Major new plans including for affordable housing and another new city centre park – for one of Manchester city centre’s final ‘forgotten’ corners have been revealed
Bound by the ring road and Castlefield, Water Street is currently characterised by low-rise industrial warehousing and cleared sites acting as compounds for nearby development.
However the plans that will go before Manchester Council’s Executive Committee next week reveal thousands of new homes including at least 20% affordable homes as well as a new city centre park and mixed use developments that will include new shops and hospitality opportunities
The new urban park, which will follow the banks of the River Medlock, will be designed to be flexible, inclusive and climate resilient – potentially similar in size to Mayfield Park (6.5 acres) – with new building shielding the park from the inner ring road to create a calm and tranquil green
New pedestrian and walking routes will encourage active travel, while an elevated green route could be created to Deansgate-Castlefield tramstop via the Bridgewater Viaduct.
The plans will celebrate the industrial character and waterways, while taller building would frame the site’s edge, complementing adjacent development and the regeneration of St John’s and Great Jackson Street.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We have major ambitions for this area – one of the last corners of our city centre that remains underused.
“Right now, the area feels fragmented and disconnected. But we have a real opportunity to create a thriving new neighbourhood connecting into the historic Castlefield and linking into the vibrant new St Johns area, with another big new city centre park and other green spaces – an inclusive place with affordable homes.
“This demonstrates that we are both demanding and delivering more in the city centre, underlining our renewed ambition. We are attracting record levels of new jobs into the city, boosting our economic growth which is already outperforming the rest of the country and creating new opportunities for residents.
“But we’re also demanding more from our regeneration developments. Another brand new public park and more genuinely affordable homes are part of our ambition to make the city centre more attractive and more affordable. We’ve seen the impact Mayfield has already had in the city centre, and in the last year work has started on the first social housing in the city centre for 40 years – with some schemes delivering a majority of affordable homes.
“Water Street reflects that ambition – delivering new homes, including lots of affordable housing opportunities, green spaces and neighbourhoods that Mancunians can be proud of.”
