One Manchester unveils £70m vision for Grey Mare Lane Estate
The housing provider has produced a masterplan for the redevelopment of the Beswick neighbourhood, proposing the demolition of out-of-date housing stock and the creation of 290 new houses and apartments.
Working with consultancies Buttress, Barton Willmore and Planit-IE, One Manchester also wants to retrofit 150 existing properties on the Grey Mare Lane Estate, located off Ashton New Road close to the Etihad Stadium, as well as creating a new community centre and high street.
All existing tenants in the demolition area have been guaranteed a new home at their current rent, according to a report to the city council.
A “holistic, sustainable, and durable” solution to the public realm is to be implemented as part of the revamp, taking into account high levels of footfall through the estate when Manchester City play at home.
The masterplan is aimed at guiding the £70m redevelopment of the estate and Manchester City Council’s executive is asked to approve the proposals when it meets next week.
The project is targeted to complete by 2028. Credit: via planning documents
While One Manchester owns the housing stock at Grey Mare Lane, the company is in talks with the council to acquire four authority-owned plots to progress the public realm improvements and deliver the community facilities.
The report states that, if the council does not make the land available to the housing provider, “the regeneration outcomes will not be delivered”.
Subject to the approval of the masterplan, a detailed planning application for the project will be submitted in late 2022. The first phase of construction would then begin in 2023.
The project is targeted to complete by 2028.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “East Manchester has seen some incredible development in the last two decades, which has really transformed this part of the city from a largely disused, former industrial neighbourhood into a globally recognised sport and leisure destination.
“The Grey Mare Lane estate has stood in the shadow of this development and although there has been key investment in the community in recent years, including a new secondary school, library and leisure centre, this programme of development will be the first in some decades.
“Our focus here will be to increase access to social and affordable homes for local people, employing a host of low carbon technologies to ensure the homes are as sustainable as possible – and low cost for residents – alongside a wealth of other neighbourhood improvemen
“We know this is a long time coming for some residents and we hope these proposals will be welcomed by the community.”
The Grey Mare Lane Estate was originally built by the city council 50 years ago as part of a programme undertaken to replace poor quality terraced housing.
Plans to redevelop the estate for a second time were first mooted in 2017. That year, a December meeting of executive committee agreed that the city council should work with One Manchester to identify how the estate could be improved.
In 2003, the city council transferred ownership of much of its social housing stock to Eastland Homes. Eastland Homes then merged with City South in 2015 to form One Manchester.
Great to see Buttress in supporting a wide range of social housing, gives you confidence its going to be quality.
By Rich X
Looks idyllic. But I hope that’s not just paint to denote cycle lanes. LTN 1/20 should help to correct that.
By Active Travel Trev
What is it about UK architects that they can’t think beyond brick boxes? Or are their modern designs rejected by council planning committees stuck in the past?
By Phil Turtle
I still miss the old grey mare lane market. My dad use to give my £1 to buy a toy there when I was a good boy.
By Umar Ashraf
What could be better – a great house and a great football team around the corner!!!!!!!!!!!
By Fat Larry's Band
Over development, and where’s the parking?
By Ged
The problem in the UK is that everything is driven by cost, so the marketing people and accountants ultimately have the final say and go for the tried and trusted safe option each time rather than anything innovative.
By MD