The has proved unpopular among some residents. Credit: via planning documents

Manchester tries again with Hough End revamp

Following criticism of its initial plans, the city council reconsulted on the Princess Road playing fields redevelopment in November, with refreshed plans now submitted.

The project’s main element as originally proposed in April remains: the addition of a two-storey extension to Hough End Leisure Centre to include sports field changing facilities, a café, flexible social rooms and gym space, replacing the currently-closed changing pavilion building.

Elsewhere, the scheme has been reduced. The 67-space car park plan remains, but the addition of a 100 further overspill places has been reduced to 60 – with some reconfiguration, the overall parking provision on site would climb from 198 to 325.

The size of the two floodlit 3G sports pitches has been reduced, and a baseball-softball area towards Mauldeth Road West has been removed from the plans.

Ellis Williams Architects and ISG are working with the council on the scheme.

The project team also includes Curtins, Waterman, Ridge, Bureau Veritas and Indigo Surveys.

Changes to the proposals follow a strong Save Hough End Fields campaign from Manchester Friends of the Earth. Between the April submission and July, the campaign garnered 2,500 signatures in a petition opposing the fencing off of space, leading MCC to announce a rethink.

The second iteration was then revealed in the opening of a consultation process in November.

The leisure centre has been open at the eastern edge of Hough End since 2015, and is operated for MCC by partner Greenwich Leisure Services.

Your Comments

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The loss of the Baseball fields is sad, why let nimbyism destroy our children’s futures? Everywhere else in the world they allow children to partake in sports, sad country this.

By Dan

I agree with Dan, nimbysim should not be allowed to prevent the construction of much needed sports facilities.

By Monty

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