Going up in the world: Pictures show east Manchester's new £350m music venue taking shape

New pictures show how construction is progressing for a new £350m music venue next to the Etihad stadium in east Manchester.

Co-Op Live is set to become the biggest indoor arena in the UK with a capacity for 23,500 people when it opens in 2023.

The Oak View Group, the US firm behind it, has appointed Salford-based BAM Construct UK to build the 'world class' arena on the banks of the Ashton Canal.

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It is hoped that the £350m project will create hundreds of jobs, giving a boost to the local economy as it recovers from the impacts of the Covid pandemic.

With work well under way, the development is expected to be completed in 2023.

Bosses say Co-op Live will host everything from live music to sports events, comedy gigs to award shows and family entertainment.

The stadium has been designed to 'benefit both people and the planet' and will be sustainably powered, climate conditioned and even has its own rainwater usage system.

Manchester City have joined former One Direction singer Harry Styles by investing in the arena.

City Football Group (CFG) has become the equal joint venture partner of Oak View Group (OVG) and an investor in Co-op Live, alongside Styles, who has a minority stake in the venue.

The arena is set to create 1,000 jobs once fully operational.