Manchester Salford

Pathfinder: Manchester Salford

Introduction

The Manchester Salford pathfinder area includes Harpurhey and Cheetham, the Lower East Corridor and Moss Side in Manchester. In Salford, the pathfinder area extends to Seedley/Langworthy, Higher Broughton, Lower Broughton and North Irwell.

Both Manchester and Salford have witnessed significant population decline during the last fifty years or so, largely as a result of de-industrialisation and new investment and employment growth elsewhere in the North West. This decline has undermined the sustainability of key social amenities and local services.

The pathfinder aims to catalyse the housing markets in its key intervention areas and is geared towards delivering:

high quality mixed tenure neighbourhoods to meet the needs of existing and future residents
strategic site acquisitions and land assembly for new developments and clearance of derelict/uninhabitable housing
targeted improvements to retained stock whilst collaborating with the private sector e.g. Urban Splash, Taylor Woodrow, Lovell etc and RSLs
unique offerings to support home ownership.

Case studies

1. Beswick - East Central Manchester

Bryan and Linda Keane, aged 60 and 63, have lived in Beswick for over 40 years. During the regeneration of the area they were offered a relocation package, as their end-terrace house was purchased as part of the renewal process. They moved to a new home built by Lovell in January 2006.

Mr and Mrs Keane said:

"Four years ago this area was very different. But in the past few years it has definitely improved. We got an excellent deal - we were given a lump sum for our old house, and then an interest free loan to help buy the new place. We are absolutely delighted with it."

When Andy Entwhistle, 26, from Blackburn, heard about the Lovell development, he thought it was the ideal place to buy and move to.

"The housing design looked really modern and unique, as soon as I saw them I knew that I wanted to buy one",

"My new house is great. It's so close to town that I get all the advantages of living in the city centre. But I get off street parking and don't have to cope with the hustle and bustle of city living."

2. Broughton Green - Central Salford

Over the next seven years, around 700 new homes will be built at Broughton Green, ranging from one bedroom apartments to seven bedroom houses. The focal point of the development is a central public open space to encourage a sense of community. It also includes new sporting facilities, a community recreation centre and shops.

Phase one of the development started on site following acquisition and clearance of a number of obsolete pre-1919 terraced houses.

Duncan Sutherland of Inpartnership, part of the Higher Broughton Partnership, said:

"The master-plan covers 30 acres, and, over seven years, the partnership will inject £120m into Higher Broughton. This is a well-established suburb crying out for new homes for a growing population as well as for those wanting to relocate here. We've spent a year analysing the requirements of local people and designing ground-breaking homes to meet wide-ranging needs."