Local residents and businesses have given their broad support for the regeneration proposals for the back of Ancoats area around Poland Street.
Following a 10-week consultation between March and May, 130 responses from local people agreed with the key principles for development in the area and the vision for future investment to create a balanced live / work community.
Strong support was received around the focus on affordable housing investment across a range of tenure to meet local need for high quality homes. And the creation of attractive open green spaces capable of a range of community uses.
In response to concerns raised about local green space, the scale of the Ancoats Green open space will be maintained while exploring the opportunity to reshape and enhance it to improve its quality, function and connectivity within the neighbourhood.
There was also strong support for the principle to reduce car use in the area and increase connectivity through the neighbourhood with new cycling and walking routes.
And in-line with the conservation status of the area, responders to the consultation raised the importance of maintaining the area’s character and celebrating its heritage – including the canals that are characteristic of this part of the city centre.
The consultation event period was extended by four weeks to ensure the public had enough time to engage with the process when the country went into lockdown due to Covid-19.
Local events had to be cancelled to ensure social-distancing could be adhered to, but a dedicated email, phone line and teleconference options were in place, along with an online form and a letter drop to 465 local addresses.
Feasibility work will be now undertaken to assess how the City Council-owned land could be used to deliver the aspirations set out in the Framework document, including the form and nature of green space and public realm.
Cllr Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “Thank you to those people who took the time and the opportunity to take part in this consultation.
“The local knowledge of the community is vital if we’re going to sensitively invest in this part of the Ancoats area and develop a neighbourhood that reflects what people need and want – and this includes key investment in affordable homes and public green space.
“This is the beginning of the journey for the back of Ancoats area, building on the success of the transformation of Ancoats over the last 20 years. I look forward to seeing the proposals develop to create a neighbourhood that meets the needs of both the existing community and the new and emerging communities in the area.”
Three other Strategic Regeneration or Development Frameworks are also being heard at this week’s meeting of the executive (Friday 3 July).
- St Mary’s Parsonage Strategic Regeneration Framework
- NOMA Strategic Update
- First Street Development Framework Addendum
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The global pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty for cities that will need to react quickly to recover from the economic impact of Covid-19.
“It’s important that we move to drive forward investment in the city to help us recover as quickly as possible, and the regeneration plans put to the executive this week reflect a city that is determined to grow and succeed.
“This is a commitment that Manchester remains open as a place to invest with confidence, ensuring economic growth and job creation for our residents.”
