According to Greater Manchester Police, CCTV has not revealed any clues as to cause
12:49, 17 Jul 2025Updated 12:59, 17 Jul 2025
Flames tear through the historic building on June 23(Image: MEN MEDIA)
An investigation into a fire which badly damaged the Hotspur Press building has been closed due to its “extremely dangerous” condition.
The historic mill, believed to be among the oldest in Manchester with parts dating to the 1790s, was heavily damaged when an enormous blaze broke out on June 23.
Its owner, MCR Property Group, confirmed last week that certain parts of the building, officially called Medlock Mill, have been ‘identified for demolition to remove risk to the public’.
Today (July 17), the M.E.N. can reveal a forensic examination of the site is not possible due to the condition of the building following the devastating blaze.
Police and fire chiefs also believe that any potential evidence will have been lost due to the ferocity of the flames.
It has also been confirmed scrutiny of CCTV cameras in the vicinity has failed to reveal any clues to the cause.
Images of the fire-ravaged Hotspur Press demolition in Manchester City Centre .(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
More than 100 people had to be evacuated from buildings nearby, with smoke being visible for miles during the fire.
A major incident was declared with over 20 fire engines, two aerial units and more than 100 firefighters, including colleagues from neighbouring services, called to tackle the blaze in Cambridge Street at its height.
Following the fire, an order for emergency demolition work was put in place.
Its owners, developers, and demolition contractors have since been working alongside Manchester City Council’s Planning and Dangerous Buildings Inspectors to work out a safe and coordinated approach that could enable joint investigative work between GMFRS Fire Investigation Teams and Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Demolition work at the Hotspur Press building (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Despite this, it has not been possible to make the building safe enough for a forensic investigation.
External investigations from GMP, including extensive CCTV analysis, have produced no evidence to suggest anyone in or around the building at the time of the incident.
In a joint statement, GMP and GMFRS said today: “Due to the extensive damage sustained to the building in the fire, the site remains in an extremely dangerous condition. It is our joint professional opinion that the building cannot be made safe enough to allow a thorough forensic investigation into the cause of the fire. Furthermore, any potential forensic evidence is likely to have been destroyed in the blaze.
“Based on the information available to the multi-agency team involved, there is no intelligence or evidence to suggest anyone was in the building at the time of the fire.
How the Hotspur Press building looked before the fire.
“We have worked extensively with partners to preserve the scene to give us the best possible chance to fully examine the building. However, too much damage was done by the fire for this to be feasible. The scene has therefore now closed and no further investigation will be taking place, with the site handed back to the building owners.”
The fire has renewed controversy over why the building was not listed after culture secretary Lisa Nandy rejected a recommendation by Historic England to list the building in January. Three heritage groups appealed her decision in February and the outcome of that is still pending.
The Hotspur Press buiding ablaze on June 23rd(Image: MEN MEDIA)
The former Medlock Mill dates to at least 1801.
After the fire, SAVE Britain’s Heritage has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Culture Media and Sport, asking why Secretary of State Lisa Nandy turned down a listing proposal which had been strongly supported by Historic England – itself an arms length government department.
The property has been empty since 1996 and in the last 25 years it has been the subject of several ill-fated plans, including one in 2020 to build a 28-storey tower around the building.
That secured planning permission but never came to fruition.
The latest developers Manner took over in December 2023 and got the council’s approval last summer to build a 36-storey student housing tower, with space for 595 bedrooms, plus a new public square all while retaining the press’ façade and signage.
The scheme stalled after an unknown individual applied for it to be a listed building, stopping work from starting.
In spring this year they requested permission to make various changes to the approved plans, including giving the tower ‘a more contemporary aesthetic’.
The approved brick cladding would be replaced with an aluminium façade, which will be cheaper to deliver and ensure the £124m project remains viable.
The change in materials is meant to create a greater contrast between the existing mill building and the new tower and allows The Hotspur Press to remain the dominant feature at street level, says Manner.