Member Article

New East Manchester to develop Beswick sports village

Urban regeneration business, New East Manchester, has secured a deal to develop a 16-acre site in Beswick into a “world-beating” sport and community village.

Manchester Planning Authority approved plans on Friday for the joint venture between the city Council, Manchester City Football Club and New East Manchester.

The project hopes to create jobs in East Manchester as well as developing a new space for leisure activities and educational opportunities.

Beswick’s regeneration will include a new leisure centre and public swimming pool, while Connell Sixth Form College will be developed along with and a sports research centre, which hopes to produce world-class research to advance academic study in sport and health.

Local shops will also be improve while changes to the road layout, public areas and car parking facilities will also benefit.

The scheme’s partners also hope to develop a pedestrian friendly environment and improve road safety in the area.

Cllr Jim Battle, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, commented: “Planning approval is a major hurdle crossed for the transformation of Beswick and the culmination of a lot of hard work to get successfully get to this point.

“There is a long way to go, but this green light represents the beginning of an incredibly exciting future for East Manchester.”

Planning approval was secured after a consultation period, which included a display of plans at The Beswick Library. Work will begin on site later this year.

Cllr Battle concluded: “The exhibition of the plans is still available to see at The Beswick Library, and I would urge anyone who hasn’t already, to go along and see first-hand how the area will be transformed – building on an already world-renowned reputation for sport and leisure in East Manchester.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .