Member Article

Plans for £40 million Manchester redevelopment to be considered

Proposals for the first phase of a £40million programme of investment and redevelopment in Collyhurst are set to go before Manchester City Council’s executive.

The north Manchester suburb, close to the city centre fringe, was one of the last PFI schemes to be withdrawn by government in 2010, and since then the area has been a key strategic priority for regeneration.

The first phase of the 15-year masterplan will address the issues and concerns that arose from a major consultation in April, which will include completing the wide scale refurbishments of homes as part of the Decent Homes Programme in partnership with Northwards Housing, constructing new roads to open up the area, carrying out environmental improvements and bringing forward plans for new residential development.

A major focus of the masterplan will bring new homes to Collyhurst – helping to support the city’s demand for new housing as set out in the Residential Growth Prospectus.

Housing stock in Collyhurst is dominated by social housing and the masterplan will look to rebalance the properties available to attract new residents and families to live and stay in the area.

Phase one plans will also include the completion of demolition of older properties to allow new sites for high quality housing developments, while bringing potential site forward for future development as part of the Manchester Place initiative.

The estate’s current poor layout means many residents are closed off from surrounding areas and three new roads will be constructed to improve accessibility and connectivity in the neighbourhood.

Responses from the public consultation requested the protection of public space and the existing park in Collyhurst village has been identified as one of the priority schemes for investment from a £1m lottery fund through the Big Local initiative.

Since the failed PFI bid in 2010, much progress has been made in the area. Northwards Housing have already brought 928 homes across Collyhurst up to the decent homes standard using £22m from the government’s Decent Homes Backlog Fund.

The four tower blocks in the area are also currently getting a make-over which will be completed in December.

13 blocks of maisonettes are being demolished as part of the transformation. The site of these maisonettes will become new housing as well as the site of a new community hub with new shops and health facilities.

Northwards Housing have also been granted £6m from the government to improve walls and boundaries on almost 860 homes in Collyhurst to continue the transformation of the area. This work will commence late September and be completed in three phases over 18 months.

Further recent funding success through the government’s Affordable Homes Programme will allow Northwards to deliver up to 32 new two bed homes on infill sites across the Irk Valley and Smedley Dip neighbourhoods. Work is expected to commence on site next spring.

Phase two of the masterplan will see significant further new build homes for sale and market rent together with further demolitions of older properties and work to bring forward future development opportunities.

Cllr Jeff Smith, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “These are major plans that represent an incredibly exciting opportunity to breathe new life in to an area that has remained underdeveloped over the years after the scrapped PFI scheme.

“High quality new homes are essential for the city’s growth and Collyhurst is well placed on the city centre fringe to become the next neighbourhood of choice.

“Manchester has already had success with other major inner city regeneration projects, with areas like Hulme showing that sustained development can reverse decline and create a thriving community.”

Robin Lawler, chief executive of Northwards Housing, said: “Tenants in Collyhurst are over the moon at the investment being ploughed into their neighbourhoods.

“They know that we are doing all we can to make sure that Collyhurst looks and feels like a great place to live, which in turn drives down crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The City Council’s executive will consider the proposals on Wednesday October 1st.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .