Church Inn's famous roof sign
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Church Inn Plans Revealed
By Herbert Nesquick March 2006
Everybody knows that Northenden has some of Manchester's most beautiful landmarks, which is more than can be said for Didsbury. We've got the Forum Cinema building, now in regular use by a large international corporation. We've got the Post House, which is a Mancunian icon. Until recently, we also had the Mobil Garage on Palatine Road, and the Jolly Carter pub. These, sadly, are now gone. On the Carter site on Royle Green Road you will observe that there's a full-scale housing development project underway.
The futures of two more fine examples of modern architecture, Barrow Motors and Curry's, are hanging in the balance pending plans to turn them into luxury apartments. And then there's the Church Inn, whose famous roof, like the Church itself, has been a distinctive feature of the Northenden skyline since the middle ages.
It will not have escaped your notice that the pub has been closed whilst project plans and permission for redevelopment are finalised. Furthermore, those of you who have been following the local gossip closely will have realised that should the developers buy up the Spread Eagle and The Legion, only the Crown will be left to refresh this part of the village. So if I were the landlord of either of these, I'd get your planning application in for that extension right away, and don't take no for an answer when it seems these days that just about anyone can get planning permission for anything they like!
Speaking of planning permission, the application for the Church Inn reads:
"Erection of 3 storey rear and side extensions and 3rd storey roof addition to existing Church Inn Public House to create 14 apartments with basement and underground parking, roof terraces, gating, environmental works and highway works to Consul Street and erection of 4 x 2 storey houses at the rear with associated parking and landscaping"
We have also been passed some speculative information regarding the design of the new flats plus an artist's impression of how the finished building will look. This exclusive information is not available anywhere else. Don't expect anything too radical as the Church is a grade 2 listed building. Here's a summary of what's going to be available for your 500 grand:
Artist Impression of flats
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- Luxury 1 and 2 bed executive apartments featuring fully fitted bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen appliances
- Several grades of apartments available, each with increasing qualities of village views
- Exclusive - view of chippy and tattoo parlour
- Executive - view over the retirement flats
- Regal - View down Church road towards Tesco
- Imperial - View over Church
- Supreme - View of Church plus free copy of Concord every 2 weeks.
- One guaranteed parking space per flat - outside the police station.
- Hardwood flooring supplied as standard to dicscourage anyone either male, having a proper job, or over the age of 35 from wanting to live there.
Local Construction Expert Paddy Riley
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Recent interviews with staff claiming to be involved with the project have caused concern amongst local residents. Ernest Reid, a pensioner from Royle Green Road, and an active local preservation campaigner, asked us to reassure our readers that despite the plans to turn the building into luxury flats, there will be no change to the main building, which is listed. Ern told us "The Church is a listed building. I'd like reassurance that in this case, listed does in fact mean listed, and it won't go the way of the Tatton Cinema, Tommy Ducks and the Briton's Protection, which looks like it might be the next pub to disappear in the wake of a fat back-hander. Nice pint of Tetleys in there."
We waited for tipping out time at the Legion and collared Paddy Riley, a local construction expert. Mr. Riley was able to confirm to us that nothing untoward will happen to the building. He told us "See that, over there. All coming down, that will be. You mark my words, all that'll be coming down. Any day now, all coming down, that'll be. Yes sir. All coming down, you mark my words. Now my good sir. Will you be having any spare change about your porson, now."
Northenden.Net would like to thank Mr. Riley for his valued expert insight into local affairs.