New plans in for Great Jackson Street

Manchester City Council's executive is being asked to approve a revised development framework for the Great Jackson Street area on Wednesday 18 March, with a focus on delivering a residential and public realm-led scheme south of the city.

The 20-acre site is mainly made up of car parks, bounded by Chester Road, the River Medlock and the Mancunian Way. The development framework earmarks the plot as a potential residential district, with a mix of houses, including apartments and two- and three-storey townhouses, suitable for the private rented sector or market sale.

An earlier development framework approved in 2007 proposed a 3.5m sq ft commercial and residential scheme designed by SimpsonHaugh & Partners, aimed at large floor-plate office occupiers. However no construction began due to the impact of the recession.

According to a report to the council's executive, plans for Great Jackson Street had to be re-evaluated after activity at sites such as St Peter's Square, Noma, St John's and First Street started to satisfy market demand for commercial accommodation.

Instead, the site is "well-placed to meet pressing requirement for new homes, with the overall aim would be to create a high quality residential neighbourhood with high value homes that would support the growth of the economy".

The land is owned by a number of private sector partners, while the council retains the freehold interest. Because of this, the framework will "enable the development to come forward on individual sites, as 'standalone' schemes without the need for owners to develop formal partnerships".

The development framework is to act as a guideline for future development, with no architectural style or unit quantity detailed as yet. However, large public realm areas have been allocated at Owen Street and Crown Street.

The executive is recommended to endorse the development framework on Wednesday, with a consultation to be launched to local residents and businesses over the summer months.