Next steps laid out for major Manchester regeneration plan
Manchester City Council a leading international developing company have ramped up progress on delivering a new regeneration plan in the city after revealing a new team partnership.
In 2018 a joint venture (JV) agreement was struck between Manchester City Council (MCC) and Far East Consortium (FEC), a leading international developing organisation, to deliver the Victoria North scheme which, is set to create 15,000 new homes across 155 hectares and seven neighbourhoods over the next 20 years.
Although the project is still in the early stages, both MCC and FEC have appointed a new developing team to help further progress onto the next stages.
Organisations that have been appointed include urban designers, Schulze+Grassov, Lead Architect, Mæ, and architecture and design company, IF_DO.
The team is expected to work with local residents to shape the design of potential new homes, streets, and parks, with a programme of public engagement due to begin in the coming months.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: ‘The Collyhurst neighbourhood has been a key target for regeneration for many years and we know from speaking to local people how needed and how welcome this investment will be.
‘We remain absolutely committed to the development in Collyhurst Village and South Collyhurst with work already starting on site.
‘We want this initial phase of investment to be the catalyst for future development in the area, which we believe has the potential for around 3,000 new homes – with affordability being a crucial element – in the coming years, along with investment in local green space, new shops and services.’
Collyhurst is one of the first areas to be developed as part of the regeneration programme and site works have begun to deliver 274 new low carbon homes – including 130 homes for social rent – alongside a new community park and commercial space.
In early 2020, consultation started on the first phase of the regeneration project including a development of new homes and a community park in Collyhurst Village and a smaller development of new homes in South Collyhurst – planning approval was received in 2021, meaning the regeneration project is now underway.
Plans for the area include creating 3000 new affordable homes and once they’re built, locals who already live in the area will be given first priority of them to ensure they can benefit from the investment.
In addition to helping deliver the homes for Collyhurst village, the JV is also beginning a process to develop a strategy for delivering the large number of affordable homes planned for future phases of the Collyhurst programme with the potential to partner with a panel of registered housing providers.
Victoria Hunter, Senior Development Manager at Far East Consortium, said: ‘The appointment of a masterplanning team is a significant step forward in the future of Collyhurst, with a team selected based on an approach that puts the existing community at the centre of the design process – recognising that communities evolve from existing places and relationships.
‘Over the coming months, we will be planning how the community engagement will happen. Critically, we want to listen and explore ideas with existing residents, guided by key principles including retention of existing residents through a mixture of new homes and tenancies, as well as the growth and re-provision of affordable homes.’
Image: Manchester City Council