New Islington

Located on the border of Manchester City Centre, New Islington is the third Millennium Community in the country, and will see the transformation of a once council estate into a thriving 21st Century development.

Nestled between the Rochdale and Ashton Canals, the 30 acre site is undergoing a radical transformation which will feature over 1,700 new homes, retail and leisure space, a new primary school and health centre alongside an eco park.

Leisure

Its proximity to the city centre makes it easy for New Islington residents to enjoy all of the bars, restaurants and shops associated with city living. As the area develops, restaurants, bars and cafes will be incorporate into New Islington.

As development continues in neighbouring Ancoats, further shops and bars will be added to create a wide variety of options for residents.

Still within reach are the world-class sporting facilities for Sportcity, including a state-of-the-art gym, indoor and outdoor athletics track, squash centre and tennis courts. Sportcity is also the venue for major sporting national and international events as well as major concerts held throughout the summer.

Education and Learning

Current schools are being reorganised and in nearby Miles Platting, construction of a new £5.5 school is immanent and due for completion in spring 2008. ‘Park View’ will offer 420 primary school places and 60 nursery places with a nursery and 12 classrooms, state-of-the-art ICT facilities and library, sports facilities and assembly hall.  

In December 2006 St Anne’s was announced as the most improved school in the country, making a 173% improvement in English, mathematics, and science over the past three years.

New Islington will boast a brand new primary school that will cater for local children and will also incorporate an outdoor play area.

St Anne’s Primary School
Carruthers Street, Ancoats M4 7EQ
Telephone: 0161 2732417

Community

The Eco Park, “Cotton Fields”, hosts the annual New Islington Festival which is a celebration of residents old and new. Held on the first Saturday of September, the free annual festival attracts visitors from east Manchester and across the city, and offers a mix of family entertainment and music.

Once Open residents will be able to enjoy two new garden islands, as well as a beach, an orchard, a football pitch, climbing rocks an secure play areas. There will also be a number of private gardens and patios as well as secured courtyard gardens.

In nearby Ancoats, the Ardwick Youth Centre offers a wide range of services for residents including sports, community events and learning opportunities.

Ardwick Youth Club
100 Palmerston Street, Ancoats, Manchester M12 6PE
Telephone: 061 276 9657

Health

A brand new £6.5m health centre is currently under construction in New Islington and is expected to open in October 07. Spanning across two floors, it will be one of the largest primary care centresin Manchester and will serve residents in Ancoats, New Islington, Miles Platting and the east side of the city centre.

As well as housing two GP clinics, it will also provide other services including minor injuries, family planning, podiatry, mental health services and a pharmacy.

Evolution of New Islington

New Islington was the third Millennium Community to be announced by government and is part of a programme of exemplar 21st century developments aimed at ensuring long term sustainability. This is not just in terms of environmental and energy efficiency considerations, but also ensuring that the area can succeed into the long term without the need for further public sector intervention.

Residents were consulted before a submission was made to government to be accepted as a Millennium Community and support for the bid was high. The bid was accepted in June 2000 and since then a great deal of progress has been made commencing with setting up a Resident Steering Group as part of a wider consultation strategy. 

Urban Splash was selected as lead developer and this was followed by the selection of the design team. An overall design framework was worked up in detail with all partners, including the existing community and outline planning consent was received in April 2003.

The New Islington community will provide:

  • 1734 new homes (including reprovision of social housing for residents who wished to remain/return to the area)
  • 3387 sq m of new retail/leisure space
  • 12147 sq m of commercial space aimed at small to medium sized businesses
  • a new health clinic
  • a new primary school with an extended working day and additional facilities available to the whole community
  • a transformed environment based around new canals that will connect to the Ashton and Rochdale canals on either side of the development
  • the first new park to be built in Manchester since the 19th century

In the summer of 2003 work began, and already the new canals that will link to the Ashton Canal and the Rochdale Canal are complete as is the new waterpark - “Cotton Fields”. This waterpark has been designed to promote a diverse wildlife, including a wetlands area, and a range of nesting boxes to attract a wide variety of birds.  An eco island where adults and children can learn more about the natural environment and “beach” areas for water-play will also form part of the park.

Transforming Old Mill Street, the major route to and from the city centre, has been completed, creating a “new look” that has been designed to keep traffic speeds down, increase pedestrian safety which will provide the new shops with an opportunity for passing trade.

In addition, work is progressing well:

  • Demolitions of vacated buildings
  • Old Mill Street remodelled and reopened to traffic
  • 23 new homes for returning tenant completed and occupied – Islington Square
  • 14 new homes for returning tenants under construction (when does this go “live” these homes are due for completion this month and tenants will be moving in during March/April)
  • 143 apartments in Urban Splash’s “Chips” development under construction (35% to be marketed under a shared equity scheme managed through Plumlife)
  • 200 apartments to be developed by Taylor Woodrow “Treehouse” has obtained planning consent and is due on site in April 07

Population

At present, the FATs development at Islington Square is well underway. As further developments are completed the population of New Islington is set to soar approximately

Documents and reports