A report scheduled to go to Manchester City Council’s executive committee on Wednesday 24 July has set out the key principles for the long-term regeneration of Collyhurst in north Manchester.

Local people are at the heart of the process with local community engagement a key tenet of the proposals for the transformation of the neighbourhood over the next decade.

The Future of Collyhurst

The Council began initial engagement work with local people in summer 2023 to discuss the ambition for future investment in the community following the first phase of building.

This ongoing conversation – including a recent drop-in co-design workshop and consultation event in March this year – will help guide a masterplanning exercise which intends to make Collyhurst a great place to live for existing and new residents.

This includes building more affordable, sustainable homes and creating different types of housing to support residents at different life stages.

The the neighbourhood investment aims to include quality green spaces, along with improved walking and cycling routes that take better advantage of the area’s close proximity to the city centre while also improving connections to other local neighbourhoods.

Future education provision is also being considered close to existing schools near Ringstead Drive to ensure there are enough, good quality services to meet Primary and Secondary school requirements in this part of the city.

More details will be shared with the local community as community engagement is undertaken over the next few months, informing the production of a masterplan that will be subject to public consultation prior to any development taking place.

And there is potential for key investment in a new Metrolink tram stop at Sandhills that could further improve transport links in the area and create a focal point for a new town centre investment opportunity.

Collyhurst Village Aerial Spring 24 Image: Manchester Cirt Council

The future regeneration of Collyhurst is underpinned by the following key principles:

Putting the community at the heart of developing proposals for their neighbourhood – the Council and FEC will have meaningful and extensive conversations with local people at every stage to develop the Collyhurst Master Plan and future development.

Retaining the existing Community – development proposals will take the needs of existing residents into account and provide opportunities for all those who wish to stay in Collyhurst and benefit from the regeneration to do so.

A clear phasing plan for regeneration – the Council and FEC will set out a clear plan to Collyhurst residents of when proposals will be brought forward, and when it is likely that phases of development will take place.

The Replacement of existing Council homes- any existing Council homes that are demolished, will be replaced to enable existing residents to remain in Collyhurst in a home suitable to their housing needs and as a Council tenant.

A Single Move for any rehousing - if existing residents need to move home to allow re-development, this will be done through a single move to a home suitable for their needs.

Supporting homeowners to stay in owner occupation - support will be provided through the City Council’s Home Improvement and Relocation Assistance Policy to help owner occupiers affected by re-development to stay in owner-occupation and move to appropriate and suitable homes.

More affordable homes for Collyhurst – we will increase the number of affordable homes in Collyhurst, with a mix of homes such as Council homes, affordable rent and affordable sale options.

A growing and sustainable neighbourhood for existing and future residents – a mix of homes of different type, size and tenures is essential to provide housing choice for future generations and to ensure that local services, shops, schools, and community facilities can be sustained.

Latest at phase one - Collyhurst Village and South Collyhurst

The first phase of the Victoria North programme in Collyhurst Village will see 244 new homes, including 100 Council homes for social rent, alongside new public realm and community park, retail and community space. In South Collyhurst there will be a further 30 new Council social rented homes, which are also on site now.

At Collyhurst Village, the first social rent properties are currently being built and they are expected to be completed by the autumn, ready to welcome the first residents.

The first phase of the regeneration of Collyhurst is expected to be fully completed in 2026.

Victoria North

The Collyhurst Village and South Collyhurst sites represent part of the first phase of the Victoria North regeneration programme – one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK and a joint venture project with FEC.

Over the next 10 to 15 years, Victoria North will become a new town with the city where 15,000 new homes will be across 155hectares of brownfield land between Victoria train station and Queen’s Park in north Manchester.

Seven new and emerging neighourhoods will be connected by high quality green spaces and the River Irk will be opened up and celebrated for the first time in decades.

Victoria North is an ambitious example of urban renewal, capable of building new homes at scale to help deliver the homes that Manchester and the wider region needs – and will be fundamental to the Council’s economic and residential growth strategies.

The regeneration programme also provides a unique opportunity to reconnect communities in north Manchester economically through employment and skills initiative that have already begun, as part of the North Manchester Social Value Framework.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:

“It was important that we used the energy and momentum of the Victoria North programme to invest early in the Collyhurst community as a clear statement of intent for future regeneration in this neighbourhood.

“We know there are higher levels of deprivation in north Manchester than other parts of the city, and although some great work is taking place – both in terms home building and social investment in work and skills – there is still work to be done to help these communities thrive.

“The first phase sites are progressing well and we look forward to welcoming the first new residents later this year, but this is only the start of our intentions. We have been in conversation with the local community since last summer, a process that has been invaluable in understanding their needs and they have guided the principles for development in the area.

“This conversation will continue in the coming months ahead of a full public consultation later this year when we will be able to present more detailed proposals for the future of Collyhurst.”

Victoria Hunter, Project Director at FEC, commented:

“Successful regeneration starts and ends with community engagement, to ensure that all people feel comfortable and able to interact with and benefit from new amenities and services. Our consultation has allowed us to best understand how we can enable this inclusive growth, and these key principles are shaped by this aim.

“With the first phase of the development well underway, we will continue to work closely with our partners at the Council and local residents to ensure we are taking on board evolving feedback to help shape our work on this phase and those yet to come.”