The past few months have been a time of turbulence and unpredictability – but if there’s one thing you can count on here in Manchester, it’s that change is always around the corner. While the city has been in lockdown, many of its popular central spots and surrounding areas have been undergoing massive facelifts, transforming into bright and vibrant hubs that will soon house new living spaces, bars, cafes, restaurants and more. With that in mind, here’s a handful of Greater Manchester areas that are currently undergoing huge regeneration…
The space just behind the Northern Quarter and adjacent to the newly refurbished Ancoats neighbourhood sits a part of town that’s due to become a new hotspot for living, lifestyle and community. In early 2021, social impact developers Capital & Centric revealed plans to rejuvenate the area opposite the Mackie Mayor and create what they’re calling the Swan Street community in the New Cross district of the city centre. 118 new apartments are due to be built, with shared roof terraces for optimal outdoor space and spots dedicated to hosting new street art illustrations in keeping with the area’s colourful and artistic vibe. Retail spaces are also on their way, with new units available for local businesses and cafés to occupy. Throw in Band on the Wall’s £3.5m expansion project which is currently underway and the New Cross district is set to flourish in the coming months.
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Stockport started 2021 on the right foot, with chef Sam Buckley’s much-loved restaurant Where The Light Gets In awarded a Michelin green star – a brand new accolade devised to celebrate achievements in sustainability within the hospitality sector. Not long afterwards, we pulled together some of our favourite local retailers – including zine and publication experts Rare Mags, homeware store Still Life Story and the super indulgent Hillgate Bakery – to prove to you why the area is quickly becoming the new home of independent shopping. December saw Stockport welcome a brand new community arts space with the arrival of the Merseyside Workshop and to top it all off, details have also recently been revealed for a massive £60m renovation of the historic Weir Mill. Transforming this long-overlooked area, the new-look Mill will soon become a bustling community featuring delis, cafes, bars, gyms, living spaces, indoor and outdoor activity areas and spots for live music and street food and drink vendors. With so much on offer, Stockport’s future certainly looks bright.
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- Words:
- Simon Bland
- Published on:
- Tue 23 Feb 2021
Lockdown hasn’t stopped new indies from arriving in Sale. Back in September, we spoke to Abby Harman to discuss her new sustainable bike store, Folk Like You, which had parked up in the Greater Manchester town – and in early February, we brought you the news that popular pasta kitchen chain Sugo had its sights set on the area as the launchpad for their third restaurant. These two new openings join an already blossoming independent retail scene in Sale which also includes food hall Groceries and Beer from the brains behind Ancoats’ General Store and Stretford’s food hall, and coffee house, bakery and sandwich shop Grapefruit which opened its doors back in July 2019.