The refurbishment of Manchester Town Hall has been handed over to Lendlease, who will oversee the project as management contractor. Under the contract, the firm has pledged to create 150 apprenticeships and 45 new jobs for local people.

“Manchester Town Hall is one of the city’s most recognisable and well-loved landmarks. Lendlease has a long track record of working with heritage buildings and enhancing them for contemporary use and we will bring all of this experience to bear at Manchester Town Hall,” commented Neil Martin, Managing Director, Construction at Lendlease, Europe.

As part of the work done to refurbish the Town Hall, parts of the Grade I-listed building will be restored. The project aims to safeguard the building for current and future generations and improve public access, as well as enhance Albert Square.

“This appointment is an important milestone in the Our Town Hall project to improve access to this icon of Manchester and safeguard it for current and future generations,” said Councillor Nigel Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council.

“There aren’t many construction firms with the expertise and resources required to deliver a heritage project of this scale and complexity on behalf of the city and after a rigorous selection process we are confident that Lendlease offered the best overall value. There will also be millions of pounds worth of opportunities for local businesses and people to get involved in the project through this contract, including apprenticeships and other training opportunities,” the Councillor added.