Mayfield Depot

Overlooked by Piccadilly station, Mayfield Depot was itself once a railway station. Built in 1910, it was a fully functioning relief station for the crowded Piccadilly station next year, but it closed as a station in 1960 and was fully deserted since 1986. After failed plans to reopen the station, the space was eventually revived in 2013 for the Manchester International Festival, where the likes of Massive Attack and Four Tet have since performed. The now ghostly building was an instant hit, and The Warehouse Project are also big fans of the space — the vast, unique space, with gloomy brick-vaulted arches and steel columns, is ideal for live events and plans were made to turn it into the city’s next major cultural destination. However, that seems unlikely now, with plans to transform the space into an entertainment venue shelved due to other redevelopment plans that have focused more on retail. [Charlotte Davies]