Plans to create a suburban neighbourhood less than a mile from the city centre were back on the table today – keeping alive a massive regeneration vision.
The Holt Town Waterfront scheme would transform 95 acres between the City of Manchester Stadium and the city centre, including more than 4,300 new homes.
Developers Cibitas were today seeking to renew planning permission for the £1bn project, originally granted by town hall planners at the start of 2008, before the credit crunch hit.
It was the largest planning application to be approved in Manchester but, like many developments, was stalled by the global recession.
Plans for the waterside family neighbourhood – which would take 15 years to complete – include offices, shops, restaurants, pubs and a primary school.
Manchester’s planning committee was expected to approve the request to renew planning permission for the site at a meeting today.
Eddie Smith, of regeneration group New East Manchester, said: “This is still part of the long term plans for east Manchester. We’re working with Cibitas to bring forward proposals for a new planning application over the next 12 to 18 months.”
Holt Town takes in the Ashton Canal corridor and River Medlock and includes historic, listed mill buildings. Family homes will include a mix of houses, apartments and duplexes.
The development would complement huge investment in neighbouring Eastlands by Manchester City’s owners, Manchester council and regeneration company New East Manchester.
The committee was also expected to give the go-ahead to clean up land in Openshaw. The former Clayton Aniline factory site has been earmarked as the likely location for a new Manchester City training ground and community pitches.