Three housing frameworks for Chorlton
Proposals to bring 300 new homes to Chorlton on three separate sites – the old leisure centre, Ryebank Park playing fields and shopping precinct – will be discussed by Manchester City Council’s executive on Wednesday.
The executive will be asked to back development frameworks for the three sites, according to a paper put to them by Eddie Smith, strategic director for development.
Chorlton Leisure Centre
- Currently a vacant site, owned by Manchester City Council
- Located next to Unicorn vegan supermarket and opposite popular bars including The Font and Mary & Archie
- Listed as Asset of Community Value in May 2015 under the Localism Act 2011. Community Interest Company behind listing has until today to register intention to submit a bid to buy the site, which would trigger six-month exclusivity period
- Centre closed in June 2015 following completion of Hough End Leisure Centre fronting Princess Parkway outside Chorlton
- Council plans to dispose of site to developer to build 40 new homes
Proposed new street from Wilbraham Road to rear of shopping precinct
Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre, also known as Chorlton Precinct
- Tired 1970s centre owned by Greater Manchester Pension Fund since April 2014 when it was acquired for £10.1m from Development Securities, now called U+I. Altrincham-based developer Citybranch, along with the council and Ask Developments, aborted redevelopment plans in the 2009 recession and sold the site to Development Securities in 2011
- Framework by 5plus Architects and agent GVA aims to activate the frontage onto Manchester Road and create a new residential street with townhouses through the site from Wilbraham Road
- Car parking would be in a covered two-storey podium wrapped in shops and apartments
- Mixed-use scheme retaining retail and adding 190 homes
Ryebank Road playing fields
- Open space owned by Manchester Metropolitan University, neighbouring Longford Park
- Disposal part of 10-year strategy to consolidate university’s estate
- Potentially reignites long-running battle with residents trying to prevent sale of Ryebank Road playing fields. In 2010, a planning inspector rejected a bid to list the site as a protected village green
- Draft framework by 5plus Architects and Cushman & Wakefield would see 70 “high quality executive homes” in a range of detached, semi-detached with sizeable gardens and parking
Eddie Smith said in his concluding remarks in the paper due to be discussed tomorrow: “Chorlton continues to be one of the city’s most popular neighbourhoods with very few opportunities to secure significant new investment into it. The proposals to bring forward new residential development on the sites…have the potential to broaden and deepen the housing offer in Chorlton with significant opportunities to develop affordable, mid-market and executive type homes for families, couples and single people.”
Ryebank site will be very interesting to watch unfold in particular. Concerted community campaign against in the past coupled with its location on the Trafford border, means all traffic would probably have to use the Manchester side. This would be a challenge for various reasons. I imagine it would reignite campaigning. In fact, I’d suggest kindling is being collected as we speak.
By Tim Hatt
The leisure centre should be transformed into something with some community value e.g. market/food hall similar to Altrincham.
Agree that something does need to be done with the precinct. Some excellent shops in there but from the street it looks like a dump.
By Matt
All good on both except the Rybank site.The Precinct is drab in the extreme and the retailers would be better i imagine if relocated to a more open street. The fields which form part of Longford Park will cause a lot of congestion and also start to eat away at one of the only decent parks in the area.
By Mike D
All hell is going to break loose with the Ryebank site. Agree with the comment below, they should do something community and different with the precinct. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the beautiful location of Altrincham market – nor the visionaries to make it happen and take the risk. It will end up something like Urmston I imagine. In fairness it could be a lot worse..
By Zounds
Traffic congestion on Longford Rd will be the issue here. There are 2 primary schools on Longford Rd and at 8.45 and 3.15, it is very challenging. Add in 70 executive homes and it will be a total nightmare. It looks like you can’t access the site from the Trafford side so all this traffic will be funnelled either along Ryebank or Longford. It won’t work.
By Sue
Describing beautiful community used meadows as simply “vacant space” is fooling no one.
By James
My Family have lived on Longford and Newport Rd for the last seventy five years, four generations. The three roads concerned are already rat runs and the parking is atrocious. I frequently return home with nowhere to park, having to carry my shopping from miles away while some inconsiderate **** has parked across my drive. When will people get it we don’t want this housing. I opposed it last time and will do so again !
By Jacqueline Galley
Oh for goodness sake. Inconsiderate NIMBYS out in force I see. The city needs housing and in particular the city lacks good housing in good quality neighbourhoods. 70 houses is a very small development in the scheme of things and any additional traffic would be negligible. Just get on with it.
By NIMBY watch
Lol, all the saddo car drivers on here. Get out of your cars and onto your bikes if congestion is that bad. We shouldn’t be planning our cities around cars anymore, that’s why a lot of British cities are pig ugly in the first place
By Anonymous
Anonymous is right. I prefer walking to be honest and I would do more of it, if it wasn’t for so many arrogant cyclists going at speed on the pavements.
By Elephant