Hotspur Press building in Manchester partly collapses in fire

Part of a building has collapsed after a major blaze broke out in Manchester city centre.

The fire, at the old Hotspur Press printing works on Cambridge Street, broke out at about 17:00 GMT, close to Manchester Oxford Road railway station.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said neighbouring apartment buildings had been evacuated.

It urged the public to stay away from the area and said 20 fire engines from across Greater Manchester were on the scene.

A spokesperson for the fire service said the blaze had spread to three floors of the building.

“Two aerial units are in use to prevent the spread of the fire,” they added.

“The two apartment blocks at number 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated.

“A cordon is in place on Cambridge Street and we ask that the public stay away from the area.

“Residents nearby should keep doors and windows closed due to smoke in the area.”

Footage taken at the scene showed parts of the building had collapsed.

National Rail said all lines were blocked and warned that services running through the station may be cancelled or delayed until 21:00 BST.

It said rail replacement buses were running for Northern customers from Manchester Oxford Road at 18:20 BST and 18:25, calling at all stops to Warrington Central.

Buses were also leaving Warrington Central at the same times, calling at all stops to Manchester Oxford Road.

A bus will depart Manchester Oxford Road at 19:00, calling at all stops to Earlestown.

TransPennine Express said rail replacement buses had been requested for the following routes:

• Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street in both directions
• Manchester Piccadilly to Preston in both directions

East Midlands Railway said it had bus replacements services on standby at Warrington Central, Stockport and Sheffield.

TransPennine Express said customers at Liverpool Lime Street could use their ticket at no extra cost to travel on TransPennine Express services to Manchester Victoria.

It also advised customers at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road to use the free Transport for Greater Manchester bus link to Manchester Victoria, where they could change for connecting services towards Liverpool.

The fire-hit building, also known as Medlock Mill, closed as a printing site in 1996.

Developer Manner’s plan to regenerate the historic building into a 36-storey student tower was given planning permission in May 2024.

However, it recently redesigned its proposals and they will now be submitted to Manchester City Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said earlier this month.