Etihad Campus expansion set for council sign off
Manchester City Council is due to give its final approval to the Eastlands Regeneration Framework tomorrow, paving the way for a sports and innovation zone, alongside fresh commercial and residential development near the Etihad Stadium.
The council’s economy scrutiny committee is recommended to sign off the proposals when it meets tomorrow, after the plans were approved by Manchester’s Executive on 13 December.
The proposals include an expansion of the Etihad Campus site westwards, which will now border Ashton New Road and the Medlock River. This expansion will accommodate Manchester Metropolitan University’s plans for an Institute of Sport adjacent to the Etihad Stadium.
The planned campus includes academic facilities, student accommodation, and workspace for start-ups. Discussions with local business over land assembly are already under way, with the council also potentially looking at compulsory purchase orders to acquire the land necessary for the expansion of Etihad Campus. Any CPOs will be brought before the Executive for approval once agreed.
Around the Etihad Stadium, there are also plans for a “high-density commercial frontage” along Alan Turing Way and a mixed-use development including hotels, retail, food and beverage outlets.
At Holt Town, earmarked for residential use and employment space, existing heritage buildings will be retained “wherever possible” to redevelop the area into a “high-density” residential area, alongside a cultural and entertainment cluster.
More homes are also planned for Beswick, and along Croft Street and Eccleshall Street at the north of the site, as part of the regeneration framework, which has been prepared by consultant Deloitte.
Proposals for the sport and innovation campus will be developed by the Eastlands Strategic Development Company. Former council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein rejoined the company’s board in November, and is now advising on development, community, and commercial initiatives at the site and its surrounding areas.
They need to just bite the billet and issue a CPO for the land at Holt Town and surrounds. Ownership is fragmented, precious little development has taken place throughout two whole development cycles, the regeneration need and opportunity is vast and a similar area in Central Salford, that did benefit from such a CPO, is now steaming ahead.
Time for a more interventionist approach from MCC rather than putting their faith in investors who are sitting on land, hoping to realise unrealistic prices on the back of MCFC’s activities or speculators buying up ransom strips.
By Landed
Absolutely agree with you here landed. The walk up to the Etihad from Gt Ancoats Street quickly drops off from a downtown vibe to inner city decay. There’s so much land to go at here and some interesting affordable stock could be taken forward to complement the higher value stock not far away. Alas the land owners are waiting for their pay day but the CPO process would hopefully resolve all of that.
The Etihad Campus is world class really and it is a shame that it suffers from a poor route between it and the city centre.
By NC
Holt Town is the natural extention of Ancoats and New Islington,so it could be Manchester’s Camden.
By Elephant