This view is looking east across the Grade II* listed Great Northern Warehouse.

The photo on the left was kindly provided to Euan by Aidan O'Rourke when I was writing my book Rebuilding Manchester back in 2010. It shows the Great Northern Warehouse in use as a car park back in 1997 (this was ahead of the conversion of the building and the creation of Great Northern Square around 1999/2000).

The photo on the right is from 2024 and shows some of the work that has taken place over the past 30 years or so. The building straight ahead is the Great Northern Tower which was designed by Assael Architecture on behalf of Taylor Wimpey plc. The building is 78 metres high with 257 apartments and was completed in 2007.

You can also just see in the background on the left the Free Trade Hall prior to its redevelopment in 2002/3 when it was converted into the Radisson Hotel.

A shame the new photo has all the tables and canopies in front so you can’t quite see Great Northern Square - but good to see the street activity compared to 1997!