New images of Holt Town regeneration revealed as plans move forward

Manchester City Council’s executive will be asked to approve the ambitious plans to transform Holt Town into a ‘new woodland town in the city of Manchester’ at a committee meeting next week (Weds 22 Jan), following positive feedback from a public consultation last year.

Proposals would see the area of east Manchester, situated along the Medlock Valley between Ancoats and New Islington and the dynamic zones of Sportcity and the Etihad Campus, become a ‘new town within the city’, developing 74 acres of currently underused land.

The initial plans include delivering thousands of new homes, including ‘significant affordable housing’ as well as a new cultural offering, high-quality green and play space and a new commercial area.

Consultation with local people and businesses was undertaken between August and September 2024, including online options and in-person events – as well as workshops with local school pupils from St Anne’s RC primary to develop play space ideas for the community.

According to the council, the Holt Town transformation includes:

• A new low-carbon neighbourhood of around 4,500 homes across a range of building types, including low-rise town houses and some taller residential buildings.

• A mix of tenures and prices to support an inclusive community with at least 20% affordable homes – including social, Council and genuinely affordable housing

• A mixed-use area that will deliver 30,000 square feet of commercial space, including ground floor uses, live/workspace and smaller office floor space

• The creation of 15 acres of green space including enhancements to the river and canal settings, sustainable approaches to urban drainage and improvements to a new river park – known as a “confluence park”.

• Establishment of an urban layout that prioritises pedestrian and cycle movements, including the creation of public amenity spaces and a 1km pedestrian play link that connects St Annes School with Park View Community School in Miles Platting

• Social infrastructure such a neighbourhood services, including health and retail to support the needs of a growing population

• Leisure and cultural uses including a Cultural Hub and Lido

• Mobility Mill with centralised parking for the neighbourhood, wrapped with affordable workspace and ground floor neighbourhood services

• Creation of a digitally enabled neighbourhood that includes the integration of smart technical infrastructure to enable the delivery of local digital solutions and services

The Council says it is also exploring how digital technologies can be embedded into urban regeneration projects to modernise the way residents access public services – from traffic management, waste collection and neighbourhood management to health and social care.

Followingthe  adoption of the draft NDF the Council will now move to the delivery phase to create a green new town within the city of Manchester – representing one of the most exciting and ambitious programmes of investment in the region.

Work is already underway on a phasing plan for investment with a view to levering both public sector funding and private investment. A future paper will be submitted to the Council’s executive outlining the delivery approach.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:  “Holt Town has huge potential and this is feeding our ambition to create a brand new woodland town – the first of its kind in Manchester.

“We have an opportunity to deliver a transformative programme of investment and we expect this area to be Manchester’s next urban regeneration exemplar, creating a neighbourhood that meets the needs of our city and our people – with at least 4,500 new homes, including significant affordable housing options.

“This neighbourhood will represent a people-first focus around active travel, green spaces, new play spaces for young people – and a digital first approach that will better connect the community with local services.

“Following consultation, we are beginning to move to the early delivery phase for Holt Town – a new town within the city of Manchester – that will finally bridge the gap between the city centre, Sportcity and the Etihad Campus in east Manchester.”