£500m Wythenshawe regeneration gathers pace as culture plans lodged

Manchester City Council and development partner Muse have submitted proposals for a 30,000 sq ft Culture Hub, one part of plans to transform the town centre, which are now being consulted on.

The £500m regeneration of Wythenshawe, dubbed Civic, has taken a step forward today with the submission of proposals for a space aimed at boosting the art and creative sectors within the vacant Co-op store.

The Culture Hub will include space for food and drink on the ground floor. The first floor will be home to a mix of flexible community and studio spaces that could host workshops, exhibitions, classes, and community events.

The second floor would feature a performance space for 200 people complete with rehearsal rooms, studios, and changing rooms.

If the plans are approved, construction will start in summer 2025 with the hub opening in late 2026.

The culture hub is one part of the wider long-term regeneration plan for Wythenshawe Civic following the city council’s acquisition of the asset from St Modwen in 2022. The authority is now seeking feedback on the masterplan as a whole.

• View the consultation

Over the next 10-15 years, Civic will include 2,000 homes – to be delivered after the redevelopment of the shopping centre – a 2.5-acre public park, and the conversion of around 130,000 sq ft of vacant shops into employment space.

2,000 homes feature in later stages of the plan. Credit: via Font Comms

The city council has received £20m for the project from the Levelling Up Fund and another £11.9m from itself. Muse was selected as the development partner for the project last year.

Joe Stockton, senior development manager at Muse, said: “Our plans will grow Wythenshawe with the community and for the community, with activity starting to happen very soon. The regeneration will have Civic at its beating heart, with plans for a bigger public square, Culture Hub, food hall and workspaces all starting this year.

“This is one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects which could see over £500m invested in the town, providing opportunities for local people, a mix of affordable homes that keep families together and new spaces for people to meet and socialise. We want local people to help shape the future of the town, so we’ll be out in the community over the coming months to find out what matters to them.”

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: “For decades, Civic has been at the heart of Wythenshawe – and our vision will make sure it remains so for decades to come. But this isn’t just about new shops. This is a £500m transformational project that will create a destination in the community, new jobs, new housing – including lots of Council, social and genuinely affordable homes – cultural space and food hall that will keep local people and visitors coming back.

“We believe our high streets are the arteries that keep our communities alive, which is why we have committed to investing in our local high streets across the city. And at the core of our communities are the people who give them life. So as we continue to discover what Civic and the wider town centre needs in the coming years, we will need to keep the conversation going with local people, because it’s the feedback from the people who use Civic every day that will make sure we invest in what the community needs in the years to come.”

Architectural Emporium is leading on design, Kier Construction is lined up to carry out the work, and LSH is advising on planning.