Following years of planning, South Yorkshire-based Dransfield Properties has embarked on what represents East Manchester’s biggest private investment for some time, in the form of the new Lime Square retail development, off Ashton Old Road in Higher Openshaw.
Located on an 11.9 acre site, the £40 million development creates a much needed new commercial heart in the area it serves. It is a powerful symbol of the renaissance that is taking place in Openshaw, providing a family-focused neighbourhood that benefits residents and encourages relocation and investment.
The first phase of the project, a new 80,000 sq.ft. Morrisons store and 670 car parking spaces, was opened on schedule in the autumn of 2010. It is the first new opening in the country with an in-store Peacocks outlet – the fashion retailer has taken 6,000 sq ft following a deal announced between the two companies earlier in 2010.
The store features Morrison’s very well established standard built-up roof specification featuring 9,000m2 of the D60 structural roof decking system, installed by QM Roofing Ltd of Dewsbury, Yorkshire.
D60 Structural Metal Roof Decking is a popular choice amongst both structural engineers and architects, particularly in supporting single-ply roofing applications. Capable of spans up to 4500mm, D60 features an 800mm cover width and a 200mm pitch that provides a very strong deck and offers excellent insulation support. An open width of just 110mm eliminates the risk of insulation dip or breakage.
D60′s lightweight construction also minimises the load on the building structure. Brian Baldwin, a director of QM Roofing, outlined the roof construction at Morrisons, Lime Square: “We have been installing roofs on Morrisons’ supermarkets for over 20 years. We work to the company’s standard built-up roof specification that is tried and tested and has essentially remained unaltered for over a quarter of a century.
“We find D60 to be very easy to install and have never had any problems with deliveries. These key benefits played a vital role in the completion of the entire roof in ten weeks, making an important contribution to the on-schedule opening of the store.”
Sure enough, the store was officially opened precisely on time by Sir Ken Morrison and Sir Ian Gibson, of Morrisons, watched by members of the Morrisons board and an eager crowd of waiting shoppers.
After the store opening Sir Ian Gibson, who was born and spent his early school years in Openshaw, was invited to officially dedicate a new steam hammer sculpture commissioned for the development.
Called Dead Blow the £175,000 piece of public art stands 29 ft. high and was created by the award winning sculptor Robert Erskine to reflect the industrial history of the area – it is designed to be part of the main pedestrian walkway on to the centre.
Posted by karlstapleton 
