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Masterplan to take Manchester into the future
Blueprint to join 'first rank' of world cities - ahead of Milan and Munich
80,000 new residents, 60,000 new homes
Skyscrapers and pedestrianised zones in revamped city centre Jobs bonanza at Eastlands and airport
Your 'neighbourhood for life'
Manchester will be elevated to the top flight of world cities under a masterplan that will shape the city over the next 15 years. Town hall chiefs have published a blueprint for the way they want the city to look by 2027 – including 60,000 more homes and more than 80,000 new residents. Manchester wants to race ahead of similar-sized rival cities such as Milan, Munich, Copenhagen and Helsinki and feature in the ‘front rank’ of destinations in Europe and the world. The ambitious plan forecasts a city of entrepreneurs surrounded by old-fashioned neighbourhoods where people can grow up and grow old near their families. At the heart will be a more pedestrianised city centre, home to more of the world’s leading businesses, high-quality hotels, efficient transport links and 16,500 new homes. New skyscrapers would be encouraged to re-shape the city’s skyline. Deprived inner-city areas and suburbs will be rejuvinated with new shops and facilities to create community ‘hubs’. The aim is to create neighbourhoods where residents have a wide choice of homes – and where everyone in Manchester is within 10 minutes’ walk of a park, and 15 minutes of outdoor sports facilities. Twenty per cent of the new homes would be ‘affordable’. All new housing will be zero carbon by 2016 and all new buildings by 2019. Eastlands – including the failed supercasino site – and Manchester Airport are placed at the heart of delivering new jobs for local people. The masterplan combines council strategies on housing, carbon, transport and the city centre into one document designed to shape the way the city will be developed. Manchester’s population is expected to swell by 80,000. Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “The country is still suffering the effects of recession and we have numerous economic problems across Europe but none of that is preventing Manchester pursuing positive, forward-looking agendas. “We are still bringing new investment and his gives us a plan around which we can continue this.” The city centre Cutting the amount of traffic that goes through Manchester city centre will be key to creating a friendlier place to visit. Pedestrianised and 'pedestrian-friendly' zones could be brought in on parts of Portland Street, Oxford Road and Piccadilly North – are well as around the Arndale Centre and Exchange Square. The council wants to give walkers priority as part of its efforts to make the city more appealing to visitors and families City-centre skycrapers will get the backing of planners where they can contribute to a 'unique, attractive and distinctive' Manchester. Ancoats and Birley Fields in Hulme have been earmarked as areas for new business and development. So have Mayfield, Spinningfields, the city's civic core and the Oxford Road Corridor - where businesses can tap into the city's universities and 'knowledge base' to feed the local economy. Castlefield, Piccadilly, the city's southern gateway and the Northern Quarter are preferred for new homes. Housing and Neighbourhoods The Manchester of 2027 will see a return to old-fashioned neighbourhoods where people live all their lives. At the heart of the plans will be thriving district centres with local conveniences, shops and services. Council chiefs plan to rejuvinate areas like Baguley and create local centres Merseybank, in Chorlton, Moston Lane and Collyhurst into new local centres. Sir Richard said: “We'd like neighbourhoods where people can have a family, their children can grow up and find somewhere to live and as they retire and want to downsize they can do that too. “Housing has been about increasing the choice that's available in the city around houses so outside the city centre, its about creating a lot more family housing but also a choice of sizes, tenures and types. “We want more stable communities and we don't want people to be forced to move because there isn't the kind of housing they need in those areas.” Eighty new pitches would also be allocated for travellers and travelling showpeople. Transport An efficient and sustainable public transport system is seen as key to driving the city's economy and connecting people to jobs. Every job would be accessible by public transport, foot or bike, under the blueprint. It commits to pushing forward with the expansion of the Metrolink to Trafford Park, Stockport and Marple – as well as introducing a cross-city bus package. The next 15 years will see a move away from cars and towards greener methods of transport including walking and cycling. There will be a strong emphasis on reducing congestion and improving the reliability and accessibility of public transport. Keys to growth Eastlands and Manchester Airport are identified as vital in creating new jobs for local people. Plans to build the country's first super casino in east Manchester collapsed in 2008. But city chiefs have never lost their ambition to turn the site - beside the Etihad Stadium - into a major international visitor attraction. The masterplan retains the commitment to build a leisure and entertainment venue of 'national significance' there. What that is remains to be decided – although the preference is to build on the passion for sport that Manchester City has brought to the area. The expansion of Manchester Airport and Airport City – the business enterprise zone at Ringway – are also expected to be major job generators. Some 55 million passengers-a-year are expected to pass through the airport by 2040 as it expands at a rapid rate. Areas to the north of the city centre, including Strangeways and Collyhurst, and Central Park in east Manchester are among other destinations seen as ripe for new office and business space. Going green The council will aim to slash carbon emissions as it contributes to an environmentally-friendly future. Government targets require a national reduction in CO2 emissions of 34 per cent by 2020. Manchester has been unashamed in its ambition to become 'Britain's greenest city' and has put environmental concerns at the heart of its economic and structural development. New developments will be required to meet or exceed government targets. And Manchester will invest heavily in new green energies in the next decade and a half. The city will also aim to build its 'green network' of river valleys, canals, parks and open spaces as part of efforts to off-set the effect of climate change, including a heightened flood risk.
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Manchester City News 24/7
Masterplan to take Manchester into the future
