Inside the abandoned canal office in the city centre set to be turned into flats

At the foot of Manchester's skyline sits an historic building left unloved. While skyscrapers have risen around it, the red-brick Georgian style canal office which was built three centuries ago, has stood derelict for decades.

Bridgewater House, a Grade-II listed former canal office next to Deansgate Square in Great Jackson Street, consists of two townhouses on Chester Road built before 1787 with an extension on Crown Street dating back to 1842. Attempts to restore the abandoned building have failed so far.

But now, plans for 53 flats on the site are set to bring the building back to life. Property firm Watch This Space, which bought the site from Deansgate Square Renaker last year, is planning to restore the two-storey building.

READ MORE: Cutting Room Square in Ancoats to close to cars for six months – and it could be permanent

The £13m project also includes building a new four-storey apartment block. The firm first formed in 2016, which was recently responsible for refurbishing a listed building in Princess Street, says it is 'really excited' about the scheme.

A spokesperson said: "We are really excited for the next chapter of Bridgewater House. It really is a spectacular listed building and we feel privileged to be making plans to bring it back to life with it having sat derelict for over two decades, hoping to create something wonderful and inspiring."

The developer considered several options for the future use of the building, including commercial space and a hotel, but settled on a residential scheme. The plans involve partially demolishing boundary walls to make way for the 33 new build apartments to be constructed where the car park currently stands.

According to Watch This Space, these new flats will fund the