchester and the Capital of Culture to Liverpool. Now she's wants to put the nation's TV drama hub in East Manchester.
Over on the Quays, Peel has another 5m sq ft planned at MediaCity. An overkill of space or is Manchester simply becoming the capital content of the UK? Either way, a dusty old TV warehouse may turn out to be one of the best bits of business the council has done in recent times.
Simon is EG's correspondent for the North of England simon.binns@estatesgazette.com
When it bought the former telly factory in Newton Heath, for £6m in 2008, with a mind to convert it into a hub for independent media companies it was viewed as a bit of a cheap and shabby response to Peel's shiny new MediaCity over on Salford Quays.
But it's now full and, arguably, Sharp is generating more diverse content. There's even talk of Sharp 2 and 3.
The council even says it would consider selling a share of its 200,000 sq ft media hub or franchising the brand to other countries.
Speaking to EG at the unveiling of another new tenant at the Newton Heath facility, American 3D modelling form Eon Reality, council leader Sir Richard Leese said the authority had been 'swamped with offers' from potential investors, franchisees and other world cities about the Sharp Project.
"People have come to us and asked us if they can have one," he says. "That might mean franchising it out or selling a part of it to a private investor, but in both cases, they would have to share the vision for what we are trying to achieve here," he said.
"We've had interest from Mexico, India, Sweden, Brazil, as well as London. How much is it worth? I don't know that yet, but we'd always be willing to have the conversation."
Sir Richard said the council intended to refurbish and rebrand other public buildings in and around Manchester under the Sharp Project brand, starting with the adjacent One Central Park building, where Eon has taken 10,000 sq ft with an option to expand.
Much of the credit has to go to Sue Woodward, the canny former managing director of ITV Granada brought in to lead the Sharp Project. Woodward had a hand in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Manchester and the Capital of Culture to Liverpool. Now she's wants to put the nation's TV drama hub in East Manchester.
Over on the Quays, Peel has another 5m sq ft planned at MediaCity. An overkill of space or is Manchester simply becoming the capital content of the UK? Either way, a dusty old TV warehouse may turn out to be one of the best bits of business the council has done in recent times.
Simon is EG's correspondent for the North of England simon.binns@estatesgazette.com
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