Manchester makes ‘statement of intent’ in Wythenshawe
The city council has approved plans for a 30,000 sq ft culture hub, the first phase of the £500m regeneration of the district centre known as Civic.
To be developed within Wythenshawe’s former Co-op store, the scheme would feature 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.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “The Culture Hub planning approval is a really exciting milestone in the long-term regeneration of Civic.
“This is a statement of intent of how serious we are about investing in Wythenshawe’s town centre – and this is an early sign of what is to come. We want to build on the destination potential of Civic, create opportunities for local people and visitors to spend time in the area, and widen the offer for our residents to enjoy and participate in the arts right on their doorstep.
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.
White added that the regeneration of Wythenshawe, which is being delivered in partnership with Muse, forms part of a concerted push by the city council to focus on its district centres.
He said: “High streets are the soul of our communities and we are investing heavily in our town centres across the city, including Gorton and Moston, to celebrate how they bring people together, support businesses and help grow local economies.
“This is just the start for Wythenshawe and the conversation we are having with local people is ongoing to make sure we can be guided by the very people who live and work in this community. I’d urge as many people as possible to tell us what they think about the future of their area.”
To date, funding for Civic is made up of £20m from the government and £11.9m from the city council.
Construction on the Culture Hub is due to commence in autumn 2025 with the opening in early 2027. Architectural Emporium is leading on design, Kier Construction is lined up to carry out the work, and LSH is advising on planning.
Joe Stockton, senior development manager at Muse, said: “Getting the green light for the new Culture Hub is a major milestone in our once in a generation plans to work with local people to transform Wythenshawe town centre.
“The feedback that we’ve received so far for the hub has been really positive with many seeing it as a creative space where people and groups of all ages can spend time, learn new skills and explore culture in a positive way.”
Culture hub? No thanks, we just need some decent shops, pubs and restaurants like, you know, most other towns have. How difficult is this for Labour to understand, we know this is all about kowtowing to the new arrivals that are taking over Wythenshawe’s community at an alarming rate.
By Steve
No one wants it just to please the middle class that hv moved to Wythenshawe from chorlton and didsbury etc sine tram line arrived people need money spent on more afford housing for families not studio appartments
By Chloe Hemlin
Iv been in wythenshawe for 26 years and it’s such a mess it all needs pulling down and proper shops there for younger ones and older people iv heard this all before and it never happens
By Jane thomson
Really upset that they spend all this money on a culture centre but do nothing for people struggling in the area!!
By Gavin
Manchester council needs to clean up the civic and surrounding area it’s a disgrace. Civic needs total revamp . The bus station and foram would look better with a good clean .
By Anonymous
Steve – the council cannot open shops, pubs and restaurants that’s not their job. What the council can do is improve the conditions of an area that will attract businesses to open shops, pubs etc. Ways to do this includes building more housing to attract people who will buy stuff in shops or buy a pint in the local or go out for a day or night in the cultural hub and call in at a restaurant on the way home. Growing up in Wythenshawe in the 70s and 80s I saw plays, bands and performers at the forum theatre before it closed down, it was a great experience. Why should the current youth of Wythenshawe be denied similar experiences? The cultural hub and new homes are a positive initiative for Wythenshawe and should hopefully help improve all local facilities.
By Anonymous
Make good use of the furum centre, we need more shops. We also feel the loss of the bingo hall where you could socialise and have a coffee
By Sue
A culture centre. Absolute nonsense. Anyone who lives here knows what Wythenshawe needs and wittering middle class Labour councillors and developers will do there best to ensure that the real working class who’ve lived here for years won’t get a look in. No wonder everyone is jaded by their politics. Time for a radical change.
By Anonymous
Rubbish 2000 more homes. Shops dentists doctors schools traffic waste cannot even cope noe
By Jimmy
I really don’t think this is a good use of the money… Had anybody actually asked the people that live in wythenshawe what is needed…. As always people who don’t know the area making decisions..
By Anonymous
About time we were dragged into the 21st century. I’ve seen this and the other plans for Wythenshawe and I’m really excited hopefully I’ll be still around when its done. All these negative comments about the plans you’ve been moaning they’re doing nothing for years and now you moan when they do. Hopefully the footfall will encourage some decent retailers to come to Wythenshawe
By Pat
Not impressed at all.
Civic centre used to be nice back in the day.
Has been totally neglected over the years.
Empty land surrounding civic centre is appalling looks a total mess.Empty buildings.derelict bus station.
I have lived in Wythenshawe all my life and I am ashamed of how scruffy civic centre looks and the surrounding areas.
The forum had a great theatre don’t know why they closed it down.
By Anonymous
Not impressed
By Anonymous
I visited Civic Centre to shop at the market as I have done for forty years & cried when I realised it was gone. We deserve better than this, shops please for local people not a culture hub. We can’t eat culture!
By Janet Breeze
If you don’t like these plans stop voting labour
By Andrew Battersby
This sounds exciting… sad how the word “culture” can bring so much underlying racism. I’m glad I didn’t see “diversity”…Since the racial riots we have been living on edge and in fear… didn’t think Wythenshawe was part of those that didn’t like foreigners. I’m glad my neighbours are kind. What has this world turn into…
By Mimosa
Great news it really does need regenerating, a once thriving shopping area, many of the shops closed and the loss if the market and market hall. It will be good to see the area thriving again.
By Catherine Dodds
Andrew Batersby, which political party has a magic wand that will make shops and pubs reopen? The only way to turn the clock back is to stop people shopping online so they will use high street shops and stop supermarkets selling cheap beer so people will drink in pubs again. I’m not sure I’ve heard any political party advocating such policies.
By Anonymous
The ignorance of comments on here is hilarious. Since when have Council’s had the ability to open up shops, pubs etc? Some people clearly don’t understand how capitalism works. Likely the same people moaning about there being no shops and pubs whilst doing all their shopping on Amazon and drinking supermarket-bought booze at home because its cheaper!
By Anonymous