A new report details the ongoing commitment to long-term investment in high streets across Manchester to support local businesses, create jobs and ignite economic growth.
Each of the city’s district centres, local centres and high streets have their own distinct character and challenges – and each has been carefully considered for investment to take advantage of opportunities in the local area and to support the neighbourhood to meet its potential.
The story so far…
Already, major investment has either been completed or is ongoing across the city to energise the city’s high streets, which are essential to the neighbourhoods they serve – active spaces where Manchester people work, shop, meet, visit and take great pride in.
Wythenshawe Town Centre has embarked on a £500m investment programme, with works starting this month, Withington Village saw the completion to a number of public spaces earlier this year, and plans for a further £60m investment in Gorton were announced in recent weeks, following the completion of a new child friendly public square earlier this year.
And only last week, the next phase of regeneration on Moston Lane was revealed that will deliver a £25m programme, including a new public square and around 120 new homes – with a focus on social rent and genuinely affordable homes.
A major programme of regeneration is also beginning to unfold across Strangeways and Cheetham Hill following the success of the Operation Vulcan partnership with Greater Manchester Police that has tackled criminality and counterfeiti goods, readying the neighbourhood for long-term investment.
A recently completed Strategic Regeneration Framework estimates the combined development areas across Strangeways could see up to 7,000 new homes across seven distinct ‘neighbourhood’ areas, increased and improved commercial floorspace of around 1.75m sqft, all of which could support an additional 4,500 jobs.
The next steps in the High Street investment programme:
Cheetham Hill – £100k has already been spent on improving public space on the high street, alongside feasibility studies around potential projects at St Luke’s Church and St Mark’s church yard, and in the next 12 months further investment opportunities will be reviewed. An enforcement taskforce will also undertake a six-month programme looking at issues in the district centre, with separate work planned to fix problems caused by parking and loading.
Harpurhey – Already a Local Infrastructure Framework is being drafted reviewing the local public realm, travel and health provisions – along with the potential for a new Harpurhey Health Hub and a pipeline of around 300 new homes. Harpurhey has been named an area in receipt of national Pride in Place funding – local engagement will be undertaken to agree the principles around investment.
Newton Heath – A Neighbourhood Development Framework (NDF) is currently being prepared that will help guide future development in the area, including housing, community facilities, local services, and high street investment following public consultation earlier this year. The NDF is expected to be adopted next year, setting a roadmap for investment.
Levenshulme – Community-led cultural events are being supported to drive the success of the high street, including a new market and mural trail. The next 12 months will see new affordable housing brought to site, new signage and lighting, along with campaigns to reduce waste.
Longsight – The community-led Our Longsight plan will support events, public art and greening of the district centre and funding will support various investment opportunities, including a new traders’ network, community events, deep cleaning and decluttering.
Burnage – new planting, public realm works and interventions to improve parking have already taken place. In the next 12 months, scoping for further public realm investment will be undertaken, including options for cycle infrastructure, public artworks and support for local businesses.
Fallowfield – The Fallowfield District Management Plan has been drafted to attract investment and initiate community partnership, while guiding investment in this area. This will include a more welcoming public realm, a large mural installation and ongoing engagement with residents and stakeholders.
Chorlton – a Local Infrastructure Framework was put in place earlier this year looking at the primary care provision, parking and public realm improvements. The Council has since acquired a property to expand primary care provision, that is also supporting some short-term parking. Various public artwork projects have been completed to bring a fresh look and feel, and a new over-55s social rent development will be completed in 2026/27.
Read the District Centre Scrutiny Report in full
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
“High streets and district centres in Manchester are really important to our residents and local businesses. That’s why we are determined to support and improve them because we know that they are essential to the success of our communities. Manchester City Council are bringing forward an ambitious programme of investment across the local high streets in our city.
“Already there are some great schemes underway, including Moston, Gorton, Withington and Wythenshawe – and we know how impactful these projects have been and will be for the long-term future of these communities.
“But we have many distinct centres, local centres and high streets across the city and we are committed to delivering for the residents and businesses who live and work in them – because we know how important these places are to the residents they serve.”