The Church of all Souls in Ancoats was built between 1839-1840 and was a Grade II listed building.

The razing of a Manchester church has shocked a community

The Guardian has uncovered a significant rise in UAE-linked property ownership in Manchester over the past decade, with Emirati developers now controlling land equivalent to 260 football pitches. This development, centred around Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan's ownership of Manchester City Football Club, has transformed areas like Ancoats and New Islington, creating a stark contrast between luxury developments and surrounding deprived neighbourhoods. The article details how a £1bn Manchester Life development, sold to Abu Dhabi for £5m, has delivered only 2,039 of the promised 6,000 homes, with just 8% being affordable housing. Meanwhile, nearby food banks serve communities facing severe deprivation, highlighting the growing social divide. Former Manchester City Council leader Richard Leese defended the deals as 'a phenomenally good deal for Manchester,' while critics argue the city is becoming a 'northern version of London' with an 'insane' property crisis. The article also reveals a 10-year collaboration agreement between the council and Abu Dhabi that included a gag clause preventing council politicians from announcing the deal without approval from Sheikh Mansour's firm. Andy Burnham, now Prime Minister, approved a £55m loan to Mansour's Jersey-registered property firms despite previously criticizing such deals. The council's relationship with Abu Dhabi has faced scrutiny, with internal investigations finding 'weaknesses in documentation, monitoring and assurance' around these deals. The article concludes that Manchester's model of urban development, heavily reliant on international finance, faces questions about its long-term sustainability and social impact.