Town hall bosses approved a swathe of plans in their last meeting before the May local elections
How Water Street’s arches under the tram tracks could look(Image: Copyright Unknown)
The ‘last major’ Manchester city centre redevelopment, a plan to ‘put the new back in Newton Heath’, and building 1,600 homes have all been approved in a 58-minute town hall blitz.
The council’s executive approved a series of plans on Friday (March 13) in their final meeting before the elections in May. Leaders will next meet on June 10, 2026, in 89 days time.
Several projects which have already started were updated, but a new initiative for the Northern Quarter was also given the green light.
Northern Quarter to see special election
Businesses in the Northern Quarter are set to take part in a special election after council officials agreed to hold a ballot on forming a business improvement district (BID), which would be the city’s third after Central Manchester and Accommodation-specific organisations.
BIDs collect payments from businesses to pay for extra services like more street cleaning, new signage, and setting up extra events.
Council leader Bev Craig explained: “It’s a really good and positive thing.
“We know the role the BID plays in helping invest extra resources and capacity into making the best possible version the city centre can be. I think what’s really important is this comes off the back of local businesses wanting to be part of something.”
A ballot among Northern Quarter businesses will now be held, with a result expected in mid-July.
File photo of the Northern Quarter
Collyhurst’s future revealed
The huge regeneration of Collyhurst has kicked up another gear. Authority bosses recently opened dozens of new council homes late last year, with more coming soon.
But town hall chiefs have signed off on plans to build another 550 homes in the next ‘phase’ of regeneration after setting out their vision for the neighbourhood, which also includes a bigger Collyhurst Park in the heart of the district along with new schools, a medical centre, and three ‘retail and service hubs’ where shops and much-needed infrastructure, such as dentists.
“It’s fantastic to see,” said executive councillor for development, Gavin White. “The community wants to see investment in parks and schools and tram stops, and local community infrastructure.”
The ‘primary’ hub will be called Collyhurst Square, close to where the now-demolished Eastford Square once served as the area’s shopping parade. Two ‘secondary’ hubs will sit near Collyhurst and Sandhills Parks, and near Rochdale Road’s junction with Queens Road, where Manchester Communication Academy is now.
The same maps also include the new Sandhills Metrolink tram stop, which was given the go ahead by the government last year, something bosses say is ‘mission’ critical to making the regeneration a success. With momentum behind the project, the authority is now asking for locals’ views on the next stage of development in the area as it wants to finish work in Collyhurst Village in ‘the coming years’, then move to South Collyhurst for the next ‘six to 10’.
“This is putting the new back into Newton Heath”
North Manchester suburb Newton Heath is set to get some TLC with new homes planned for Oldham Road West, Old Church Street North, Millwright Street, Old Church Street South, Holyoak Street, Rothwell Street, Silk Mill, and Flash Street.
The big plan, which also includes a new community square, a new and improved health centre, and a better library, ‘is putting the new back into Newton Heath’, local councillor John Flanagan said.
He added: “I really mean that. It’s a plan that’s happening and developing.”
More details of the neighbourhood development framework will be released in due course.
“The last major city centre redevelopment”
It’s described by top council officers as ‘the last major opportunity for redevelopment’ in the city centre. And it now looks like Water Street will be transformed from a near-derelict industrial estate to a new city centre park and skyscrapers.
The plan for a ‘landmark’ park and four skyscrapers in ‘one of the city centre’s final forgotten corners’ between Castlefield and Trinity Way was announced last week, and approved on Friday. It follows the revamp of Mayfield, with four tower blocks containing apartments surrounding a new park roughly equal to the city’s newest green space, at 6.5 hectares.
A vision for Water Street’s new riverside walkway(Image: Copyright Unknown)
Existing railway arches will be redeveloped into retail and hospitality units and create new walking routes across the area. Although construction is years away, local councillor Anthony McCaul said he was ‘ecstatic’.
He added: “You only need to look at Mayfield to see the opportunities this will bring to residents, workers, and visitors. This area is sandwiched between two heavily polluted roads, Regent Road and Quay Street, so it will act as a green lung.”
1,600 homes coming to Manchester
Lastly, a deal to build around 1,600 homes across Manchester by council-owned developer This City was signed off. They have promised that more than one-fifth will be ‘genuinely affordable’ after agreeing finances with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
While many of the homes will be available on the open market, at least 20 per cent will be let at the ‘Manchester Living Rent’, set at or below the local housing allowance level.
This City completed its first project last year — No 1 Ancoats Green, a 129-home scheme. It now faces the task of delivering in the seven sites identified by the council.
They are Postal Street in the Northern Quarter (126 homes), Monsall Road in Harpurhey (651 homes), Grey Mare Lane in Beswick (145 homes), Hyde Road in Longsight (84 homes), Kirkmanshulme Lane also in Longsight (88 homes), Heyrod Street in Piccadilly (no figure given) and Downing Street in Ardwick (181 homes).