THING OF THE WEEK
GROUND… When Manchester United announced plans to redevelop Old Trafford and deliver a brand new 100,000-seater stadium in its place, many concluded that this was exactly what was required to pull the club out of its post-Sir Alex Ferguson slump. However, after last weekend’s impressive victory over noisy neighbours Manchester City, some of the same people who welcomed news of a New Trafford seemed to be coming round to the idea that keeping the current ground might be a better option.
The atmosphere that accompanied Saturday’s derby day triumph was a throwback to the glory days; could that be recreated in a new stadium? West Ham and Spurs fans would probably say no. Whatever ultimately happens, United fans can enjoy their imperfect fortress for a little while longer as movement on the new stadium appears to have hit the buffers.
Plus Dane environmental manager Joe Feeley and organisational capability co-ordinator Nikki Trebicki taking part in Brew Monday at the organisation’s depot in Toxteth. Credit: Plus Dane
BREW MONDAY… This Monday was allegedly the saddest day of the year. Whether there is any scientific basis to Blue Monday is up for debate but it is comforting to get the worst day of the year out of the way so early on. To combat feelings of misery this year, some businesses turned Blue Monday into Brew Monday, providing staff with their favourite hot drink to cheer them up as part of a national campaign run by Samaritans. One, Plus Dane Housing Association, had a mobile coffee van visit its sites in Congleton, Toxteth, and Liverpool to provide a hug in a mug for some of its staff.
Jas Samra, director of People at Plus Dane, said: “Feedback from the Brew Monday event is always brilliant, and colleagues tell us how much they appreciate being able to have that break and a conversation. It is vitally important these days that as an employer we are able to offer colleagues wellbeing support in ways that are meaningful and useful to them, and we’re really pleased to have had such success with our coffee van events.” Cheers to that.
Pupils from Mytham Primary School admire their handywork. Credit: via Rumpus PR
SIGN OF THE TIMES… Children at a school in Little Lever were welcomed to Watson Homes’ Creams Mill development site recently to see streets they chose the names for get their signs. Watson has been engaging with Mytham Primary School since the scheme started on site in 2023. The pupils were tasked with coming up with names for some of the streets that make up the 212-home development.
The street names have been revealed as Woodpecker Road, Deer Lane, Owl Lane, Dragonfly Court, Middle Bents Lane, and Bally Close. The chosen names suggest more than a little adult influence. If the pupils had been left to their own devices, future residents may have found themselves living on Skibidi Toilet Avenue. If that means nothing to you, speak to the parent of a primary school-aged child for an explanation.
Credit: via planning documents
GOING UNDERGROUND… Cheshire East Council’s northern planning panel has approved plans for an underground house in Macclesfield. The applicants, the fox from Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo and JRR Tolkien’s Hobbit, were praised for the project’s innovative design, which sees much of the solar-powered scheme ensconced beneath the earth.
There is something mildly dystopian about the project, but the committee loved it, which means it goes to the council’s strategic planning board with a recommendation to approve. This should serve as a lesson to others seeking consent in the Cheshire countryside; in order to ensure success, the houses must be as close to invisible as possible.
Credit: PNW
REED… Those hoping that Westminster politicians are warming to the idea of the North as a concept may have been discouraged to hear housing secretary Steve Reed stumble over the name of Manchester’s emerging new town, Victoria North, this week.
“Manchester Victoria, is that what it’s called? North Victoria?” he said at a House of Lords Built Environment Select Committee session. Is it really asking too much for Reed to remember the names of the 12 potential locations shortlisted on his department’s flagship initiative?
