Manchester have named the team behind the Strangeways regeneration project
A plan to reimagine 320 acres across forgotten areas of Manchester and Salford has finally taken a step forward as the lead consultant has been revealed.
Manchester City Council and Salford City Council have proposed plans to transform areas that have been plagued by crime, poor quality built environment and flooding issues.
To get plans into motion, the authorities have revealed that Avison Young, a global commercial real estate company, will be the lead consultant for the creation of the Strangeways and Cambridge Strategic regeneration framework.
‘The Strangeways and Cambridge area is one of the last pieces of the city fringe to be considered on a comprehensive basis, and a great example of the two cities combining to delivery meaningful change,’ said Nicola Rigby, principal at Avison Young. ‘It has potential to be of national and international significance in terms of its scale and potential impact.’
The team are set to draw up a 10-year vision for the area which will be considered by the councils’ executive committees next summer.
Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig said Strangeways has become a ‘priority’ for investment in the coming years.
She said: ‘We know there is huge potential here, and this regeneration framework is a statement of intent that we are committed to realising the untapped value of this neighbourhood.
‘We now want to see a plan that supports the area’s existing employment base, whilst also setting out an ambitious low-carbon development programme that will deliver new homes, quality public realm, and new commercial spaces that can support businesses to grow and invest in the area.’
One of the biggest problems that could block the project is HMP Manchester – a prison previously known as Strangeways. Manchester council has previously asked the Ministry of Justice to relocate the facility but there are currently no plans for this.
However, in better news, an ongoing Greater Manchester police operation – Operation Vulcan – is working to clean up the area. So far 200 counterfeit shops have been shut down and more than 1,000 tonnes of counterfeit items have been repurposed and recycled.
In addition to the regeneration plans help clean up crimes in Manchester, the project is also due to assist with flooding issues in Salford.
Official documents have previously highlighted the dire need for new homes in the Cambridge area but haven’t been built yet due to the locations high risk of flooding.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: ‘This is an important step in the right direction to strategically plan for the future of regeneration and development in a previously over-looked part of Salford and Manchester.
‘It’s an obvious missing piece of the jigsaw when we think about the on-going development of our city and our aspirations to create connected and sustainable communities.
‘Ultimately, the goal here is to establish a framework that meets the needs and aspirations of both Salford and Manchester, while also creating an attractive and sustainable proposition for businesses and local residents.’
Image: Matthew Waring
