Public consultations to begin for £1bn Manchester regeneration

Manchester City Council and development partners Far East Consortium (FEC) have invited the public to a series of consultations across the city to discuss The Northern Gateway, which is one of the largest regeneration projects currently proposed in the UK.

The project will transform north Manchester from Angel Meadows to Queens Park – including Collyhurst, New Cross and the Lower Irk Valley, and involve the creation of seven new and emerging neighbourhoods each connected through ‘high-quality green spaces and public squares that will celebrate the existing heritage architecture.’

Three thousand of the 15,000 new homes will be ‘affordable,’ and the council have promised improved transport infrastructure and enhanced walking and cycling routes.

Six drop-in events are planned across the Northern Gateway area through August and September:

● Wednesday 15 August from 11am to 3:30pm at Yes Community Centre, 35-39 Southchurch Parade, Collyhurst, M40 7GE

● Thursday 16 August from 2:30pm to 7pm at PLANT @ NOMA, Redfern Building, Dantzic Street, Manchester, M4 4AH

● Wednesday 22 August from 2:30pm to 7:30pm at Church of the Saviour, Eggington Street, Collyhurst, Manchester, M40 7RN

● Tuesday 4 September from 2:30pm to 7pm at Abbott Community Primary School, Livesey Street, Manchester, M40 7PR

● Wednesday 5 September from 11am to 4pm at The Federation, Federation House, 2 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4BF

● Thursday 6 September from 11am to 4pm at Aldbourne Close Retirement Scheme, 20 Aldbourne Close, Collyhurst, M40 8NE

Cllr Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: ‘We want to be incredibly ambitious with the Northern Gateway project.

‘This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring a transformational regeneration programme to north Manchester.

‘It is vital that local residents are central to shaping the vision for the area and that is why we want to ensure Manchester people are brought into the conversation at this early stage, to get feedback from the people who live in the area and the city.’

Tom Fenton, project director at FEC, added: ‘FEC is genuinely proud of its proposals and its shared vision with the city council to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of north Manchester for current and future generations.

‘We share the council’s desire to inform and involve as many people as possible and would encourage those who live and work in the areas involved to make their views known by joining us at the public consultation events.’