Consultation starts on 4,500-home Holt Town
With a potential for a “new town” in East Manchester, Manchester City Council is seeking public opinions on its vision for the 74-acre brownfield site sandwiched between the city centre and Etihad Campus.
Studio Egret West led the team that crafted the Holt Town Neighbourhood Development Framework. A consultation on the proposals, which include 15 acres of green space and 322,900 sq ft of commercial, will run until 29 September. You can access the consultation at holttownwoodtown.com.
The NDF considers Holt Town as “Wood Town”, playing up its ambitions to bolster the area’s green credentials through increasing the amount of green space and installing active travel routes. There is also a one-kilometre play link in the works for children to enjoy. The consultation website states that the NDF wants to “regrow the community like a woodland”.
The 4,500 new homes outlined in the NDF would be a mix of tenures and styles, ranging from low-rise houses to converted mills to taller buildings. Affordable housing will be included, according to the city council.
A single landmark building of up to 35 storeys is proposed as the tallest structure at Holt Town.
Regarding the commercial space, the consultation advises envisioning four eight-storey buildings and up to 50 new shops, bars, and restaurants in the area. The city council said its plans would support 1,500 new jobs.
While walking and cycling routes would be prioritised in Holt Town, the proposals do not advocate for the death of the car. Instead, parking will be shifted from the street to a mobility hub.
Manchester City Council estimates that the construction of Holt Town will generate a £230m boost to the Greater Manchester economy, with the new community generating an annual GVA boost of £100m once it is up and running.
“We have big ambitions for Holt Town,” said Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development.
“It’s not an exaggeration when we say we are creating a new town in our city, transforming an underused part of our city centre to create a new community, thousands of new homes, new commercial space, and new jobs – all within a sustainable, green and safe neighbourhood.”
White continued: “As ever, we need the insight from local people to feed into our long-term vision. Feedback from local people is really important as it helps guide our investment in neighbourhoods, with perspective from the people who know the area well.”
The consultation will go on to inform the next version of the NDF, which is set to be published in early 2025.
The project team for Holt Town, in addition to Studio Egret West, includes planner Deloitte, digital engagement specialist Deetu, social value expert Hatch, transport engineer Hilson Moran, digital placemaking consultant MVRDV, and economic analyst Turley.
Absolutely logical to build this here, but we really really need better public transport, increasing ALL trams to doubles and maybe increasing frequency on this stretch between Etihad Campus and Piccadilly, maybe by extending the Bury line which shouldn’t be terminating at Piccadilly anyway.
They should also turn the currently defunct railway line which also passes this area into a metro loop, or at very worst, Metrolink
By EOD
Just please don’t get rid of the mills that support the arts and the local music scene. There’s already no where else for them to go
By Anonymous
Fantastic stuff, tho not sure 35 stories is required, I like the density shown in the images
By Dan
Massive potential in this area. Connected to the city with great green spaces – Phillips Park, New Islington Marina and the Ashton/Rochdale canals. Could be one of the most liveable parts of the inner city if done well.
By Opportunity
Holt Town, Wood Town, New Town. The only surprise is it’s not a Garden City. Urban Village is so last century now.
By Anonymous
I love it, I hope they reopen the railway near the Etihad. It could create a circle line around the central parts of the city area and help reduce traffic to the stadium and the new arena as well as serving this new community!
By Anonymous
@3:07 Not sure what you have in mind or consider more contemporary proposal than this ?
By Anonymous
Great plans , always amazed at just what Manchester is able to deliver.. incredible.
By Tom
Silly, on radio 4 today was a programme about what a disaster flats have been, and here’s Manchester trying to build more, they need to build houses for people to buy
By Anonymous
Great proposal but I have to agree with the other contributors, the transport system to the Etihad and the Co-op live is shockingly poor.
By Anonymous
@August 19, 2024 at 7:31 pm
By Anonymous
I understand this programme on Radio 4 was about Grenfall.
Most of the Holt Town proposals are clearly houses and some low rise apartments, the kind of humane urbanism that we need more of. It would be good if many of these homes were buy-to-own though.
By Anonymous
I would have thought to build 4,500 homes on an area of that size you would require quite a few tall buildings.
By Peter Chapman
Can we get away from this east Manchester tag. It’s city centre. Everything is so parochial around Great Manchester.
By Peter Chapman
I agree with Dan. A Tower there spoils the villagey look.
By Elephant
As others have said on this thread the public transport system is extremely poor.
Levelling up is just lip service. Take a trip to London and the South East if you want to see how public transport should be run.
It’s embarrassing to know people from around the world are visiting world class venues I. e the Etihad stadium and Co- op arena on a third rate transportation system.
By Peter Chapman