The regeneration of Wythenshawe town centre, which includes the transformation of the 1970s shopping centre and surrounding areas, has moved to its next stage of delivery.
The major project aims to develop a new public square, food hall, shops, net zero carbon commercial space, a new community and cultural space and more than 1750 new homes.
Earlier this year, the council was awarded £20m grant funding through the Levelling Up Fund programme. The council will now complement this with a further £11.9m of match funding to deliver the new culture and creative hub, food hall, co-working and enterprise employment space and investment in the civic’s public realm.
Further progress has now been made on the project after the council confirmed that Muse has been named as the project’s delivery and investment partner.
Culture hub
A professional team has already been appointed to design the new Culture Hub, including an operational business model to ensure the hub is financially and operationally sustainable along with being able to support local people on a long-term basis. Following an initial consultation in July this year, a feasibility study has now been approved and emerging plans will be subject to further public consultation.
Once the principles of the Culture Hub have been agreed, the Council will begin a process to appoint an operator to run and manage the hub. This will process will likely begin later this year.
Public realm
A landscape design team has been commissioned to map out opportunities to deliver a new public square, new connections, sustainable drainage and significant new green planting and play equipment.
The Council says it has already commenced procurement of a contractor to deliver the works, subject to public consultation on the final designs, and hopes to appoint the contractor to deliver the new public square later this summer.
Work is ongoing on the feasibility options to deliver the food hall and co-working and employment spaces.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We know this will be welcome news to the people of Wythenshawe as we stand at the dawn of a new era for their town centre.
“However, we also know that areas like Wythenshawe have seen higher rates of deprivation – and this extends to poorer health outcomes – but through strategic investment such as this, we can begin to create opportunities for these communities to share in the economic success of the city.
“This means the right housing – including council, social and genuinely affordable homes – new jobs, new shops and a neighbourhood that both meets their needs and a place they can be proud to spend time in. These are the building blocks for successful communities and this programme of regeneration will deliver for local people.”
The total investment cost is expected to exceed £500m with the initial development work commencing as early as 2025.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Tue 13 Aug 2024
