The joint venture between Manchester City Council and FEC has received planning approval for the first phase of its Collyhurst regeneration plans – part of Manchester’s £4bn Victoria North project.
The plans, concerning Collyhurst Village, will see 244 new homes built – including 100 high quality homes for social rent. The proposals comprise a mix of townhouses and apartments intended to cater for a mix of families, young professionals and older residents as FEC and MCC looks to create a sustainable neighbourhood for current and future generations.
In addition, the 1.3 hectare New Collyhurst Village Park will create a new public green space at the heart of the neighbourhood, connected to homes through a network of green links. More than 450 trees will be planted across the development with any trees lost during enabling works replaced on a two for one basis.
The plan for the area also includes 2,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space that will be designed to work for local people and vastly improve services in the area.
The planning approval follows extensive consultation with the local community to help guide the principles of the regeneration programme, where residents overwhelmingly supported the project and were positive that the investment would meet their needs.
Enabling works began in May and are expected to run until the autumn. A start on site is expected towards the end of the year.
The agreed plans for Collyhurst Village come soon after the joint venture submitted a separate planning application to deliver 30 additional new homes for social rent in South Collyhurst – another of the seven emerging neighbourhoods that are part of the Victoria North programme.
The investment in Collyhurst represents part of the first phase of the Strategic Regeneration Framework for Victoria North, which will deliver up to 15,000 new homes while rejuvenating brownfield and underutilised land over the next 15 years.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VICTORIA NORTH
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “This is a significant moment for the Collyhurst community. This approval represents the first major investment in Collyhurst in 50 years and we know from speaking extensively to local people that the new homes and park are very welcome – and I’d like to thank local people for taking the time to be part of the consultations that have helped us get to this point.
“The exciting part can now get underway – building the affordable homes that we have promised and transforming the neighbourhood for local people that will benefit generations of Manchester people in the years to come.”
Victoria Hunter, development manager at FEC, said: “Our plans for both developments in Collyhurst promise to rejuvenate local housing and amenities, breathing new life into the area. We are acutely aware of the long-term challenges posed by issues such as poor connectivity and access to green space, and our plans reflect that. Today’s planning approval is a big step forward in terms of rectifying those issues, and we look forward to working with local residents to create a vibrant and inclusive future for Collyhurst as part of Victoria North.”
