Press Releases

January 21 2009

Green light for new homes and shopping centre

Two major regeneration schemes in east Manchester together worth more than £100 million have been given the green light by the Government.

A £65 million redevelopment of more than 400 new homes designed for families within a new street layout and an enhanced environment will replace old terrace houses in the Toxteth Street area of Openshaw.

And a £40 million District Centre including a new supermarket, shops, offices and a health and fitness centre will be built nearby on Ashton Old Road, Openshaw.

Decisions to confirm the compulsory purchase of land and buildings to make way for the developments have just been announced by Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester, said: “These decisions are crucial to the future development of this part of east Manchester and mean that major regeneration of housing, shopping, business and leisure facilities in the area can now move forward.

“We are very pleased that both cases we made to create the new Openshaw District Centre and to transform the Toxteth Street area into a neighbourhood where people will choose to live and stay were accepted by the Secretary of State following two public local inquiries last year.

“The decision on Toxteth Street also comes in the week when the first residents have moved into the new homes being built to replace terrace houses in the area.”

“Confirmation of the compulsory purchase orders means we can now continue to turn into action the Neighbourhood Plan for the area, which is based on years of consultation and close working with local people.

“It will transform an area with a long-standing history of poor quality housing, a poor environment and problems with crime into a sustainable family-focussed area where people will choose to live.

“Our aim is to increase the local population by creating family neighbourhoods that retain existing residents and attract new families as part of the wider regeneration of the whole of east Manchester.  New retail facilities are a key element in helping to attract and retain residents in east Manchester.”

Development of the District Centre will start in summer.  Planning permission was approved in May 2007 but work could not start until the compulsory purchase of about a third of the site had been approved following a public local inquiry in August last year.

Now the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, has approved the compulsory purchase of 4.82 hectares adjacent to and including part of the existing District Centre on Ashton Old Road

The new District Centre on an 11.9 acre site off Ashton Old Road will include a 79,250 sq ft Morrisons store.

Retail property developers Dransfield Properties Ltd are working in partnership on the development with New East Manchester as part of the co-ordinated regeneration of the eastern side of the city. It will eventually create up to 750 new jobs in the area.

As well as the new Morrisons store, the mixed use scheme will include:

• 80,000 sq ft of smaller retail units
• 670 car parking spaces
• Stand alone office space
• A new health and fitness centre
• Improved outdoor spaces in the centre

Andrew Malley, Retail Property Director for Dransfield Properties, said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has considered the findings of the inquiry and found in our favour. There is a great need for this development. Retail facilities on this scale are not currently available in this part of east Manchester.  As well as serving the local population, the development will serve the wider community on this major route in the city. We have worked closely with NEM and the local authority in the delivery of the scheme and are now looking forward to starting work by early summer.”