First Street includes a 500-seat theatre

Mecanoo has been granted planning permission for a new arts centre in Manchester.

The First Street development will be the new home the recently-merged Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company and includes a 500-seat theatre, a 150-seat theatre, 500sq m of gallery space and up to five cinema screens.

Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The scheme is progressing at an incredible pace and it won’t be long before the new centre starts making an enormous contribution to the cultural scene in Manchester, the North West and the UK as a whole.

The scheme, for Ask Developments, is part of a wider regeneration of the area which includes a new hotel, retail and restaurant space, as well as a 700-space multi-storey car park.

“The other developments which are being brought forward in First Street North show that the new home for the merged Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company is already helping attract further investment,” added Leese.

Enabling works will start before the end of the year allowing the scheme to open in early autumn 2014.

Mecanoo won the project in summer 2011 beating competition including Grimshaw, Bennetts Associates, Austin-Smith Lord and RHWL Arts Team.