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Home , Blackley, Broadhurst Park, CIS Tower, Collyhurst, Crumpsall, Graham Stringer

A Strategic Regeneration Framework for North

A Strategic Regeneration Framework for

Prepared by:

In association with

Lambert Smith Hampton

1

Contents Foreword by Cllr. Leader,

PART I THE CONTEXT 1.Context 2.The Vision 3.Key Opportunities 4.Regeneration Principles

PART II THE STRATEGY THE PEOPLE 5.Education 6.Health 7.Culture 8.Crime and Safety EMPLOYMENT 9.Employment and Economic Development THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 10.Community Character 11.Housing 12.Transport 13.Parks and Open Spaces 14.Shopping CONCLUSION

Front Cover: Cheetham Community Mural 3 4 FOREWORD

The North Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework is the culmination of 12 months of intensive work. It embodies the unity of purpose shown by the community, City Council, private and public sectors in developing a strategy for transforming North Manchester into a diverse, high quality residential area with a strong economy and first class public services.

There is a common understanding that this transformation will require, not only excellence and imagination in the delivery of public services particularly, but also commitment, quality and ambition from the private sector, particularly in the area of housing provision. This partnership of community, public and private sector organisations is essential in creating the best results for North Manchester.

Our plans for the future respond to the regeneration potential of the area, its strong community and the inherent opportunities of its proximity to the . It builds on the opportunities being developed through the Manchester Knowledge Capital initiative such as the growing city centre economy and the creation of the Central Business Park on the Road. The strategy stresses the importance of ensuring that the people of North Manchester have access to the opportunities afforded by the city and the wider region.

However the strategy is very realistic and frank about its starting point. The future of North Manchester can only be built on firm foundations. For this to happen, we have to be open about the challenges across a broad spectrum of physical, social and economic issues in North Manchester. We have to bring forward an integrated strategy that recognises that failure to tackle any of these issues risks undermining the future of North Manchester and its communities. Therefore this strategy makes no apologies for airing the complex challenges of North Manchester. Likewise, we are determined to demonstrate our aspirations for the future and propose how we will achieve the change that the people of North Manchester and the wider city deserve.

Importantly, positive change is already occuring, creating momentum, through projects such as the investment in the North City and Cheetham Shopping Centres, the new MANCAT 6th Form on Road, the new M8 Manchester Fort retail park along Queens Road and the Central Business Park. We thank all those involved in the study for their input, time, energy and patience. We look forward to working together in the future to realise our shared vision for North Manchester.

Richard Leese Leader of the Council

5 From North Manchester to PART I THE CONTEXT

7 8 SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

PART I EXPLAINS WHY A REGENERATION STRATEGY IS NEEDED IN NORTH MANCHESTER AND THEN ESTABLISHES THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE, THE KEY DRIVERS OF CHANGE, THE BASELINE CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS THE REGENERATION PRINCIPLES WHICH GOVERN THE STRATEGY.

9 10The Angel Boggart Hole Clough, Charlestown THE CONTEXT

1INTRODUCTION The evaluation and production of the North Manchester strategy has been a complex and rewarding process. Broad consultation and a clear articulation of needs and aspirations have established both a process towards and vision of where North Manchester will be in the coming years.

11 SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

North Manchester extends from Today North Manchester still The worst decline has happened Manchester’s thriving city centre to contains pockets of impoverishment. primarily on the east side closer to the city’s northern boundary and is Economic decline has lead to acute the city centre, particularly in to some 86,000 residents. It housing market failure in some Lightbowne and areas. includes six City Council wards: parts. Demand for adjacent Council Closer to the city centre in , Charlestown, Moston, and Registered Social Landlord , housing is almost , Cheetham, Harpurhey (RSL) stock has suffered a similar entirely council owned. Vacant land and the Collyhurst area of Central and damaging downward trend. in this area near to the Irk Valley is Ward. These neighbourhoods are Voids encourage further decline under pressure due to spill over today confronting an array of and many people are trapped by from the booming city centre challenging and inter-related negative equity. Associated with property market. economic, social and physical this, is an increase in crime, fear of issues. However, there are also crime, anti-social behaviour, On the west side of North many strengths and new poverty, ill health and poor Manchester, in Cheetham, a long opportunities within the area that educational attainment. However, standing history of immigration should be exploited to re-position recently, the scale of action has led to much greater ethnic North Manchester to take full together with an inability to relate diversity. These communities are advantage of economic change and housing demand to economic healthier because of this, but are in prosperity from the city and wider changes affecting the area, have many regards still deprived by most region. The production of this not kept pace with the rate of standards. Employment framework is now both needed decline. The scale of the problem opportunities are being generated and timely. has been often sudden and but are not fully accessed by local precipitous. The creation of the people. The housing market is Once the home to many of the Manchester/ Pathfinder as stronger here but the quality of area’s industrial workers, the area part of the Housing Market housing stock is poor in some enjoys grand parks and views out Renewal initiative will enable the parts. Public services need over the conurbation and there is development of a coherent, long investment and improved still a strong sense of community term, integrated strategy to tackle co-ordination in order to keep up and pride. The departure of major these issues in the context of this with demand from a growing employers in the 1970s and 1980s wider regeneration framework. population. Although previous in more traditional manufacturing regeneration initiatives have industries, in major part due to North Manchester is roughly brought improvements to the globalisation and technological divided into two halves by the environment and some new advance, has left a legacy of , which flows from the housing, there is still more to under employed residents and northern parts of Oldham towards be done. long-term unemployment. the city centre, and Rochdale Road which follows its course.

12 SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

North Manchester Communities

Key

13 SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

The northern parts of the area, A variety of intensive measures modern, quality housing. Crumpsall, Blackley, Charlestown to improve their life chances, in The Framework sets out a and Moston, remain the most particular to improve holistic approach to creating desirable but its health is educational attainment, and sustainable urban threatened by pockets of instability employability, are required. This neighbourhoods and recognises where the market is weak in framework therefore sets a that whilst regeneration is relative terms. This part of North context for investment in the ongoing now, it will be Manchester enjoys incredible people of North Manchester and intensified and will stretch over natural assets such as the creation of sustainable more than 10 years to achieve and Boggart Hole Clough. This communities consistently across the transformation. The abundance of green space provides all parts of the area. Framework has four key a luxurious setting for residential mutually dependent aspects: areas which should be exploited. • Strengthening North Manchester’s role as a • The People NORTH MANCHESTER residential area. • The Economy STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK • The Physical Environment North Manchester’s role and • Implementation The document defines the strategic future within the city and wider context for the regeneration of region is seen in terms of it The Framework also establishes at North Manchester. It establishes being a primarily residential a strategic level the services key principles and objectives across area. Whilst a number of required to support those the range of inter-related social, employment areas provide communities - education, transport, economic and physical issues important job opportunities for shops, health care, leisure, parks, affecting the area. There are a local residents, the future employment training, and number of strategic objectives success of North Manchester community safety - and seeks to which underpin the regeneration of will be directly linked to the redefine the way in which these North Manchester, which are inter- establishment of sustainable services are delivered, targeted and related. urban neighbourhoods and funded. certainty in the housing market • The strengthening of across the area. The North Manchester Strategic existing communities. Regeneration Framework proposes In creating the conditions for a fundamental shift in service In many parts of the area the private sector investment, the delivery and envisions a much communities are relatively North Manchester Regeneration expanded role for mainstream stable. However, there are Framework outlines the strategy service providers as well as a more neighbourhoods where the very for restructuring and joined-up, multi-agency approach sense of community has reinvigorating North to delivery. The Strategic completely broken down. These Manchester’s housing market. In Framework will set the context for communities are not equipped so doing it defines the role of a series of Local Plans for to take advantage of the the private sector, the local individual areas of North economic resurgence of the city authority and housing Manchester. Starting first with or to take an active part within it. associations in providing areas likely to experience most

14 SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

change, the Local Plans will guide western half and the proposed Within North Manchester, the detailed regeneration projects and Oldham and Rochdale line will general provision of infrastructure co-ordinate funding programmes. serve its eastern side. is good and will be improved. Extensive, ongoing public The cultural mix brings vibrancy involvement will be essential to The city centre, immediately on and economic activity. A new community support and North Manchester’s doorstep, retail park and improvements to commitment. continues to undergo one of the the North City and Cheetham most dramatic renaissances in Retail Centres are being delivered. REGIONAL CONTEXT recent UK history. Indeed North North Manchester’s open spaces Manchester is one of the final offer the opportunity to provide a North Manchester is well-placed for major pieces in the City Council’s residential setting and community regeneration. The city and region long standing drive to create a amenity unparalleled within the have carried out or are proposing highly competitive economy that conurbation. Critically, North major investment in infrastructure. is supported by high quality urban Manchester also contains many Major employment sites (within or living, a city of the 21st century. residents who remain committed to close to its boundaries), leisure and The creation of a stronger housing their communities. cultural facilities and arts market in North Manchester is key complexes are being developed. to maintaining the future A sustainable future for North Nearby Sportcity, one of the competitive drive of the city. Manchester will be supported by cornerstones of the regeneration Equally, the development of adjacent activity, particularly strategy for East Manchester and Manchester as a ‘knowledge employment, but success will only the site of the Commonwealth capital’ and the benefits that this come from a creative utilisation of Games, focused national attention will bring in generating jobs brings North Manchester’s local strengths on the area. huge opportunities for the people and a targeted, strategically has the potential to become a of North Manchester. crafted delivery of a wide spectrum genuinely international / of initiatives that address the intercontinental port Achieving a vibrant and sustainable issues and opportunities facing complementing the national hub at residential base for the conurbation the whole community. Heathrow. Alone amongst regional core and closing the gap between airports, it provides the local the poorest performing and the economy with the potential to grow strongest communities is essential to as the only viable and business securing the city’s long term destination outside the South East economic prosperity as well as its within the . North role as the capital of the North West Manchester is also ideally placed to and increasingly of the North of take advantage of the region’s road, . The regeneration of North rail and Metrolink infrastructure. Manchester is therefore an initiative The city centre’s two main rail of local, regional and national termini adjoin its southern economic significance. boundary, the M60 forms the northern boundary, the existing Bury Metrolink line bisects its

15 SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

Context

Key

16 Veterans Games, North Manchester Beehive Group, Crumpsall Park THE VISION THE TRANSFORMATION OF NORTH MANCHESTER - THE SHARED VISION 2 INTRODUCTION We all have a vision of the place where we would like to live, be it a house, the neighbourhood or the street we live on. We all have an idea about our neighbours and the type of community we live in and we all have ideals about the support we receive from public services be it emptying the bins or policing the street.

19 SECTION 2 • THE VISION

We all want the best education for see how it is possible. Manchester our children and safe play areas and has re-invented itself in the last The Strategic Framework shapes the routes to school. We want good decade. It has rebuilt its city centre, vision of North Manchester as a set local shops, a doctor’s surgery and staged the best Commonwealth of high quality and attractive places library. We want to be able to get Games, created the country’s most to live that will meet the needs and to work easily and get home to important regional airport, aspirations of current and future spend our leisure time in a variety diversified its economic base and residents. Blackley, Charlestown, of activities. become the powerhouse of the Moston, Crumpsall, Cheetham, North of England. Harpurhey, Lightbowne, and We all know what we want now and Collyhurst – linked together by high most of us at some time in our lives In , once a byword for urban quality parks and open spaces. need different things and have deprivation, the City Council has This vision will involve nothing short changing desires. Most of all, we carried out the most successful and of a total transformation of some want choice and variety. We want far-reaching community parts of the area. Set out below are quality and safety and a long term transformation in recent UK history. the components of the vision, the sense of security. If Hulme was a start, the city has elements that will make up the moved on. In East Manchester, the North Manchester communities. Satisfying these desires is at the country’s largest urban regeneration heart of creating sustainable project to date is about to deliver Quality of life and choice is at communities. Places of quality the total rebuilding of the Cardroom the heart of the vision where we will be happy to spend Estate by a private sector developer. different times of our lives because will be a model of A wide range of housing choice in the community accommodates our sustainable urban communities terms of tenure, value, size and form changing needs. design. The new Central Business will be provided. High quality Park on the doorstep of North homes for all supported by high, However, when we look at parts of Manchester will bring huge job quality schools, services and North Manchester, many people and opportunities to local people. amenities that deliver people’s communities cannot meet their aspirations for a good and aspirations for themselves or their We know that we can achieve our improving life. The housing market families, in the place where they vision. We have the skills and we will become active and sustainable live today. have the partners in the city. so that private homeowners and the We have the ‘can do’ attitude. The housing industry can confidently Our vision for North Manchester is real challenge is the scale on which invest; the total number of council simple, ‘to create a series of high we are choosing to create this new properties will be reduced and those quality sustainable communities, place. The areas are huge and the that are retained will be improved each providing a broad range of desire is for radical transformation. and well-managed. Quality in all living facilities and services that Things will take time, 10-20 years in aspects of the built environment meet the life demand of existing places, but we have to start and the public realm will be secured and new residents.’ somewhere. by design and management. Environmental standards will be high, security will be enhanced, We might think that this is a tall The vision is simple, it is attainable lifetime living standards will be order, however, we only need to look and it is desired by the people of applied. at Manchester’s current success to North Manchester.

20 SECTION 2 • THE VISION

The Vision

Key

21 SECTION 2 • THE VISION

and is being, generated within and A greater role for mainstream A distinct character defined around the city and region. North public services by its open spaces Manchester’s cultural diversity will be celebrated. An enhanced role for mainstream The dramatic topography and open public services will ensure delivery spaces will be the defining features Cultural activities will be supported of high quality services across North of the area. The greened Irk Valley as part of a wide-reaching strategy Manchester, it will also provide will form the main link in a set of to build community capacity and continuity for the essential task of restored parks which will include reduce the level of crime. regeneration. Targeting themes and Boggart Hole Clough, Queen’s Community support facilities, places will create an environment of and Crumpsall Parks, Moston crèches, after school clubs, sports confidence and well being. People Brook and . Each clubs and old peoples’ groups will empowered with the capacity to neighbourhood will have a distinct be actively promoted. become involved in the identity. Attractive streets and improvement of their own buildings, well-connected green A place of first neighbourhoods will identify spaces, cycle ways and pedestrian class connections requirements and help friendly routes will improve safety to shape the form of service for children and adults and support North Manchester’s excellent delivery. active streets and civic life. We have connections to opportunities in the been inspired by Parc De Berczy and wider conurbation and region - A delivery mechanism that Citroen in Paris, Thames Barrier Park especially to the city centre, the nurtures the skills of all public in London and Diagonal Mar in airport and areas to the north, east services and ensures Barcelona where new communities and west - will be strengthened long-term viability have been successfully created using existing infrastructure. around new public parks and high Maximum advantage will be taken The delivery mechanism to oversee quality public realm. of the recently completed M60 this framework will recognise and Metrolink connections to that all those responsible for the An engaged and active develop high quality, sustainable delivery of public services are resident population communities which benefit integral to delivering change. from much improved access to New mechanisms will be set within Positive, popular activities and the conurbation. this context, respecting what assistance for young people must be already exists and is working well. provided. A sustained and co- Clusters of shops and services Delivery mechanisms will provide a ordinated approach will reduce within walking distance of each custodian of the vision and strategy existing barriers to opportunity neighbourhood will ensure North which will include all key partners. combating poverty, poor health, Manchester’s residents can easily crime and academic meet day-to-day needs such as underachievement. A better co- shopping and health care. ordinated employment strategy will support all residents in gaining active employment which must be,

22 North Manchester Health Forum 24Crumpsall Park KEY OPPORTUNITIES THE TRIGGERS FOR SUCCESS

3 THE KEY TRIGGERS What will be the key triggers that will spark and drive North Manchester’s regeneration forward? A combination of features and open spaces as well as planned and ongoing economic investment defines twelve key triggers that will drive North Manchester’s regeneration.

25 SECTION 3 • KEY OPPORTUNITIES

These triggers are already in place first tenant. Manchester College higher value homes are benefiting and are happening now. They of Arts & Technology (MANCAT) from improved access to jobs, provide an excellent basis from and (MNSEC) will offer jobs shopping and leisure activities. which to drive the strategy forward. and employment training to local residents. A new Metrolink 8. The Housing Market Renewal 1. Manchester’s thriving city line will run through North Fund can provide a framework centre economy is growing Manchester and serve the for informed and short term hand in hand with its increasing business park, dramatically public sector intervention, desirability as a place to live. improving accessibility to levering further investment With rising prices, spill over the area. capital into North Manchester demand is already anticipated in and providing an early parts of Collyhurst. The Red 5. Improvement in educational opportunity to achieve a step Bank scheme, the Tobacco attainment, quality and delivery change in the housing market. Factory and interest in a number of schools services, for example of other sites nearby, the proposed provision of a new 9. Private sector interest is demonstrate developer interest 6th Form College and library growing, particularly in the areas is moving north along the on the site of the former close to the city centre. Several River Irk Valley. Harpurhey Baths, will make a sites, including Blackley Village, significant contribution to the stand out as excellent 2. Major investment will be shortly expansion of the education opportunities and must set the made in the Cheetham and provision in North Manchester. standard in terms of quality. Harpurhey Retail Centres, This is fundamental to creating the physical stabilising the housing market. 10. The new retail development opportunity to establish more along Queen’s Road, intense, mixed use town centres, 6. Many regeneration Cheetham will be a regional which benefit from a high initiatives, focusing on both draw, bringing shoppers and profile along Cheetham Hill and social and economic issues, have visitors to North Manchester. It Rochdale Road and excellent already targeted North raises the prospect of capturing connections to the city centre. Manchester over the last decade more inward investment by and provide a basis and creating attractions that will 3. North Manchester’s open momentum on which to build. extend their stay. spaces and natural features The Cheetham and Broughton are one of the area’s greatest and North Manchester Area 11. Adjacent regeneration under-utilised assets. Heaton Regeneration Initiatives, Sure activity in East Manchester and Park, Boggart Hole Clough, Start and Excellence in Cities Salford will provide investment Queen’s Park, Crumpsall Park, amongst others, have made and improvement to the Bailey’s Wood, Broadhurst Park, important contributions to neighbourhoods that border and the Irk Valley improving the quality of life and North Manchester. can provide the backdrop for prospects of North Manchester’s new, higher value, housing. residents. 12. This North Manchester Strategic Regeneration 4. At the edge of North 7. The completion of the M60 is Framework will direct the Manchester, along Oldham Road, significant. Whilst it improves the investment of all resources and the first phase of the Central accessibility of all of North shape the future of North Business Park is now on site. Manchester, it makes the most Manchester and, in building a Site preparation is complete and marked improvements to the shared and strategic vision, will ICL (Fujitsu) is signed up as the northern belt where already new be a key driver for change.

26 SECTION 3 • KEY OPPORTUNITIES

Key Triggers

Key

27 SECTION 3 • KEY OPPORTUNITIES

3.2 STRATEGIC INVESTMENT • Blackley Village is an area of • Provision of a new 6th Form OPPORTUNITIES unique character and and Library, in partnership opportunity. Existing developer with MANCAT, in Harpurhey There are a number of strategic interest will be directed and and new leisure facilities at investment opportunities in North shaped to further reinforce this Abraham Moss. Manchester already underway appealing village. which demonstrate commitment to • Heaton Park is benefiting change. Below, we note those • Changing patterns of land use from significant investment projects where early investment can in the lower and Middle Irk from lottery funds, and will facilitate major progress. Valley are creating the become, once more, a vital and opportunity to shape vibrant asset to local residents • Collyhurst is poised to development on strategic sites as well as a major destination capitalise on overflow demand and position the Irk Valley as a for visitors from across the from the heated city centre flagship scheme. region and beyond. housing market. The street grid and a number of warehouse • Along the Rochdale Road These developments must be of structures found in the most Corridor initiatives are being high quality as they will establish southern parts, as well as the planned to improve the the standard for the next phases, success in the Urban perception of the area, and not simply high quality in physical Village, provide guidance with gateways at Miller Street and output, but also in service delivery respect to the appropriate form Queen’s Road junction. and management. The and shape of potential mixed- transformation of North use developments. The • Across North Manchester, Manchester starts here, those southern most parts of the Irk developers are in discussion opportunities will establish the Valley have been identified as with the City Council regarding benchmark in the private and early potential investment from opportunities to acquire and public sector. Critically, these English Partnerships. These refurbish scattered projects will create investor opportunities need to be set in clusters in several wards. confidence in North Manchester, within a wider context in a plan Higher quality housing will be and convince the community and that covers the whole created making an early start the wider region that change is Collyhurst area, including the on diversifying tenure and taking place. council stock, and which value and attracting new addresses social and economic residents. need alongside physical change. • Education across the area will benefit from planned • In Central Harpurhey and investment in infrastructure and Lightbowne, early radical radical changes in the way that intervention in North services are provided to Manchester’s most challenging children and families. housing market will capitalise on recent commercial and • Cheetham and North City residential investment as well retail/service centres where as new regeneration funds to projects are already underway. achieve a step change in the housing market.

28 Simpson Memorial Hall, Moston Peace30 Garden Moston Lane REGENERATION PRINCIPLES 4 INTRODUCTION TheIn writing evaluation the Regeneration and production Strategy, of thewe haveNorth established Manchester a numberstrategy of has beenRegeneration a complex Principles and rewarding that will be process.applied across Broad all consultation areas of North and a clearManchester. articulation These of do needs not dealand with aspirationsissues of detail has establishedbut are generic both a processapproaches and thatvision will as guide to where the Northdevelopment Manchester of local will solutions. be in the coming years.

31 SECTION 4 • REGENERATION PRINCIPLES

• Respect and support what is • Engage the community. • Establish early momentum. already underway. We have The community must be Successes will establish the spoken with many dedicated an active player in North confidence of all potential and knowledgeable community Manchester’s regeneration. players and achieve a step members and professionals who This means involving them change. Once early radical are engaged in important in the creation of the vision changes are achieved, the activities within North to the greatest extent possible strategy can allow for a more Manchester. They have passed and bringing them into the gradual evolution of conditions on vast knowledge regarding delivery process. in North Manchester. the community’s needs and initiatives already underway. • Strategically invest public The remainder of this report sets funds to engage the private out the regeneration strategy in • Understand the inter- sector. The participation and detail. relatedness of the issues confidence of the private sector confronting North – the housing industry and Manchester. The issues homeowners – is an essential surrounding the lack of agent of change and a key sustainability in significant parts driver of the North Manchester of North Manchester’s housing Strategic Regeneration market must be understood as Framework. The challenge is to part of set of inter-related issues utilise public funds strategically which require tackling to encourage private sector simultaneously. Economic, investment. physical, social, funding and delivery issues are fully • Create certainty. Private entwined, with each playing an development and investment important role. requires certainty and confidence. The Strategy must • Build on strengths and be credible and set out a recognise weaknesses. Too realistic, understandable and many of the area’s many achievable phasing, delivery and strengths go unnoticed. Existing funding strategy that ensures assets need to be made more momentum is maintained. visible, celebrated, and linked together to improve the area’s image and create a critical, sustainable mass.

32 SECTION 4 • REGENERATION PRINCIPLES

Principles

Key

33 North Manchester Community Archaeology34 Dig SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

PART II THE STRATEGY THE TRANSFORMATION OF NORTH MANCHESTER

35 36 PART II sets out the Strategy which is organised under three headings: the People, the Economy and the Physical Environment. For each topic, existing provision, the issues, the objectives and then the strategic directions are set out. But while those headings allow for ease of reading, in reality, all areas of work must be totally integrated and cross referenced to ensure a ‘joined-up’ total transformation of North Manchester.

37 North Manchester Community Archaeology Dig The creation of sustainable communities is a SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION fundamental core objective of the regeneration of North Manchester. The people of North Manchester deserve the best possible life chances and the means by which to achieve their aspirations. This Framework sets out core objectives across a number of areas and in doing so it recognises that physical transformation alone will not provide the solution for THE PEOPLE creating healthy communities. To achieve a real and lasting change there has to be parallel investment in the people of North Manchester. This is central to the regeneration of Manchester and the vision of a city which is family friendly and which shares its prosperity with all of its residents. Improving the life chances of the adults and children of North Manchester will require investment across a number of areas including education, health, culture and leisure. Equally, factors such as crime and anti-social behaviour are all inter-related in contributing to creating communities that feel secure, confident and can flourish. Delivering this change will take time and involves a lasting commitment amongst those responsible for providing services, to work together cohesively and focus their efforts. In doing so they will support the people of North Manchester to realise and fulfil their potential.

39 North East Manchester Excellence In Cities Action Zone - visit to SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

EDUCATION ENABLING LIFE LONG LEARNING TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE 5 INTRODUCTION Education plays a pivotal role in regeneration and getting it right is essential to North Manchester. Good quality education will provide North Manchester’s residents with the skills and qualifications to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.

41 SECTION 5 • EDUCATION

High performing schools will help to to further improve educational poor health. These children need to restore stability to the housing performance. The Full Service have targeted attention. A culture market by securing the commitment District also includes the of educational excellence needs to of aspiring families with children, mainstreaming of successful be established to ensure that these and attracting new families. initiatives, such as SureStart and children get support from their Conversely the current instability in Excellence in Cities, ensuring that families and peers. the housing market has an adverse recent successes can be expanded. affect on educational achievement. The number of pupil spaces In short, there is a direct link 5.2 ISSUES does not match the existing between the quality of education and planned supply of housing. and stability in the housing market, Notwithstanding improvements, The number and distribution of and the wider regeneration North Manchester faces several key spaces for pupils does not objectives. issues. correspond to the existing supply of students. At the primary The performance of North A step change in performance school level undersubscription in Manchester’s schools is improving. is required. Harpurhey and Lightbowne exists This is attributable to better Too many schools still perform next to oversubscription in leadership by headteachers, focused poorly as compared to the rest of Cheetham, due to a population attention on learning, teaching and Manchester and national averages. decrease and increase respectively management, and a much improved From nursery and primary schools in these areas. In the future the access to information which allows to 6th form, improvement needs to bulk of new investment in housing strategic targeting of weaknesses. be achieved with some speed. Until is anticipated to be in the middle Success is celebrated. Early North Manchester’s schools are and southern parts of the area intervention and a focus on widely and consistently seen to be closer to the city centre. Most of the retention through transition points at least as successful as the other existing secondary schools are are also central parts of the schools in the conurbation, families towards the northern parts. strategy. The Education Action will not return to North Manchester. An analysis of current need for Zone on the east side of North It will not be sufficient to say that school places and changing needs Manchester, Excellence in Cities education will be improved within linked to the housing strategy is and SureStart have all played an 10 years if the aim is to attract new therefore required. important part in this success by residents within the next 2–5 years. working in partnership with schools. Early, meaningful change needs to be achieved. At the post-16 stage, MANCAT has improved the rate of attainment There remains a core group of through the creation of two 6th hard to reach students. Form Centres and is planning a new Despite improvement in academically orientated 6th Form performance, there remains a group Centre on the site of the old of hard-to-reach children who do Harpurhey Baths. The new Full not succeed from an early age. Over Service District approach will a period of time issues surrounding provide joined up delivery of their poor performance at school education and social services in combine with the knock-on effects support of children and is intended on underemployment, crime and

42 SECTION 5 • EDUCATION

Education and Housing Strategies

Key

43 SECTION 5 • EDUCATION

More of North Manchester’s down roots and develop a sense of 5.4 THE EDUCATION STRATEGY students need post-16 commitment. aspirations. In the longer term, they provide the The broad strategy with respect to Too few of North Manchester’s ‘intellectual capital’ to steward education is as follows: residents pursue post-16 education. communities, formally and There is also insufficient post-16 informally. Without having had an E 1 Improve educational educational infrastructure in place HE institution, North Manchester performance in North Manchester and much of has experienced a net outflow of what does exist concentrates on intellectual capital for an extended Many necessary steps have vocational training. Aspiring post- period of time with knock on effects already been taken to ensure 16s leave to pursue their education on the area’s stability. improvement in performance. elsewhere, many never return, Deriving maximum benefit from depriving the area of the wider Educational performance is all of the existing and future rejuvenation benefits of an active influenced by many factors. initiatives will require a student population. There is a Achieving higher levels of cooperative approach where great market opportunity to provide performance will require more than people share and learn from academically orientated post-16 good schools. For many students experiences. Local, regional and education in North Manchester other aspects of their lives need national knowledge must be which would fill a gap in existing support. A nutritious breakfast and pooled to tackle the challenging provision and increase the rate of healthy diet can make a significant issues confronting North retention in North Manchester. contribution Manchester. The interest of to a student’s behaviour and ability North Manchester must be put North Manchester needs the to concentrate. Housing and child- ahead of professional or agency commitment of an HE institution. care strategies all need to make the issues. North Manchester has no higher links to the ‘bigger picture’ of educational infrastructure in place. educational excellence. ACTIONS: The partnership with the University A wide array of improvements will of Manchester proposed at the be required to support ‘education’ E.1.1 Promote continued Central Business Park is a critical strategies. partnership between the opportunity to begin to move the headteachers, special concentration of HE institutions 5.3 THE OBJECTIVES initiatives and the LEA. from the south side of the city A coordinated approach to towards the north and east. The objectives of the Education improving attainment at the school Strategy level needs to be undertaken. Every opportunity should be taken are to: Through a more bottom-up to use this as a base from which a • Improve educational performance approach, headteachers and the greater concentration of HE • Invest in the educational LEA should work closely to ensure departments can be developed in infrastructure the area’s needs and aspirations North and East Manchester. • Broaden the spectrum of are met. Institutions of higher education learning opportunities play an important role in • Recognise the linkages between A strong partnership will also community sustainability. Resident education and wider ensure that the high quality work of students support local shops, regeneration issues Excellence in Cities in Manchester’s services and rental housing, put north-east cluster is incorporated

44 SECTION 5 • EDUCATION

into the work of the LEA, and that E 2 Consolidate and invest in E.2.2 Co-align school provision existing successes can be built upon. the physical infrastructure with wider regeneration objectives. The overprovision of E.1.2 Expand upon and learn With the frequent focus on the primary schools in Lightbowne and from the success of the construction of new premises, Harpurhey and the underprovision Excellence in Cities EAZ. The there is a strong sentiment that of primary schools in Cheetham Excellence in Cities Education the approach to regeneration should be utilised as an opportunity Action Zone in Manchester’s north- and education must not simply for consolidation / expansion and, east cluster has made headway in be buildings-led, and should in the process, to focus resources on supporting headteachers in focus on more strategic issues. improving the physical improving performance in the area’s However, the importance of high infrastructure. As the Local Plan for schools. The lessons learned in quality physical premises cannot Lightbowne and Harpurhey is these schools, and particularly the be under-estimated: they evolved, opportunities for providing co-operative style of working, express and inspire confidence, a new primary school which should be applied to the north-west aspiration, and achievement. replaces, and effectively cluster which covers the west side consolidates existing primary of North Manchester and where ACTIONS: schools, will be explored. Similarly there is currently no EAZ or similar in Cheetham, the need for new, initiative to build effective E.2.1 Continue investment to modern schools must be considered partnership working. provide high quality, modern as this Regeneration Strategy is education premises. Attracting delivered. E.1.3 Recognise the value of more diverse new residents requires high quality leadership and high quality, modern educational E.2.3 Establish a joint commitment at all levels. premises that are fully equipped mechanism for monitoring Education professionals stress the with computers and IT to ensure education provision. importance of good quality that students have the tools There is a need for joint work in leadership and dedicated teachers required for the economy of the relation to monitoring and in raising the level of performance. 21st century. evaluating the need for new schools Committed and high quality staff in North Manchester, to support must be secured for North An assessment of North the Regeneration Strategy and Manchester’s schools. For this to Manchester’s schools is required respond to the planned succeed, not only must the career and appropriate investment must be development of new housing. opportunities for teachers be good, made to bring them up to modern A joint mechanism for monitoring but the environment in which they standards. The Temple PFI was a should be established, through live must also be attractive. landmark within Manchester in which coordinated decisions should terms of its approach to building be made to consolidate or expand new schools and regenerating schools to meet the wider adjacent sites with new housing. regeneration objectives.

45 SECTION 5 • EDUCATION

E.2.4 Evaluate the need for a ACTIONS: E.3.3 Pursue opportunities for new secondary school in North higher education in North Manchester. Given that most of E.3.1 Support MANCAT’s plans Manchester. In the long term, the the existing secondary schools are for a new 6th Form College and cluster of universities in the south located in the northern parts of Library in Harpurhey. An side of the conurbation should be North Manchester, and that increase in the total number of encouraged to explore opportunities considerable new housing is students pursuing post-16 for relocating one or more anticipated towards the middle and education is essential to North departments in the north. The southern parts of North Manchester, Manchester‘s regeneration. partnership proposed with the there is likely to be the need for a MANCAT is planning a new, University of Manchester at the new secondary school. academically orientated 6th Form Central Business Park is a critical College, and new Library on the first step which should be expanded This new secondary school could Harpurhey Baths site. MANCAT’s upon to create a cluster of meet the combined demand from plan will introduce a significant departments within North and East North Manchester, New East new opportunity for academic Manchester. Manchester and the city centre. It advancement in North Manchester therefore needs to be considered in and must be supported. E 4 Recognise the link light of Manchester’s wider between educational regeneration strategy as well as in E.3.2 Support initiatives such attainment and all other the light of schools proposed in as North Manchester Boys aspects of Regeneration other areas. Its location should School’s Bid for Art College Strategy. reflect the range, scale and location Status and the Girls School’s of housing development, and the Bid for Science College Status. ACTIONS: desirability of catering to students North Manchester Boys has east and west of Rochdale Road. submitted a bid for Art College E4.1 Ensure robust delivery status. This is an important arrangements are in place that E 3 Broaden the spectrum initiative for North Manchester in establish links between of learning opportunities. that it will diversify the educational education and wider offer in North Manchester and raise regeneration issues. To attract new residents and the profile of the area’s schools by Improvements to the education retain existing aspiring students, carving out a unique niche. provision alone will not sufficiently North Manchester must offer a Furthermore, creative arts are an improve the level of attainment, wider range of educational important diversionary activity for retention and progression, and this opportunities, particularly those North Manchester’s youth, a strong is reflected in the holistic approach which cater to more theme in the crime and safety underpinning this Regeneration academically orientated section of this Strategy. The bid for Strategy. students. Science College Status by the Girls School should similarly be supported and linked to the Central Business Park.

46 Sure Start, Harpurhey and Lightbowne Irk Valley, Cheetham SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

HEALTH SUPPORTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES 6 INTRODUCTION Health is fundamental to regeneration. Healthy people live longer, have more productive lives and provide good role models for the next generation. According to a wide variety of indicators, too many people living in the North of the city have some of the worst health inequalities in England.

49 SECTION 6 • HEALTH

Regeneration is fundamental to • Improving Access to all are 92% more likely to die of the good health. Evidence shows that services that improve health condition, whereas for Lightbowne the main causes of ill health are • Developing Healthy the figure is 57%. factors such as poverty, Neighbourhoods as places unemployment, poor education, that make healthy choices Babies who are born small are at poor housing and high levels of easier. These themes provide a the highest risk of dying in infancy crime. There are things the framework to tackle health and suffering from ill health in NHS cannot address on its own, inequalities in all parts of the later life. Low birth weight is although it obviously has a city, but particularly North defined as weighing less than major role to play in partnership Manchester where they are 2,500g and in Cheetham, Moston with others. most severe. and Crumpsall Wards over 10% of all babies born in the past five The provision of good quality, 6.2 ISSUES years have weighed less than accessible health services to local 2,500g. This compares with a communities in North Manchester The issues with respect to health national average of 7.6%. is largely the responsibility of the are as follows: Primary Care Trust (PCT), which Finally, there is a new major covers a total of 11 wards, which is North Manchester’s population Government drive to reduce the slightly larger than the study area. is too unhealthy There are very number of unintended teenage The North Manchester PCT is a serious and urgent pressures on the pregnancies, and once again there relatively new organisation, and, health of people living in North is variation across the area with over the next few years, the PCT Manchester. The latest figures show Blackley having a conception rate aims to change the way primary that compared with the national for under 18’s of 82 per 1000 girls, care and hospital services are average, the residents of the 11 compared to Cheetham where the delivered to make them better for wards covered by the North rate is 43 per 1000 girls. The patients and the public. Manchester PCT are 67% more Manchester rate is 58, and the likely to die of cancer and 52% national rate is 46 per 1000 girls. To help address some of the causes more likely to die of heart disease. of ill health, a Joint Health Unit Of the seven wards in North The distribution and has been set up between the three Manchester, five have standard accessibility of health services PCTs in Manchester (i.e. North, mortality rates well above those for There are 38 General Practices and Central and South) and the City Manchester, which in turn are 81 General Practitioners (GPs) Council. The Unit will lead and already well in excess of the working in the North Manchester support programmes on the national rate. PCT area, although some residents following four key themes: have GPs in neighbouring areas Within the regeneration area there such as Bury and Salford. • Tackling the major killers are marked differences. For including heart disease, example, residents of Harpurhey The Government has set cancer, accidents and suicide are 86% more likely to die of challenging targets to ensure • Better Health for Kids and cancer compared with the national people are able to see their doctor Families through a healthy average, whereas for Charlestown or another Health Service start in life the figure is 64%. In relation to professional within a 48 hour heart disease, residents of Moston period. It is also recognised that

50 SECTION 6 • HEALTH

accessibility would be enhanced if 6.3 THE HEALTH STRATEGY H.1.4 Create attractive and some of the premises where GPs safe recreational and leisure and other NHS services are located The objectives of the health infrastructure. were improved, or in some cases strategy are: Creating a wide range of ‘free’ rebuilt. opportunities for recreation and • Tackle the major killers leisure in an appealing is well served • Ensure better health for environment will provide people by hospitals providing specialist children and families with the choice to engage in treatment and care (e.g. Christies), • Improve access to health recreational activities. and residents in North Manchester services have good access to these services. H.1.5 Raise the level of However, most of their general H1 Tackle the main killers awareness of mental health hospital treatment and care is by supporting the choice to issues. provided at North Manchester live a healthier life. Access to information to raise the General Hospital in Crumpsall. level of awareness is one of the ACTION: first steps to combating mental The multiple causes of health issues and the high rate of ill health Making health choices is H.1.1 Smoking suicide in young men. far more difficult if the ‘pillars Working in partnership with the Consideration must also be given which support a healthy lifestyle PCT and schools to promote to the multiplicity of factors which have been eroded’ and this has smoking cessation programmes impact on mental health, in been the case in North Manchester. specifically targeting children and particular, access to employment, Access to healthy foods for people young people. training and good job prospects. without a car or those on low incomes is difficult with the decline H.1.2 Heart Disease H.1.6 Reinvigorate local sport of local high streets. Taking up To promote an increase in the and athletics clubs. routine physical activity, such as uptake of screening services for Local sports clubs are one of the walking, is less likely if the cancer and effective drug main mechanisms by which environment is seen as threatening treatments for heart disease. residents can become engaged in or unattractive. Having no job physical activity, leading to makes it extremely difficult to give H.1.3 Ensure access to high improved physical and mental health. Through such programmes up smoking despite the cost quality food. as the Sports Coach Training pressures, and high levels Eating high quality food is one of Programmes, every effort should be of crime and anti-social behaviour the cornerstones to good health. made to support and rebuild these lead to stress and possible Access to quality, affordable, stores clubs. depression. must be ensured in North Manchester both by improving the quality of the local stores and by Continued improvement to the improving transport connections to parks and recreation venues of the large food stores. North Manchester will underpin this strategy.

51 SECTION 6 • HEALTH

H.1.7 Reduce opportunities H.2.2 Continuation of walking distance of each for accidents along main travel SureStart Programmes neighbourhood and situated on corridors. SureStart has made an important local bus routes. Opportunity to Preventative measures and contribution to improving the influence the location may be educational projects need to be health of young children in North available through incentive funding implemented to reduce the rates of Manchester and other areas. This is schemes such as ‘LIFT’. accident along those routes in important work which should North Manchester which have been become part of mainstream health H.3.2 Ensure quality public shown to have high rates of and council services in the longer transport and pedestrian accident and injury, particularly term. environment. amongst children and older people Bus routings should be planned in (see Section 15 Transport). H.2.3 Childrens Services light of the location of To ensure that the demise of consolidated health care services H.2 Ensure better health services at Booth Hall Hospital and the proposed ‘community for children and families. does not have a detrimental impact service clusters’. Pedestrian routes on health services for children, and must be safe, well lit, and ACTION: to work with the North Manchester incorporate places to rest to PCT to ensure adequate provision ensure that walking to and from H.2.1 To work in partnership and location of facilities at North public transport is comfortable. with North Manchester PCT Manchester Hospital. and to utilise local community H.3.3 Promote services networks to support work H 3 Improve access to effectively and take account already underway. Specific health care. of cultural and language work will be aimed at: differences. H.3.1 Ensure that premises Health care services must be • Reducing the number of providing health and other promoted effectively. Given the unintended teenage services are accessible and ethnic diversity in North pregnancies easy to reach by public Manchester, cultural and language • Reducing smoking amongst transport by locating them differences need to be taken into pregnant women within ‘community service account in preparing information. • Increasing the rates of breast clusters’ (see Section 16 feeding Retail). • Promoting the Healthy Schools As the PCT encourages the Programme consolidation of primary health • Reducing harm from drugs and care premises over the coming alcohol misuse years, they should be encouraged to locate within ‘community service clusters’ (see Section 16 Retail) which are proposed to contain a mix of shops and services within

52 SECTION 6 • HEALTH

H.3.4 Services to meet the ACTION: needs of patients and targeted vulnerable groups at H.4.1 Build on the existing times and locations network of health forums in convenient to them, including the area. more outreach and home There are a number of local health based services. Accessibility fora across North Manchester means that service delivery must supported by the community and take into account the needs of local professionals. Opportunities patients and targeted vulnerable such as the development of a groups in terms of physical ‘Healthy Living Centre’ for North distribution and the hours of Manchester via the New availability. Home based services Opportunities Fund mean that local and more outreach may be residents can be involved in local required. work supporting healthier lifestyles.

H.3.5 Provision based on H.4.2 Tackle the wider determinants of good health local need. and achieve real progress. The different communities in Good health requires a holistic North Manchester have different approach, as there are many factors needs and priorities in relation to which shape and influence an health care. By developing individual’s willingness or ability to mechanisms to monitor local need, live a healthier lifestyle. Therefore, services can be more appropriately real progress needs to be made in planned and delivered. improving educational performance The PCT’s proposed ‘Health Wards’ (see Section 6 Education), reducing for North Manchester should be the rate of crime (see Section 7 supported as a way forward and Crime) and reducing the rate of should be integrated with other unemployment (see Section 11 service delivery structures, such as Employment and Section 12 ward service coordination groups Economic Development). and the crime and disorder local action partnerships.

H 4 Develop healthy neighbourhoods by recognising and addressing the wide range of factors which impact upon health.

53 Manchester Music Festival, Boggart Hole Clough SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

CULTURE PROMOTING ART, SPORT, CREATIVE COMMUNICATION, RECREATION AND LEISURE 7 INTRODUCTION Dance, music, drama, visual arts, media, recreation and leisure, sports and celebration, all come under the heading of culture. Culture can have an extensive impact on all areas of concern within urban renewal.

55 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

The development of creative regenerate communities is not provision. For the young and many individuals and communities realised. Targeted support and other residents of the North supports inclusion at all levels of resources by mainstream providers Manchester communities, the cost social, physical and environmental is required. involved (travel and entry rates) change, reduces dependency and south of the city centre weighted accelerates the process of Focus, development and cultural activity low on the list sustainability. A community that visibility of existing resources of priorities. values the creative potential of its While North Manchester has a people is a confident community number of small-scale cultural Diversity and integration interested in the development and facilities, they lack direction and The range and diversity of care of both its young and old. appear remote and divorced from North Manchester residents are It will support the drive and the fast developing city centre. underused assets. There is a need improvement of services that affect Most suffer from limited access and to express this diversity as a their lives, education, health, under investment, many are not strength and to promote, through employment, the environment and equipped or appropriately cultural contribution from all crime prevention. The cultural geographically located to fully and sections of the community, a more identity of a creative community is visibly realise the potential of the cosmopolitan and diverse image of confidently expressed through an diverse North Manchester the area. understanding and connection with communities. Communities often heritage and sense of place, and is reflect the quality of cultural 7.3 OBJECTIVES celebrated with pride. Creative services. People quickly lose communities attract investment interest in activities when facilities • Encourage the and become places that people and conditions in which they have creative/social development want to live in, work in, play in and to work are poor and of North Manchester visit. The cultural development of inappropriately equipped and residents a community can be a key trigger managed. Projects developed for • Support and promote the and driver to social and economic young people continue to struggle integration of North change, engaging people in a to find appropriate local facilities. Manchester’s diverse system that values and promotes communities ideas, ideas that can be Participation Participation is • Improve the coordination of incorporated into the process of increasing in North Manchester, sustainable arts, sports, regeneration. although this has not transferred to recreational and leisure increased investment and levels of services/facilities in North 7.2 KEY ISSUES engagement by some mainstream Manchester cultural facilities. A recent study, • Support Manchester’s Unlocking the creative commissioned by mainstream city Cultural Strategy potential of North Manchester centre providers, identifies the • Provide a creative framework The potential of cultural activity to north east and west districts as for communication both enrich lives, create jobs, attract having the lowest take-up rate for internal and external to investment and therefore to city centre located mainstream North Manchester

56 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

Cultural Strategy

Key

57 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

• Develop a framework for the C1.2 Build on the arts and additional creative, sporting promotion of North regeneration initiative and constructive community- Manchester as a diverse and North City Arts linked recreational activity, vibrant place to live North City Arts is designed as which is supported by the • Provide a vehicle for creative an arts and regeneration lead achievements of the North engagement in the service to highlight the East Manchester Education environmental/physical talents and creative potential Action Zone Gifted and development of North of the North Manchester Talented Strand, and the Manchester diverse communities. The North City Arts/Live • Investigate the need and initiative has forged links infrastructure. The feasibility of new facilities. with regional and national Manchester Music Service arts organisations interested continues to demonstrate C1 Increase community in investing in previously extensive provision for music capacity through under represented training across North cultural activity communities as well as Manchester. Key schools have providing a delivery developed strategies for Support and promote the mechanism for the operation readjusting achievement integration of North of the cultural strategy for criteria within the school Manchester’s diverse Manchester; ‘Our Creative through creative activity, communities City’. In order for North though they have found it Manchester communities to difficult to secure required C1.1 Build on the North City maximise the benefits of private sector investment. Live calendar of events regeneration, it is essential Cultural industries are a North City Live provides that a coordinating body modern employment support for the development exists to: phenomenon, particularly of events across the seven with the accessibility of and a half wards of North 1. Profile hidden creative digital technology. The Manchester. It is designed as potential creative potential of a tool to communicate both 2. Increase profile through technologies and promotion internally and externally, to vibrant contribution to the of an ideas-generating youth provide positive identity and city arts scene should be encouraged. explore and exhibit the 3. Develop robust Currently Creative Arts community diversity in North communication structures Partnership in Education and Manchester. The event’s locally and city wide the Arts Council’s Creative infrastructure is a trigger for Partnerships have had limited the positive promotion of C1.3 Support and develop impact on North North Manchester. additional schools activity Manchester’s creative Increasing numbers of development and schools from North achievement amongst the Manchester are engaging in young. The selection process

58 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

and accessibility of these The Sports Policy has many and new pathway development support services have lacked examples of good practice to sports training (clubs). clarity, a transparency, and throughout the city; however, have revealed a limited significant support is still C2 Develop and co-ordinate interest in North Manchester required in the “pump an improvement schools. priming” period to support the programme for existing growth of sporting cultural assets C1.4 Co-ordinate the approach opportunities for young to the development of people and adults. Create a vehicle for the creative, cultural and coordination of sustainable recreational activity Every effort should be made to arts, sports, recreational within existing cultural restore the local sport and and leisure services and and community centres athletic clubs. The sports coach facilities in North Whilst a number of cultural training programmes run by Manchester. Support the facilities exist within the Manchester Leisure should be mechanisms for the seven and a half wards of actively supported and linked operation of Manchester’s Cultural Strategy North Manchester, the to other youth service services they provide are providers as one of the main discrete and often ad hoc. mechanisms for restoring this The internal facilities lack informal community investment and fall short of infrastructure. Volunteers from modern health and safety the wider conurbation should standards. Most are run on a be actively pursued to form voluntary basis with limited and lead sports clubs and lead ability to market the outreach programmes to the services they provide. If the local communities. capacity of these centres is to be realised, clarity of “Passport to Sport”, (funded by provision must be realised, New Opportunities Fund) the co-ordinated and marketed. primary schools sports programme, offers access to a C1.5 Support local sports and variety of sports for every athletic clubs primary aged child in North Manchester City Council has a Manchester and should be dynamic sports policy, which is actively supported. This scheme designed to support voluntary utilises the coaches and sector sporting activity, volunteers from the coach which, in turn, supports the training schemes, supports the sustainable growth and development of new sports development of sports clubs. clubs and supports existing

59 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

2.1 Existing resources, ‘Friends of’ groups. Significant projects developing activity co-ordination and investment is required to amongst the young will potential development sustain and develop the support and sustain these potential of North facilities. 2.1.1 Parks and the environment Manchester’s green spaces as North Manchester contains major providers of Schools and Colleges within the seven and half recreational, health, sports Schools and colleges already ward boundaries significant and arts activities. play a hugely influential role green spaces including in setting the cultural Heaton Park, a major regional Community and parameters of the North destination for leisure and Cultural facilities Manchester area. Both recreation. Heaton Park is in The Jewish Museum, Manchester College of Arts receipt of Heritage Lottery Transport Museum, Abraham and Technology and funding for a further phase of Moss Centre, Lightbowne City College provide development centred on Learning Centre, Simpson significant high quality Heaton Hall. North Memorial Hall, Irish Heritage resources for the creative Manchester’s district and Centre, Cheetwood development of the community parks are equally Community Centre and communities they serve. as important in the historical Harpurhey Neighbourhood Increased access to facilities and social development of Project all offer vital both within the college and Manchester but have had community cultural activities schools framework for both little investment beyond basic and the opportunity to learn formal and informal learning maintenance. The Irk Valley, a through formal and informal activity should be encouraged. key green spine linking many activity learning. All these Quality partnership practice of the green spaces, is facilities would benefit from a will reduce the dangers of currently being developed as partnership approach to duplicating facilities. a major leisure recreational shared development and a asset by the Irk Valley Trust. marketing strategy which Libraries, Community The Trust is a partnership supports the coordination and Centres and places of between the community, awareness of provided worship Manchester City Council and services. All are potentially important Groundwork Trust. All these facilities for the cultural well- spaces have a major role to Leisure Centres being of the community play in the future cultural The challenge for North providing, as they do, an well-being of the North Management’s three leisure interface for the publicising Manchester communities. A centres will be to raise the of events in the area and city. calendar of events utilising level of utilisation, Structures need to be put in these spaces has been particularly by the young, place to support a cross- supported by the North City reduce disaffection and raise denominational approach to Arts/Live initiative in awareness of health issues. the network of faith-owned partnership with the various Linking this initiative to

60 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

facilities in order to maximise 2.3 Economic impact and In order to profit most from extended community monitoring this investment and provide communication and increase North Manchester, as the sustainable community investment potential. largest designated inner-city resources, a co-ordinated regeneration initiative, shares approach to delivery is a Formal places for similar problems to deprived priority recreation and play areas across core city partners. C3 Creative communication Formal sports facilities No mapping or monitoring and promotion appropriately resourced and has taken place to illustrate Provide a creative managed will help rebuild and analyse the economic framework for participation in sporting impact of city-wide cultural communication both activities in North activity and industry on North internal and external to Manchester and reactivate Manchester. If Manchester is North Manchester. Develop the development of clubs. to be recognised as a cultural a framework for the Such facilities can provide capital, significant promotion of North opportunities such as development and appropriate Manchester as a diverse informal mentoring between mapping are required to and vibrant place to live. adults and the young, demonstrate wider creating diversionary participation and the impact 3.1 Improved networks of activities for youth, of cultural industries in the communication developing healthy lifestyles, more deprived wards of North Communication of events, self-confidence and team- Manchester. Currently no activities and community building skills. structure or incentive exist to achievements is difficult to encourage cultural industry achieve. Currently the local 2.2 Support the operation of development in North newspapers have made Manchester’s cultural Manchester. significant contributions to strategy ‘Our Creative City’ more comprehensive area Robust structures are 2.4 Co-ordination of project coverage, but other forms of emerging for the effective delivery more immediate delivery of Manchester’s We aim to derive best value communication such as use of cultural strategy. North from existing project delivery billboards and key community Manchester is already invited by city-wide initiatives. information sites across the to take an active role in the Currently a variety of city-wide seven and a half wards of strategic development, initiatives are employing arts North Manchester have not operation and delivery of key and sports as a vehicle for been realised. This is vital if themes for growth and engaging the young, including the wards covered by the regeneration. Neighbourhood Nuisance and regeneration initiative are to the Splash programme, Youth combine under the banner of Contact Team, Connexions, North Manchester. Unlike SureStart and Children’s Fund.

61 SECTION 7 • CULTURE

other areas, particularly south information technologies 4.2 Consulted creative urban of the city centre, promotional should be widely encouraged environments sites are limited. A strategy amongst young and old to There should be a creative needs to emerge to define how increase the quality of internal approach to the entire public the North Manchester and external information realm of North Manchester. The communities can develop networks. Partnership with design of new buildings and internal dialogues. If North providers such as Radio Regen, traditional streetscapes, along Manchester is to be recognised Manchester Community with the procurement and design as a vibrant and desirable Information Network, M of street furniture and the place to live or visit, further Television and the Community maintenance regimes of both relationships and partnerships Learning Centres should be private and public spaces should with city centre distributors further encouraged. all be encouraged, demonstrating and promoters need to be an originality of thought, of developed. C4 A creative approach to sensitivity and responsiveness to the evaluation of need the way people live their lives 3.2 Creative application of new for new facilities today. There are many examples digital information Investigate the need and across core city partners where technologies feasibility of new facilities. creative thinking and appropriate With the rapidly developing Provide a vehicle for the consultation with communities world of digital technologies creative and social have provided vibrant and and accessibility of equipment, development of North sustainable environments. a whole new landscape for the Manchester residents. Community contribution to development of creative design of space engenders community information exists. 4.1 Analyse the need and ownership and sense of pride in Short film projects, community feasibility of new facilities place as well as interest in on- radio broadcasts, broadband If North Manchester residents going maintenance. Arts, webcasts and local terrestrial are to feel the full benefit of heritage and fitness trails are television all have all emerged Manchester’s cultural strategy examples of the kind of activities strongly in Manchester. All and are to be valued as a that can animate river valleys, these media have a role to play community with a significant such as the Irk, conveying the in engaging people creatively creative contribution to make, industrial heritage and ecology. in issues related to the there is a need to consider There are many possible creative development of their both existing facilities and the solutions to the development of community, as well as need for any new focused the dynamic green spaces of providing vital formal and space. North Manchester that can informal skill development. engage the community as well as People’s expectation regarding provide additional visitor the quality presentation of attractions for the city. information has increased. Creative application of digital

62 T’ai Chi, Queens Park Fold Street Triangle Community Garden SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

CRIME & SAFETY REDUCING THE CAUSE OF CRIME; REMOVING THE FEAR OF CRIME 8 INTRODUCTION Crime and anti-social behaviour are among the most serious impediments to neighbourhood sustainability. The viability and appeal of North Manchester is severely compromised by both the reality and perception of crime and disorder. This is obviously true of Manchester as a place to live. It is also true of Manchester as a potential location for businesses.

65 SECTION 8 • CRIME & SAFETY

The fear of crime in North 8.2 KEY ISSUES behaviour and take effective action Manchester is higher than crime against offenders. itself and is a very real problem for The impact on sustainability residents living in the area. To The regeneration of North address these issues Manchester’s Crime and fear of crime affect Manchester provides a rare Crime and Disorder Reduction people’s relationships with their opportunity to ensure that crime Strategy is being delivered with a neighbours, their locality, their city prevention is built into the physical local focus, through a strong and their enjoyment of their own rebuilding of communities. It will be partnership approach between the property. People with choices will equally important to ensure that the police and key statutory agencies, not stay in North Manchester so regeneration process focuses on the including the City Council, long as they feel themselves, their social causes and consequences of voluntary agencies and residents. families and their property to be crime and anti-social behaviour. The The Crime and Disorder Strategy insecure. The issue is therefore strategy should therefore achieve for the city as a whole has ten key fundamental to the sustainable better enforcement, better prevention priorities – to reduce street regeneration of North Manchester and earlier intervention into causes. violence, domestic violence, as a successful residential area. robbery, residential burglary, Crime prevention requires effective 8.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES vehicle crime, youth nuisance, anti- policing, enforcement and a holistic social behaviour, racist incidents, focus on prevention. The aims of the Crime and Disorder drug related crime and crime Strategy for North Manchester are affecting businesses. Within North The level of recorded crime in North to reduce crime and fear of crime, Manchester all of these are being Manchester is (as elsewhere) less both in absolute terms and in tackled, but anti-social behaviour, youth nuisance, burglary, drug- than people’s perception or fear of relation to how it averages for related crime, robbery, vehicle crime. Residents and communities Manchester and similar urban areas crime and street violence are need to be encouraged to report and the country. particular priorities. Furthermore, crime and be reassured that parts of North Manchester stand effective action will be taken when The objectives of the Crime and out as having particularly high they do. The effectiveness of the Disorder Strategy for North rates of certain types of crime. For response of the police, the Council Manchester are to: example, Moston, Cheetham and and other agencies is therefore a Harpurhey stand out as having key issue. It is also important to • increase confidence within difficulties in reducing burglaries provide residents and communities North Manchester communities and vehicle crime. Protecting Asian with information and reassurance that effective action against communities from racist about the true levels of crime and crime and anti-social behaviour harassment and crime is a disorder. can and will be taken. particular priority in Cheetham. • improve the coordination of Anti-social behaviour and youth One of the ways in which residents public services to reduce crime. nuisance are particularly damaging and communities can be reassured • target the few offenders who and affect large parts of North is for public agencies to be clear are responsible for most crime Manchester. that they have their priorities right, and anti-social behaviour in i.e: that they will support the North Manchester and to victims of crime and anti-social support their victims

66 SECTION 8 • CRIME & SAFETY

• increase prevention and earlier CS1.2 Use powers and crime CS 2 The coordination and intervention in the causes of reduction programmes to the delivery of services. crime and anti-social behaviour; full. • ensure that the police, local Residents need to be reassured CS2.2 Ensure that all public authority and others enforce that public agencies are using all agencies recognise the standards and take swift of the powers available to them to importance of their services effective action; and tackle crime and anti-social to crime and disorder. • design-out crime in the built behaviour, for example, Anti-Social environment. Behaviour Orders, truancy sweeps, Mainstream services need to licensing powers, and planning acknowledge their role in reducing 8.4 THE CRIME AND controls. In addition, there are a crime and disorder. For example: DISORDER STRATEGY wide range of Government keeping children in schools (see initiatives tackling robbery, Section 6 Education); ensuring high The key elements of the Crime and burglary, vehicle crime, offender quality provision for those excluded Disorder Strategy for North targeting and victims/witnesses from school; utilising citizenship Manchester are therefore: support. Residents will be made education in schools; enabling aware of how the Manchester social workers who visit people’s CS 1 Increase community Crime Reduction Partnership is homes to offer advice and confidence. making the most of these reassurance on crime and disorder, initiatives to reduce crime and especially for older people; Increase confidence within disorder in North Manchester. ensuring that public car parks communities that effective achieve secure car park status; action against crime and CS1.3 Communicate to dealing quickly with empty disorder can and will be taken. residents and involve them in properties, parks and open space tackling crime and disorder. which can attract crime and There will be strong and consistent disorder. The key point here is that CS1.1 Provide a visible messages to residents and all public agencies should see their presence where it is needed community groups advising them contribution to reducing crime and most. on what they can do to reduce disorder as a key part of their The most effective use of police opportunities for crime and anti- responsibilities for the future resources is not always patrolling social behaviour. This will include success of North Manchester. the streets. However, more police publicity for successes, such as officers are being recruited to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. There CS 3 Target offenders – Greater Manchester and the police will also be support and support victims. are directing police patrols to encouragement for individuals and hotspots for crime and disorder. community groups to be involved Target the few offenders who This will help to reassure North in developing ideas via Local are responsible for most crime Manchester residents. In addition Action Partnerships and and anti-social behaviour and there are increasing opportunities Homewatch schemes. support their victims. to deploy an official presence on the streets, e.g: Neighbourhood Wardens, Street Wardens and Police Community Support Officers.

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CS 3.1 Targeting offenders. CS4.1 Provide diversionary CS4.3 Encourage youth led Current work will continue to be alternatives to anti-social and projects. used to secure targeting of both criminal activity. Positive, even radical, steps are sanctions on and support for Coordinated approaches to necessary to repair the relations individuals or families who are promoting protective factors and between young people causing severe problems in reducing risk factors targeted at in North Manchester and the wider communities. This will include the those most at risk of crime and society, and to reintegrate severely continuation of the use of Anti- anti-social behaviour will be a disaffected individuals. Activities Social Behaviour Orders and other priority. This means close links on offer must be relevant to the legal action. It is also important between strategies and activities outlook and aspirations of the that the Probation Service and that support prevention and early young people being targeted, and others continue to develop intervention in all its forms across not simply reflect what the effective programmes for offenders. North Manchester: cultural, authorities think they ‘ought’ to The use of arrest referral and Drug sporting, and school based enjoy. An open minded attitude to Treatment and Testing Orders will activities (see Section 4 Education; dialogue and a sincere help to ensure that offenders Section 6 Culture; Section 8 commitment to listen and act is driven by drug abuse are targeted Employment and Economic vital if credibility is to be achieved. for treatment. Development; and Section 13 Parks and Open Spaces). CS4.4 Preventative schemes CS 3.2 Support victims and initiatives. and witnesses. CS4.2 Ensure easy access to These will be long-term projects Vulnerable people and repeat employment training, careers designed to deliver long-term victims will be identified and given advice and further education. benefit to the community, priority for target-hardening There is an array of opportunities supporting individuals and families measures, support and advice. for training and further education. who are vulnerable to offending, Victim Support, the police and the and diverting them away from anti- Council will continue to support The concept of providing ‘one social behaviour. Funding will be witnesses and protect them from stop shops’ is being introduced largely through Government money intimidation. This is essential if through Connexions (see Section and will include the development residents are to have the 9 Employment and Economic of schemes from funds such as the confidence to support successful Development) where people can Children’s Fund, Neighbourhood prosecutions. access a comprehensive range of Renewal Fund and SureStart, all of information, support and expert which work with families with very CS 4 Focus on prevention advice on a variety of issues eg: young children. This work will be housing, benefits and legal backed by schemes to deter crime Increase prevention and early matters in one place. These by improving the physical intervention in the causes of should be located in the environment and devising crime and anti-social behaviour. community service clusters (see initiatives to set acceptable Section 14 Shopping). standards of behaviour, for example citizenship projects within local schools.

68 SECTION 8 • CRIME & SAFETY

CS 5 Enforcement and action the community and other agencies will provide an intelligence-led CS5.1 Cross tenure neighbour approach to community safety. nuisance partnership. The Neighbour Nuisance CS5.5 Enforcement measures. Partnership already deploys a Enforcement measures will aim to dedicated team in North reduce and stabilise crime levels Manchester which works alongside in the medium to short-term by the police, the community, and tackling head on those others to take action against anti- individuals, groups and families social behaviour. who persistently offend and show no sign of changing their CS5.2 Neighbourhood behaviour. These include Wardens. initiatives like the North Neighbourhood Wardens will Manchester Neighbour Nuisance continue to patrol areas of North Team, Prolific Offender Targeting Manchester both on foot and by and Problem Orientated Policing cycle. They support the community methods. by acting as a link between the community and agencies. They also CS 6 Design out crime report issues to agencies, for example environmental repairs, Design-out crime through the crime and anti-social behaviour, build environment. and act as professional witnesses. CS2.1 Deliver a safe and CS5.3 Police community welcoming public realm and support officers. secure built environment. These officers will provide a There should be a much greater uniformed, visible presence in the focus on the quality, design and community. They will concentrate management of the built patrols in crime hotspots and environment to reduce the amount areas which do not have and perception of crime. This does Neighbourhood Wardens. not require fortress-like security measures which can create an CS5.4 Problem oriented impression of a place troubled by policing. crime. Instead, it requires Using the principles of what is imaginative high quality design known as problem oriented and management. Planning and policing – joint work between the building regulations will be used to police, Manchester City Council, apply ‘secure by design’.

69 70Call Centre Training, MANCAT, Moston SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECURING ACCESSIBLE EMPLOYMENT 9 INTRODUCTION North Manchester accounts for 20% of the city’s total population. Manchester needs a strong North Manchester to support economic growth and reinforce its position as the North West’s key economic driver. Much has been achieved over the last decade and some areas of the city have been transformed or radically improved. Increasingly, more people want to live within the city.

71 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Key drivers for economic change Cheetham 11.3%). Unemployment Closer to the city centre, include the growth of the city levels are particularly high amongst Strangeways and Cheetham Hill centre, expansion of the Airport, males, and in communities which Road East/Red Bank provide a the Universities, the have high concentrations of ethnic range of flexible, low cost, basic Commonwealth Games and the minorities, disabled and lone premises which support the city regeneration of Hulme and East parent residents. centre economy. Its character is Manchester. The city centre and dominated by clothing businesses airport will continue to grow and The Manchester Employment Plan – importers, wholesalers and will build on their position as the is one part of a series of strategies manufacturers. However, region’s most important generators aimed at increasing employment increasing numbers of hi-tech of jobs. The merger of Manchester opportunity and social inclusion. service sector companies (e.g. University and UMIST and plans for The Employment Plan is also the graphic designers, IT, consultancies) the development of Manchester as way that Manchester’s Public are beginning to move to the area. a ‘knowledge capital’ will provide Service Agreement targets will be an unparalleled range of delivered in relation to employee The M4 area (Tobacco employment and commercial rates. The North Manchester Factory/Addington Street) is opportunities for the city. Ensuring Economic Strategy sets out the dominated in the north by public that all residents can share in its objectives and actions required to service depots (fire and police growth and contribute to the achieve improvements at a local stations, Royal Mail) that should repositioning of Manchester within level, which will contribute to the remain over the medium to long the UK, is without doubt one of achievement of these targets term. In the south there is a the most important challenges city wide. mixture of former mill buildings facing the city today. Access to and textile warehouses which have sustainable employment is a North Manchester once contained seen piecemeal redevelopment and requirement for the regeneration of many more jobs than is currently new-build. This forms a natural North Manchester. It increases life the case. Globalisation has led to extension to the live/work opportunities and is fundamental a long-term decline of traditional regeneration that is occurring in to the creation of sustainable employment sectors, and the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and communities. dramatically altered the nature of other city centre fringe locations. the skills and qualifications However, alongside these successes required to succeed in the labour Established ‘traditional’ and hopes for the future, there are market. Despite the declining employment areas in North still neighbourhoods which have industries, North Manchester still Manchester are primarily within the acute levels of deprivation. retains some large employers. Irk Valley and close to the city Unemployment levels across North These include Avecia and Beldon in centre, these include the Vale Park Manchester average 7.5%. The Blackley, Greater Manchester Industrial Estate which is home to degree and intensity of Police, the City Council and those a number of low grade unemployment in Cheetham and in the health sector. manufacturing/storage businesses. Harpurhey is amongst the highest They are under pressure from the in the city (Harpurhey 11.2%, housing industry, as well as those

72 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Employment & Transport Strategies

Key

73 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

pursuing the recreational and possibly navigate their way through The need to respond to environmental benefits from the system or locate the most pressures appropriately restoring the valley as a green appropriate point of entry. The Employment areas within North corridor, stretching north from the delivery and co-ordination of Manchester are under pressure city centre. mainstream employment from a wide range of forces and interventions by partners across interests: the booming city centre Straddling the boundary with East North Manchester must be economy, the housing industry, Manchester, the first phase of the improved and access to information recreational and environmental Central Business Park represents a for local residents streamlined. concerns. The nature of these significant future opportunity for pressures needs to be evaluated in knowledge based industries and The need to maximise the relation to aspirations for North growth industries as well as economic benefits of Manchester. In some cases this traditional industries. employment areas and may involve supporting and opportunities strengthening employment areas so 9.2 KEY ISSUES North Manchester contains the full that they can benefit from or range of employment areas and withstand pressures. In other Persistent high rates of opportunities. Some of these areas cases, the rapidly changing context unemployment/economic provide important jobs for North may put more of an onus on inactivity Manchester’s residents. Others individual employment areas to Despite existing initiatives, there support the city centre and wider respond to the changing context remain persistent and high rates of economy. Within the rapidly and be better neighbours. unemployment and economic changing context of Manchester’s inactivity in certain communities economy and this Strategy, the Ongoing adaptation and groups. Barriers to economic long term prospects and is required activity continue to prevent certain opportunities associated with each The full impact of globalisation and groups from accessing employment of these areas need to be the information economy is not yet training programmes and understood and intervention felt. In the future, the world ultimately work. targeted accordingly. Businesses economy will be more integrated should be supported to ensure the through trade, investment and Co-ordination and targeting in maximum economic / employment communications. Adaptable the delivery of training value is extracted from these assets workers with high occupational and /employment and business and harnessed to deliver greater technical skills will be in demand; support local benefit to residents and North Manchester residents and The sheer volume of regeneration communities. businesses should be part of this activity and new initiatives new economy. focussed on the area over the past few years has contributed to a situation where many of the intended beneficiaries, whether residents or businesses, cannot

74 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

THE EMPLOYMENT AND ED1.1 Focus on actual jobs not developed and linked to existing ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ‘job opportunities’ services at Job Centre Plus at STRATEGY The idea of training to improve ‘job Cheetham Hill and . prospects’ can be an unattractive one to increasingly disillusioned ED1.3 Sell growth sectors as 9.3 OBJECTIVES groups who have been occupations economically inactive for a long It is often the case that significant The objectives of the employment period. The idea of training for an sectors in employment growth and economic development existing real world job in a firm is a terms are unattractive to those strategy are to: much better incentive. Engaging looking to enter employment. In employers and linking real particular the leisure, retail, • Identify and target job opportunities to groups of long hospitality and the business and opportunities term unemployed people supported professional services sector • Target training linked to with bespoke job specific pre- represent major sources of opportunities recruitment activity and training employment for residents of North • Remove barriers to ensure equal has already worked well with the Manchester. Growth sectors should access to jobs ASDA store in Beswick. A renewed therefore be promoted as exciting • Support and encourage effort to engage new and existing employment opportunities. entrepreneurial activity and employers and extend this Accurate and effective information existing businesses approach would be beneficial. is required on the nature of Experience suggests that post employment ensuring that those ED1 Identify and target job employment support is critical to taking up employment opportunities the success of this type of initiative, opportunities do not encounter especially when interventions are unexpected problems which may Reducing economic inactivity targeted at those who have been deter them from continuing in a across all sections of the out of the labour market for some particular job. community and all ethnic time. groups and re-engaging a large ED1.4 Create a public sector section of the workforce is the ED1.2 Job brokerage: provide employment programme key priority. The focus is on a ladder of opportunity The public sector is an important identifying current and future In order to make significant inroads employer and source of new jobs in job opportunities, and into reducing economic inactivity the area. proactively working with the across all groups in the area, it will A public sector employment North Manchester community be essential to link training and programme should seek to link up to help them secure positions. employment support to a range of long term unemployed people with jobs and occupations from entry the appropriate training and level upwards. The provision of a support to enable them to take up targeted job brokerage service to specific job opportunities in the link employers to ‘hard to reach’ public sector. and ‘at risk’ groups could be

75 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Housing to be constructed in the structured across Manchester, to ED2.6 Ensure quality course of implementing the North ensure that there are adequate A high quality learning Manchester Regeneration Strategy linkages between those targeting infrastructure should be provided will provide an important source of the 13-19 age group and those across North Manchester. employment for local residents. targeting adults. This will help to Providing access to learning in the This must be linked to other ensure that seamless pathways to home, the community (shopping strategies around training and skill employment or further training are centres, post offices, leisure development to ensure that local provided and that people can be facilities, libraries, schools, colleges) residents can take up these effectively tracked. or in the workplace. Quality opportunities. assurance systems should be ED2.3 Extend basic skills developed or reinforced. ED2 Target training linking provision to opportunities Currently the provision of basic ED3 Remove the barriers to skills training and life skills ensure equal access to jobs training/support is oversubscribed Provision of a high quality across the area. Provision should Barriers to economic activity learning infrastructure across be extended and participants continue to prevent certain North Manchester is essential recruited via outreach work. groups in North Manchester to success. Motivating and ED2.4 Better targeting of from accessing employment renewing confidence is also training training programmes and essential in order to encourage There is a requirement across much ultimately work. Interventions people to learn and upskill. of the training provision to be more should focus on empowering Building on basic skills and a proactive in targeting beneficiary individuals and targeting the supported approach to groups and meeting employer issues they face. navigating training needs. Provision should focus on programmes is recommended. those sectors and groups that will ED3.1 Ensure better ED2.1 Extend outreach make the biggest long term impact co-ordination of services and The stakeholders of the framework on the economic inactivity rates. information should place emphasis and priority Efforts must be made to co- on outreach as a means of ED2.5 Create a ‘wired ordinate information and engaging hard to reach groups. community’ intelligence on employment and Youth provision should be The development of the North training opportunities at the North strengthened and outreach Manchester ICT strategy provides Manchester level. This should extended to adults where current the framework for bringing about support the priority in the provision is weak. real benefits and increasing the use Manchester Employment Plan to of new technologies throughout reduce the complexity of ED2.2 Link youth and North Manchester. We strongly interventions across and within the adult provision advocate reinforcing the North city, and to ensure that the There is an important opportunity, Manchester ICT strategy and co- resources of mainstream services given recent changes in the way ordinating access to ICT equipment reflect the needs in North training and employment is with appropriate training support. Manchester. The focus should be

76 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

on providing an effective, quality ED2 Target training linking to ED3.4 Create a North service and building on currently opportunities Manchester Intermediate weak linkages between those Labour Market (ILM) providers targeting the 13-19 age programme Provision of a high quality groups and providers targeting Significant ILM opportunities exist learning infrastructure across adults. within construction, house building North Manchester is essential to and environmental renewal success. Motivating and renewing ED3.2 Facilitate access to associated with the other elements confidence is also essential in employment areas outside of the North Manchester order to encourage people to North Manchester Regeneration Framework. learn and upskill. Building on The majority of employment Appropriate groups from within the basic skills and a supported opportunities for the area’s labour market should be supported approach to navigating training residents will be outside North to take up ILM opportunities and programmes is recommended. Manchester. Action to improve training within these sectors as a levels of economic activity must stepping stone to the mainstream focus on facilitating access to ED3.3 Tackle barriers through labour market. Experience from opportunities in the city centre childcare provision and other within the region illustrates the and strategic business areas. measures value of an ILM programme Transport initiatives to improve Improving access to the labour especially when underpinned by access to work should specifically market through enhanced and quality training, support and focus on: affordable child care and support follow-up counselling. for parents will improve the • Improving east-west connections participation rate. This must be ED3.5 Empower the through improved bus services linked to city wide early years voluntary sector and road connections strategies and local SureStart The voluntary and community • Connecting Metrolink stops to programmes. Similarly, the sectors have a key role in creating a allow east-west movement provision of employment advice range of opportunities in without going in to the city and training for adults with volunteering or paid work, as centre disabilities and behavioural providers of training, advice and • Ensuring access to Central difficulties in the area has been support or as a catalyst for social Business Park identified as a key gap in current and community enterprise. support. A version of the Greater detail on these strategies is youth focused ‘Project 4 Inclusion’ Efforts should be made to ensure contained in Section 11 Transport. for adults is a possible model that the voluntary sector can to follow. continue to play a genuine role in the determination of local priorities, and in defining the best ways to deliver services within their local communities.

77 SECTION 9 • EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ED 4 Support and ED4.2 Create an encourage entrepreneurial Enterprise Forum activity and existing Creating an Enterprise Forum for businesses North Manchester would create a valuable interface between business and the multitude of Comprehensive support must be support agencies, bringing together provided to strengthen the potential entrepreneurs, forging existing business base and business networks and creating encourage new enterprise in its mentoring links between firms. widest sense, from new technology based high value ED4.3 Support sustainable businesses to social and employment areas community enterprises. The Proactive support should be role of enterprise and enterprise focused on consolidating existing development is important to business uses within North create jobs and also to improve Manchester and delivering the quality and range of environmental improvements. The services open to residents. strategy should provide support to businesses wishing to relocate, and ED4.1 Strengthen and bring support conversion to alternate clarity to business support uses which are compatible with the Business support in North overall vision of the Strategic Manchester is currently delivered Framework. by Manchester Enterprises, the Economic Development Group at the City Council, and the Small Business Service delivered by Chamber Business Enterprises. Efforts need to be made to ensure these services are co-ordinated and that provision reflects the needs of businesses in North Manchester.

78 Cheetham Hill Heaton Park SECTIONThe physical 1 • INTRODUCTION environment of North Manchester needs to undergo a transformation if we are to create the living environment the communities require to develop and flourish. The area has some great assets. Places like Crumpsall and Blackley Village have a strong sense of character. The park system, the natural topography, and the foothills of the Pennines also offer great opportunities THE PHYSICAL to the environment we aim to create. Our aim is the creation ENVIRONMENT of sustainable urban communities. This implies a commitment to many things, amongst the most important being the quality of the physical environment; the houses people live in, the streets they walk along, the parks and gardens they play in. It implies long term quality in the built environment, not just in year one, but in the long- term function and adaptability and management of the places in which people live. As we have seen, Manchester has demonstrated that it can deliver sustainable communities. Our intention for North Manchester is to harness the skills and commitment of public and private sector organisations to deliver some of the best residential opportunities and communities in the region. Our goal is excellence. However to deliver transformation we must understand the magnitude of the challenge.

81 Sure Start Harpurhey and Lightbowne SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

COMMUNITY CHARACTER CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE & QUALITY

10 INTRODUCTION A distinct and appealing character and a high quality environment help to establish a ‘good address’. North Manchester needs a step change in these two areas to change its image and market appeal.

83 SECTION 10 • COMMUNITY CHARACTER

There are parts of North strategic framework to guide away and their locations do not Manchester which are unexpectedly investment has also hindered respond to the hierarchy of the charming. Crab Lane, Blackley judgement in some parts. surrounding streets. Village, Boggart Hole Clough and parts of Crumpsall are amongst 10.2 ISSUES In old and new schemes alike, the them. The designation of the level of quality in design and Conservation Area in Crab Lane The key issues to address are: construction is too low across large and the ongoing conservation tracts of North Manchester. Until Lack of character and sense review in Crumpsall recognise the there can be a transformation in of place. special quality of these areas. the quality of the physical Too much of the area lacks a environment, it will be difficult to distinct character and sense of However, there are also large tracts change North Manchester’s image. place: the hierarchy within the of North Manchester which have To achieve a step change, residents, urban structure is unclear, the little in the way of a unique employers and private developers definition of communities is character or sense of place, and must be confident that new unclear and there are too few where the level of quality in the development will be substantially points of reference. Apart from the built environment is simply too low. better than that which currently few charming places, there is very Unfortunately this applies too exists. Rigorous pursuit and little which stands out to create a often to new schemes as well as commitment to quality is required. mental map of the area. the older ones. Ashley Lane stands as a recent scheme where there 10.3 OBJECTIVES These are important issues because was too little attention paid to the they have a large impact on the details of urban design and where The key objectives of the experience of being in North the quality of the environment is community character strategy are Manchester, as a resident and of too low to attract a wider range of to: exploring the area as a visitor. residents. • Improve North Manchester’s A general lack of quality in the Due to the scale and extent of the image for residents and design of the built form and issues confronting North visitors alike the public realm. Manchester, resources have • Ensure quality in all aspects of The situation is exacerbated by sometimes had to go into short- the built environment poor quality of design in the term solutions which have not streetscape and in particular always been sustainable. Whilst 10.4 THE COMMUNITY Council estates which are too often some of these have contributed to CHARACTER designed without a clear network improving the environment and of streets and blocks or clear often make an important The key elements of the sense of definition between public and contribution to community pride place strategy are: private space. Buildings are and capacity building, they tend to situated in such a way that they do divert attention and energy away not form a continuous street from the more substantive change frontage. Shops tend to be hidden needed. The absence of a clear

84 SECTION 10 • COMMUNITY CHARACTER

CC.1 Improve North Greater civic life can be reaches of the River Irk to connect Manchester’s Image encouraged, in part, by mixing uses, North Manchester to the city strong street frontages, locating centre. CC.2.1 Celebrate and reinforce active uses on the ground floor, and areas of special character. attention to the quality of the CC.2.5 Appreciate the Those areas which have a distinct public realm - the lighting, street topography. character should be recognised and furniture, materials and plantings. North Manchester’s topography their character preserved and affords views of the city centre and strengthened. For example, Blackley CC.2.3 Create gateways. environs that are not found in Village, parts of the Irk Valley, the Gateways need to be created to other parts of the conurbation. mansion houses in Crumpsall and mark the arrival into North Their celebration, preservation and Crab Lane need to be specially Manchester and the city centre at enhancement should be considered addressed to preserve and reinforce its southern end. This should not in the location and design of new their character. Even some of the be interpreted to mean a physical development to reinforce what is terrace houses, those of best quality, gateway structure. Innovation and one of the area’s defining should be preserved as they are creativity are required. Gateways characteristics and qualities. distinctly of the area and a strong might be a sequence of buildings element of the area’s history. or ‘events’, a single prominent CC.2.6 Improve the Blackley Village in particular stands structure, piece of art, landscaping, appearance of neighbourhoods. out as an area where a distinct signage or a point of activity. A number of high impact village environment could be Gateways should be created along improvements that can be achieved recreated by the appropriate mix of the main arterials such as in the short term, are underway. uses and built form. , Rochdale For example street cleansing, Road and Oldham Road at key graffiti removal, resurfacing of CC.2.2 Create and celebrate junctions. The junction of roads and footways, removal of places of activity. Having more Rochdale Road and Queen’s Road street clutter, improved street people out on the streets offers early potential to create a lighting and park and open space socialising, shopping, and enjoying quality statement of place. management all make a marked leisure time will add to North difference to the overall appearance Manchester’s character and sense CC.2.4 Identify and highlight of neighbourhoods and give a of community. the landmarks. North sense of pride back to residents Manchester needs more of its about the places they live. The existing Harpurhey and landmarks to be celebrated, to Cheetham Retail Centres as well as provide visual cues and cultural CC.2.7 Identify innovative Moston Lane stand out as places reference points, and to provide interim uses for vacant land. where retail activity is concentrated local reference points which Where early demolition leaves sites and where there is the greatest residents identify and associate as vacant, short-term improvements pedestrian activity. In the future, ‘home’. Landmarks might be are required to improve their the proposed community service natural features or physical appearance, pending clusters will also be areas where buildings or structures. In redevelopment. No site should be shops and services and pedestrian particular, a landmark structure cleared without a clear activity will be concentrated. should be created at the lower rehabilitation and forward strategy.

85 SECTION 10 • COMMUNITY CHARACTER

CC.2.8 A coordinated and 1. Character: Places with their C.2.2 Ensure good quality. effective marketing strategy. own distinct and successful High quality design and The vision for North Manchester is identity. construction contributes to the ambitious and it will take time to value, visual interest and appeal of realise. However, the area already 2. Continuity and Enclosure: an area. In practice, achievement has many natural attributes such as Places where streets and public of high quality design requires that location, green space and transport spaces are coherently and the approving body has the links which should be fully attractively defined. courage, dedication and authority presented now. The private sector to insist on quality design where it is already realising this as 3. A Quality Public Realm: is not initially provided. demonstrated by significant Places with attractive and interest in parts of Collyhurst. A successful outdoor areas. C.2.3 Ensure quality in all dynamic marketing strategy for the aspects of management. area at a strategic level linked to 4. Ease of Movement: Places Management is critical to long- Marketing Manchester, should be that are easy to get to and term success. The procuring of high developed amongst key partners to move through. quality urban spaces, streets and re-profile North Manchester as a parks is worthless without putting residential area in order to fully 5. Legibility: Places that have a in place the mechanisms to exploit its potential. clear image and are easy to manage, maintain and understand. police those spaces at a very local CC 2 Ensure quality in all level. There are already some very aspects of design, 6. Adaptability: Places that can good practices being developed by construction and evolve easily and flexibly the Council in relation to management maintenance of the physical 7. Diversity: Varied environments environment. The ward service CC.2.1 Adhere to the offering a range of uses, groups are an important principles of good urban opportunities and experiences mechanism to monitor and ensure design high standards. Quality can be achieved in part by adhering to the principles of good urban design as outlined in an array of widely disseminated documents, including the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) principles which stress:

86 Cheetham Hill Manor Park, North Manchester SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

HOUSING ESTABLISHING STABILITY IN THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET 11 INTRODUCTION The restoration of stability in North Manchester’s housing market is a fundamental goal of this Regeneration Strategy. This will only be achieved through a radical agenda to build on the strengths of existing functioning markets and to transform those areas where markets have failed. Without transformation of the housing stock in North Manchester, the future prosperity and vitality of the area will be impossible to deliver.

89 SECTION 11 • HOUSING

In some parts of the area both Creating a strong housing market the detailed solutions for individual public and private sector housing with healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods will not become stock requires a radical reappraisal. demand is crucial. A wide choice absolutely clear before the next The Council is currently tackling of housing in terms of quality, stage of the planning process. the issue of public housing. tenure and affordability, which To this end a critical element of the However, the future benchmark of meets the current and future production of more localised plans success will be the wholesale and aspirations of existing residents is will be the involvement of existing committed engagement of the required. communities. In this way their private sector housing industry. housing needs and aspirations The quality of new housing and the can be taken account of, and The commitment of large numbers built environment together with the overall balance between of individuals and families to good schools and other facilities renewal and new housing will create their home in North will significantly contribute become clearer. Manchester, their largest life time to attracting new residents and investment, will be the true investors to North Manchester. The Housing Market Renewal Fund measure of the success of the offers huge opportunities to Regeneration Strategy. The housing strategy for North restructure the housing market in Sustainable, large scale sales of Manchester and the nature of Manchester over the coming years, high quality housing, to a broad interventions will have to be and parts of North Manchester will range of owners, will signal that sensitive to the differing needs directly benefit from this new confidence has returned to North across the area. It is clear that resource. This investment, together Manchester. It will signal that the some parts of the area will need with potential investment from environment is safe, that radical renewal involving clearance other partners such as English community facilities are good, that of some of the worst housing. Partnerships and the planned the schools are successful, and that There are other neighbourhoods review of council owned properties, people believe that access to life where demand is high but quality will be guided by this Strategic opportunities can be found in the is low. There are also locations Framework. area. within North Manchester, not previously developed for housing, The remainder of this section The housing strategy for North that offer very attractive new identifies issues, overall objectives, Manchester aims to: opportunities. Finally, the most then characterises the area stable areas of housing will need suggesting place-specific housing • Support existing and new continued high levels of interventions in relation to need communities; management and maintenance of and opportunity. • Stabilise the housing market the physical environment to ensure • re-position the area to capture long-term stability. the opportunities from a thriving city centre; North Manchester is a very large • Provide good quality and a complex geographical area, and choice of living for new and whilst broad principles and existing residents objectives for housing can be identified within this framework,

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11.2 KEY ISSUES the older stock is very poor. Some Negative and Low Equity. of the new housing which is being The decline of housing value has The main issues are as follows: built is a variation on the old caused too many people to be terrace house form and therefore trapped by negative equity, where Existing initiatives have not does not contribute to greater the value of their home is worth arrested the spiral of decline choice. As a result, those wishing less than the mortgage. Others, Despite regeneration initiatives to move up the property ladder are while not technically in negative targeting both social and physical forced to look outside the area. equity, have seen no real growth in issues, the decline has not been values and accessing higher quality arrested in parts of North Sustainable areas housing is difficult as the value Manchester, most notably in the Within North Manchester there are gap between sustainable areas and centre of Harpurhey and residential neighbourhoods of those suffering market failure has Lightbowne. In these areas the special character which have the grown. impact of failure in the local potential to influence the wider housing market is very significant. housing market. Areas such as the Ability to address Empty properties attract extreme Crab Lane Conservation Area, disinvestment. forms of anti-social behaviour, Blackley and parts of Crumpsall As a tool for addressing placing high demands on (proposed for Conservation Area disinvestment, the Compulsory emergency services and further status) in particular are examples Purchase legislation can be pressure on residents to move which need special attention in cumbersome, expensive and time away. order to fully exploit opportunities consuming. Given the scale and for the wider market. nature of the issues in North Investment in public infrastructure Manchester, this tool is currently such as schools, roads and public The private rented sector. inadequate to achieve a solution. transport is undermined. The Stimulated by low housing prices, sustainability of shops and adjacent unscrupulous property owners The development of the prospectus neighbourhoods is also acquire numerous properties with for Housing Market Renewal Fund undermined. the intention of generating income. investment in Manchester and They expect little back in terms of Salford includes a ‘Tool Kit of Insufficient choice long-term appreciation in value Measures’ for addressing, amongst There continues to be too little and therefore invest little in others, negative equity and CPO choice in the housing market in physical improvement of their stock processes. In addition, options for terms of size, quality, and value. or in good management practices. the regulation of the private rented Relative to current demand, there is To ensure a guaranteed income, sector will be piloted. considered to be a shortage of they often let to housing benefit larger, high quality, more expensive claimants and as a result a Council properties housing and an excess of the small, younger, transient population with There are approximately 14,000 low value homes such as the pre- significant deprivation problems Council owned properties across 1919 terraced houses. Demand often replaces the older, stable North Manchester, some of which levels in Cheetham, for example, populations, exacerbating are showing signs of physical continue to be high across all community instability. deterioration. The overall design of tenures but the quality of some of some estates hinders natural

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surveillance and contributes to THE HOUSING STRATEGY Manchester and retain residents crime and, in particular, youth who are otherwise forced to nuisance. 11. 3 OBJECTIVES leave when aspiring to move up the housing ladder. The total The council is currently addressing The overall objectives of the number of Council properties this by undertaking a housing strategy across the area needs to be reduced. Higher comprehensive review of options are to: value and larger family housing for the future of its stock, including is required. alternative management • Create the conditions for arrangements and the potential for investment by the housing • Deliver high quality investment by the private sector. industry. The private market supporting services. The requires certainty in order to most desirable neighbourhoods Terrace housing take risks and invest. Creating are usually those which appear Terrace houses have a character and maintaining that level of well cared for and safe. There is and sense of place that is not certainty requires: available sites also a choice of quality shops, found in many new developments, of sufficient scale; easier site food stores, parks and transport. and they continue to command assembly; a focus on the area’s There must be strong links high values elsewhere in the city. strengths; a credible and between the housing strategy Given their contribution to the achievable phasing, delivery and and all other aspects of the area’s character, options for funding programme; and short wider regeneration strategy to retaining the best quality term successes to build ensure sustainable communities. terraces should be explored as confidence and convey part of a strategy for driving up commitment. • Link Housing with the the overall quality and value of Education Strategy. Good the housing stock. • Improve conditions for schools in the right places are existing homeowners. paramount to ensure stability The opportunity to expand Support for existing and future and new investment in the private sector interest homeowners is required: negative housing market. Education and There continues to be private equity must be resolved; means to housing strategies should be sector interest in parts of North assist low income/low equity brought together to meet the Manchester, particularly in the households to benefit from new needs of existing communities south closest to the city centre and opportunities must be found; and longer term opportunities. towards the north in Blackley. The stable areas must be secured; the conditions by which existing extent and quality of the private 11. 4 PLACE SPECIFIC private sector interest can be rental market must be controlled; STRATEGIES expanded need to be explored so and monitoring should be that they can be better exploited. established to safeguard stability. The housing strategy will need to guide a variety of interventions • Diversify housing forms, appropriately tailored to the needs tenure and size. Greater of different parts of North diversity is required to attract Manchester. Interventions will be new residents to North guided by a number of local plans

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and by individual ward plans. provision of single person Parts of Harpurhey and Lightbowne These local plans will also form accommodation, poor environment to the east of Rochdale Road are part of the prospectus for guiding and lack of shops and community still dominated by terraced the investment of housing market facilities. The exception to this is housing. There is some recent new renewal funds within the area. the Monsall neighbourhood which build although it is mostly has benefited from intervention subsidised in some form by the HSG 1 Collyhurst and major investment as part of a public sector. This area has previous regeneration initiative. The experienced pockets of Collyhurst benefits from proximity neighbourhood has been vastly abandonment and the whole area to the city centre and opportunities improved physically, the former is affected by low demand to related to the River Irk Valley. The council estate now being replaced varying degrees. key opportunity here is to create an by a new mixed tenure edge of centre community, that neighbourhood. Whilst benefiting Many homeowners are trapped in benefits from the outward growth considerably from improved quality negative equity. The private rental of the city centre and the ease of and choice of housing, the market has proliferated, all too access to it. Building on the community still suffers socially and often involving unscrupulous success of the Tobacco Factory and economically. Other strategies landlords. There is very little private sector interest in adjacent within this framework and a local housing choice in terms of quality, sites, there is an opportunity to plan for the wider Collyhurst area size or amenities. Privately rented create city centre style living in the will need to address this. properties are often poorly swathe of land extending from the managed and there are high levels city centre to Queen’s Road, west Building on the success of Monsall, of void properties. In some of Rochdale Road. The Red Bank the objective for the housing neighbourhoods void levels are as scheme is poised to be the next strategy in these neighbourhoods is high as 40%. major scheme in this area to create family accommodation capitalising upon this opportunity. across a range of tenures and To remove blight, support new Public sector intervention to values. Build quality and design of build and pave the way for large assemble sites and invest in the new neighbourhoods should ensure scale restructuring, the Council has public realm will be necessary in that they adhere to good design brought forward resources to deal some locations to maximise the principles and present an area that with the worst concentrations of opportunities. High demand in is outward looking and takes abandonment and to tackle Cheetham presents a huge advantage of its location and the unfitness through clearance. opportunity to capitalise upon. natural topography. The Council is At the same time there has been Increasing population flow presents currently undertaking an analysis intensive neighbourhood an opportunity to offer both of its council stock and the management and service co- housing choice and introduce a potential in these areas for ordination to maintain confidence greater mix of communities. investment by the private sector. in sustainable neighbourhoods and Consultation with residents will to support communities suffering Housing in southern Harpurhey inform the approach to these from housing abandonment and and in the northern parts of options. low demand. Collyhurst is primarily council Given the extent of market collapse HSG 2 Harpurhey and owned. The area here suffers from here significant intervention is Lightbowne high property turnover and an over justified. The scale of development

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should be the equivalent of a new create strong links between the improve the conditions of private urban village with a broad range of Clough and Moston Brook. sector stock, and the environment, tenure and housing types that and to strengthen key meet the needs of existing Options to retain the best quality neighbourhood facilities. communities, attracts new ones, terrace houses should be explored and which can be delivered by the in order to maintain a range of There has been a geographic public and private sectors. housing types. By focussing on concentration of interventions small areas of higher quality along and adjacent to the There is a strong local community terrace housing, particularly at the Cheetham Hill Road area which committed to the area. As well as east end of Moston Lane by the has strategic importance as the protecting existing communities, Ben Brierley , there are major retail and commercial centre, increasing population flow presents opportunities to establish areas of running through the middle of the an opportunity to offer greater special character. A similar ward, along one of the city’s main housing choice and introduce a opportunity exists related to the arterial routes. This included greater mix of communities. 1930’s housing in the south at the developments such as the Temple edge of Moston Brook. School PFI, supported by Restructuring over time to improvements to properties in the capitalise upon open spaces would A local plan for the heart of Huxley Avenue and Greenhill Road create the opportunity to take Harpurhey and Lightbowne which Renewal Areas. In much better advantage of the explores these issues within a wider Cheetwood/Fairy Lane, public Moston Brook and in so doing, context and against social and sector resources provided gap potentially create a high value economic factors is required. The funding to enable the demolition development in this area that also aspirations of existing residents of two former council estates and benefits from access/visibility from and potential for new investment their replacement by a new mixed- Rochdale Road. This can be will inform the planning process. tenure development. All existing mirrored by similar development on residents who wished to remain in vacant land east of the Moston HSG 3 Cheetham and the area were able to do so, Brook between Lathbury Road, Crumpsall benefiting from the improved Monsall Street and Monsall Road. conditions. New development can extend west A vibrant and diverse area and a across Rochdale Road, north of focus for inward migration. Notwithstanding this investment, Queen’s Park and the Manchester Community networks are strong the condition of some privately General Cemetery, down into the and well established. In recent owned stock continues to give valley, connecting the communities years both Cheetham and cause for concern. The full extent east and west of Rochdale Road. neighbouring Crumpsall have of housing conditions would be experienced an increase in best informed by a deeper analysis Similarly, phased restructuring of population and subsequent high of properties in some the northern half of Lightbowne demand for housing across all neighbourhoods. There has been a and Harpurhey along the southern tenures. Cheetham with Broughton significant population increase in edge of Boggart Hole Clough could was a SRB supported area Cheetham in recent years leading better support the successful and regeneration initiative between to high demand for housing across stable semi-detached properties in 1996 and 2003. It has benefited all tenures. In tandem with this is a this area, and be designed to from significant investment to rise in demand for education,

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health and other public sector offers great potential to influence housing that expands and services. This needs to be change in the housing market in capitalises on areas of stability, addressed by other strategies surrounding areas. taking advantage of the much within this framework and the ward better accessibility provided by the plan for Cheetham. Capturing this will require some completion of the M60. limited intervention in However, although demand is high neighbourhoods that are showing Opportunity exists to support, particularly for larger family signs of weakness. In recognition of secure and capitalise on houses, the housing strategy would this, the process of declaring a sustainability by developing new, be greatly assisted by some Renewal area has started to high value, low density housing at intelligence research to inform the improve property conditions, the periphery and through ongoing longer term housing aspirations of prevent a drift into private renting environmental improvements. A communities in Cheetham. and retain high levels of owner number of empty sites at the edge occupation. As a way of of existing communities represent Interventions in Cheetham will need capitalising on and enhancing the early and easily developed sites for to capitalise on existing specific character of the new high value family housing. improvements, particularly neighbourhood, three adjacent key continued environmental neighbourhoods are to be proposed These sites include the land around improvement. There is some for Conservation Area status. Council owned tower blocks in opportunity for strategic site Charlestown and Blackley where assembly through phased removal These physical changes need to be development could better situate of the worst quality and most supported by intensive the towers within a coherent unsustainable housing stock. This neighbourhood management and framework of streets and blocks, should be supported with long term policy intervention to control a making them safer and better and comprehensive management proliferation of houses in multiple connected to the surrounding area. strategies for the systematic renewal occupation. / replacement of existing poor A specific opportunity exists on the quality and unsustainable housing Broadly, therefore, the approach is site of Booth Hall Children’s stock. Improvements in Cheetham to optimise the value and benefits Hospital at the edge of Boggart have to be co- aligned with areas of existing assets and intervene in Hole Clough, for high value family in neighbouring Salford. places where there are market accommodation, although the Manchester’s continued partnership weaknesses. This will allow the hospital’s closure and relocation is with Salford as a pathfinder existing quality hosing stock and not programmed till post-2006. partnership for housing market the appealing character of its renewal will enable joint working neighbourhoods to be enhanced. and the development of integrated HSG 4 Blackley, housing strategies across Charlestown and Moston. neighbourhoods supported by joint approaches to neighbourhood Blackley, Charlestown and Moston - management. the northern belt - remains the Crumpsall continues to be one of most stable part of North the most desirable and stable areas Manchester. Opportunity exists to in North Manchester. Its position develop high value, low density

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Council stock throughout these private sector investment. The area Manchester through leisure parts will be reviewed with a view currently benefits from its activities and new housing to putting in place alternative geographical location, the developments. options for management, and to surrounding attractive topography assess the potential for investment of the Irk Valley and distinct So far, private sector interest is in their physical condition. character of the Crab Lane focused at the south end of the Irk Continued good management of Conservation Area. New housing Valley, adjacent to the city centre stable estates addressing early developments are already in place and toward the north in Blackley signs of deterioration is required. on the former Avecia lands. Village. Other opportunities for This should be carried out in Adjacent neighbourhoods around transforming the River Valley exist tandem with taking opportunities Middlesex Road have been but must be considered in tandem to integrate estates with private improved by a combination of new with the strong imperative to retain investment to provide a mix of build and the transfer of some and support remaining tenure. A good example of this is council properties to a housing employment uses and to establish the planned Eastlands scheme in association. a high quality open space network. Blackley and adjacent Walker Road area improvements. There still remain pockets of In Blackley Village employment obsolete terraces and poor areas have slowly declined and can Many of the issues in specific environmental quality which need primarily co-exist with residential neighbourhoods across Blackley, to be addressed here to maximise uses. Nearer the city centre, and Charlestown relate to the area’s potential. Again the housing is complementing the social issues around crime, youth community here is very committed existing mix of uses, which is very nuisance and anti-social behaviour to the area and actively contributes much in keeping with trends in city which threaten to undermine to its stability. centre living. In the middle portion otherwise healthy communities. of the river valley, where Some of these issues are not HSG 5 Irk Valley employment uses are ongoing, a helped by the physical design and focus on clean up and improved layout of some of the council The river, previously ignored due to security would create better estates, but like other the gradual decline of industry in neighbours to emerging residential neighbourhoods across North parts of the river valley has opened developments. Manchester will not be solved by a new range of opportunities. physical change alone. Private sector interest in sites along Potential housing developments in the river’s edge and along the the Valley need to be seen, The ward plans for these areas will edges of the bluff, capitalising on therefore, in a much wider context need to identify specific attractive views and settings, for the valley as a whole. These are communities that would benefit together with growing interest by also addressed in the Open Space from concerted interventions across recreational enthusiasts and strategy of this framework. a range of services to ensure environmentalists, represents the stability. emergence of a new vision for the River Irk and its valley. This could The wider Blackley Village area is be a major attraction to the area well positioned to benefit from linking communities across North

96 Terraced Housing, Harpurhey Oldham Road SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

TRANSPORT CREATING CONNECTIONS

INTRODUCTION 12 The transport strategy must support the wider regeneration objectives. In short, our transport infrastructure and public transport services should underpin North Manchester as a location of choice with excellent connectivity to the employment, leisure and education opportunities of the wider city and region. In particular, it must support new housing and employment areas, which are fundamental to the achievement of the area’s regeneration and Manchester’s long-term economic prosperity.

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12.2 KEY ISSUES Accessibility to transport is Areas with higher rates of child essential if it is to facilitate and pedestrian accidents. The key issues with respect to residents in meeting day to day There are within North Manchester transport and movement are as access to shops and services certain corridors and some follows: and regional commuting needs residential areas which are getting to and from work. identified as having high numbers A strong emphasis on In terms of price, it must be of child pedestrian accidents. These radial routes. accessible to those with limited include: Cheetham, Harpurhey, Bus services within North resources. Charlestown and . Manchester are well established The needs of disabled, elderly and along the radial routes moving to other potentially isolated people 12.3 OBJECTIVES and from the city centre. need to be taken into account. An existing Metrolink provides Routes to and from the major The objectives of the transport services to the city centre and Bury, transport services need to be safe strategy are to: and a planned Metrolink line will so that people feel comfortable and increase accessibility up to the secure in using transport. This is • Support the wider regeneration Central Business Park and Oldham. particularly an issue in North objectives An interchange planned at the Manchester where many residents • Enable residents to meet day to Central Business Park will facilitate express a high level of fear of crime. day needs change between the bus and the The vehicles themselves must be • Facilitate residents getting to Metrolink and, in the longer term, maintained to a high standard and and from work potentially also with rail. feel secure and comfortable. • Ensure the quality and accessibility of transport The focus of transport along The current legislative and • Reduce the number of accidents the radial routes to and from regulatory framework seriously the city centre means that limits the ability of the Public there are relatively limited Sector to control the routing and opportunities for east-west frequency of bus services. It is travel across communities. therefore vital to ensure that the This effect is exacerbated by the Irk limited resources available for new River and valley which forms a publicly subsidised services are used barrier within North Manchester, to support the highest priority dividing and reinforcing the services. differences between the communities to the east and west In the longer term, increased of Rochdale Road. This is economic activity and the particularly an issue in relation to repopulation of North Manchester the accessibility of the Central offer the best prospects for Business Park for the residents of improving the range and frequency the west side of North Manchester. of bus services.

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12.4 THE TRANSPORT TR 2 Enable residents to meet A stop should also be created in STRATEGY day to day needs. Collyhurst/Cheetham just south of Easy travel by all modes, Queen’s Road to support and The following are the key including the ability to change increase accessibility to this area components that will deliver the and transfer, should be the and encourage inward investment. objectives of the transport strategy: long-term aim. A set of This area is planned in the strategy transport nodes will facilitate to be the focus of intensive TR 1 Support the wider change in travel modes. housing development. Along the regeneration objectives. Linking together Metrolink existing Bury Metrolink route, a The transport strategy must stops on the Eccles, Bury, new stop is also proposed at support the Strategic Oldham and Ashton-Under- Abraham Moss. This should be Framework. Access to specific Lyne lines with bus services supported to improve access to the areas will be required to would help to improve east- High School and Cheetham. encourage development in west links, as well as travel desired locations, and transport between modes. TR.2.2 Support Existing nodes should be encouraged Quality Bus Corridors and where the greatest level of ACTION: proposals to introduce more activity, mix of uses and density along Rochdale Road and is envisioned. TR.2.1 Support new Metrolink Oldham Road. Approximately stops at Central Business Park 20% of all employment trips from ACTION: and Queen’s Road, Cheetham. North Manchester continue to be The maximum benefit should be to the city centre where a great TR.1.1 Coordinate transport extracted from the existing and number of jobs and services are services with the regeneration planned investment in Metrolink. located. Therefore support should strategy. Transport services must Along the planned route to be given to the two proposed be routed to support the Oldham two stops are essential to Quality Bus Corridors (QBC) along regeneration strategy as it evolves North Manchester’s regeneration. Rochdale Road, serving the heart and is refined. New housing, The proposed stop at the Central of the area; and Oldham Road, employment areas, leisure centres Business Park will allow transfer serving the southeast parts of the and recreational areas need to be between several modes of travel area. In addition to continued supported with high quality and and will be essential in securing support for the existing bus accessible services to help to them the successful development of the corridor and Cheetham Hill Road, ensure success. The intensity of Park. It will also secure good on street parking which helps local housing development should be access to a wider labour force, shops to capture passing trade planned in light of the location of having spin-off benefits to the local must be included within the design transport routes. employment market. The proposed of the QBC. Monsall stop will act as a local focal point serving existing housing and supporting the viability of potential new housing sites.

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TR.2.3 Increase the opportunity employment areas). The nodes TR 3 Improve pedestrian to travel east-west by bus. should reduce walking distance and cycle safety and Transport services should be between the modes of travel and provide enhanced links augmented to support east west be secure at all times. Locations between residential, retail, travel, in particular so that include the Harpurhey and leisure and employment residents can access jobs within the Cheetham Retail Centres as well as areas and community conurbation without having first to the Central Business Park. facilities by these transport go into the city centre. There are a Secondary nodes should be modes. number of potential routes across provided where key transport the area which currently require routes meet. These include the Preventative measures must be changes between buses to proposed Metrolink stop on taken to reduce pedestrian and complete and could be reviewed in Queen’s Road, the proposed new cycle accidents in North this way: Metrolink stop at Rail Manchester. There should be a Station, Moston Rail Station, particular focus on those areas • Alan Turing Way, Queen’s Rd, Rochdale Road and Victoria identified as having high rates Elizabeth St, Great Cheetham St. Avenue Junction, and Bowker Vale of incidents. Walking and • Ten Acres Lane, Church Lane, Metrolink stop. cycling should be enjoyed as Moston Lane, Factory Lane, greater modes of choice for Waterloo Street, Crescent Road, TR.2.5 Encourage wider moving through North Bury Old Road, promotion of subsidised fares Manchester. Singleton Lane, . and services available. • Ashton Road, Hale Lane, Although a number of mechanisms Action: Nuthurst Road, Moston Lane, for funding travel exist, many of Charlestown Road, Blackley New the people who would benefit most TR.3.1 Improve pedestrian and Road, Sheepfoot Lane, Scholes from them are often not aware of cycle safety. Measures should be Lane, Hilton Lane. their entitlement. Targeted taken to improve pedestrian and • Hollins Road, Hollinwood campaigns should raise the cycle safety in key areas. This is Avenue, Victoria Avenue, awareness of these concessions e.g. important simply in making it more Sheepfoot Lane, students 16+ and the elderly. comfortable for a population with Scholes Lane, Hilton Lane. Equally, awareness of the public low car ownership to walk by transport facilities available should making routes to bus stops feel TR.2.4 Create transport nodes be raised. The PTA’s efforts to safer. It is also important in terms to facilitate change between lobby for greater freedom in of increasing bus utilisation. modes of transport. A set of funding travel, for example for lone Improvements should be addressed: transport nodes should be created parents and job seekers, should be to facilitate change between supported. • Along Corridors. Review the modes of travel. Major transport existing programme of road nodes should be created at key safety improvements to focus on intersections and major trip key corridors with high numbers attractions (shopping and of pedestrian accidents and

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resolve pedestrian/vehicular taken into account in planning disabled people and single conflict, notably on: Cheetham access to all major community mothers, may sometimes or indeed Hill Road, Cheetham uses including employment, always experience difficulties in Street/Leicester Road, the health, shops and leisure using traditional transport services. northern half of Waterloo Road, facilities, including parks, Alternative, flexible measures Crumpsall Lane, Middleton Road community centres and the Irk should be explored and introduced north to Sheepfoot Lane, Valley. These need to be as appropriate. Some of the types Victoria Avenue, significant implemented with good of measures that have been portions of Rochdale Road, lighting, be overlooked and considered elsewhere and should Fernclough Road llinwood highly visible with good sight be considered further in North Avenue. lines and no blind corners. Manchester include: car pooling for • In support of public transport. Crossings should be provided large employers or employment Ensure that the routes to and where they are needed/will be training, subsidised bus services for from the stops feel safe for used. schools, dial-a-ride for targeted pedestrians. mobility-impaired groups, flexibly- TR 4 Introduce a measure • In residential estates. Highway routed local bus services that can of flexibility to respond to improvement measures should divert from core routes to drop off local needs. include extensive 20mph zones and pick up passengers, taxi-buses Sometimes local residents will in which the road space is for combined local trips and require more innovative, shared with the wider needs of voluntary sector transport with flexible services to ensure that residents in mind and the layout mini buses which allow greater all day-to-day needs can be is designed with a target speed flexibility. These services should successfully met. For of 10mph. Similar measures complement and support existing example, trips to doctors’ should be provided by alternative services which include surgeries with an ill child or developers of new build subsidised schools buses, an area- from food stores with heavy housing. wide Ring and Ride service and bags, require a level of • In residential estates. some demand-responsive transport intervention beyond that • Along routes to schools. In services. which can be delivered by the addition to highway standard transport system. improvements at the above TR4.2 Work with partners to locations there is a need to provide more local services in enable safe pedestrian access to Action: the late evening. Some parts of schools. Where School Travel the area are not well served in the Plans have not been introduced TR.4.1 Explore alternative evening times either to facilitate they should be as a matter of flexible transport access to employment or to leisure urgency and where they have arrangements and delivery attractions in the city centre. Safe been, they should be reviewed mechanisms. Some members of and affordable provision needs to to assess their effectiveness. the community may require special be provided. • To community uses. Pedestrian attention to meet travel needs. For and child safety needs to be example, the elderly, the infirm,

103 Boggart Hole Clough, Charlestown SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES IMPROVING THE APPEAL

13 INTRODUCTION One of the North Manchester’s greatest assets is its great Victorian Parks: Heaton Park, Boggart Hole Clough, Irk Valley and Queen’s Park. These parks contain the potential to achieve a step change in North Manchester’s image and to provide the context for sustainable and attractive housing.

105 SECTION 13 • PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

Why are the parks so important? So for the Valley and strategically the area’s greatest natural assets many cities and towns across coordinating efforts. This work is and are unique within the Europe and the USA have being led by the Irk Valley Steering conurbation, but are not demonstrated that the quality of Group who will also define the role celebrated. Strategically positioned, the environment, parks, squares of each site, oversee management they contain the potential to make and gardens, is a major driver of and maintenance and secure funds North of the most both regeneration and economic for capital investment. desirable communities in the success. If we are to attract people conurbation. The Parks Strategy for to live in our cities we must provide There are many mainstream and Manchester, ‘Parks for All Seasons’, excellent recreation and relaxation voluntary organisations involved in demonstrates how parks can be opportunities to compensate for the day to day improvements in safe and enjoyable places to visit, the hustle of urban life. North Manchester’s open spaces of many at the centre of including: Groundwork Trust; Red communities. North Manchester has a major Rose Forest; and many committed opportunity to recover and residents and tenants associations. The Parks Warden Service has celebrate its great parks, to present Improvements to areas such as developed a series of programmes them as a focus for regeneration, Blackley Forest, Bailey’s Wood and and activities, particularly in the as a focus for new housing, and as Moston Vale are the achievement principal parks, designed to a better way of city living. There of community and voluntary encourage safe use and increased can be no greater waste than to groups which are very active in the participation in Manchester’s Parks. allow these assets to be ignored or area in partnership with the This approach, supported by the worse, to be considered as a Steering Group. active involvement of local hindrance or burden to the future residents, has increased the use of success of North Manchester. The 13.2 KEY ISSUES North Manchester parks and parks and river valley network of should be supported and North Manchester are one of its The key issues related to open encouraged as a means to greatest assets. space are as follows: sustainable use and future development of North Manchester’s Steps are well underway to make Untapped wealth Parks. Recent reviews for the better use of the area’s green The potential for North management and maintenance of spaces, be it parkland or derelict Manchester’s parks and open parks annual management and open space. Past open space spaces to achieve a step change in operational plans will provide strategies identified extensive the area’s image and to contribute improved care. amounts of underused open space, to the quality of life is not yet fully recommended focussing on realised. Most parks are in need of The extent of derelict land improved quality, a structure further investment. Derelict and Since the 1960s, a decline in total comprising the Irk Valley corridor unused land contributes to the population, housing demolition and the major parks, amongst area’s poor image and increases and a decline in employment has other key elements. This led to the fear of crime and anti-social created large areas of underutilised development of the current behaviour. The River Irk and land throughout the area. In 1999, restoration of the Irk Valley. A key Moston Brook still feel neglected. some 250 of approximately 590 piece of work is the bringing The green spaces and topography hectares of open space were together of all available resources of North Manchester are amongst estimated to be neglected or

106 SECTION 13 • PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

derelict. This quantum of 13.4 THE OPEN SPACE outset, the river should be cleaned ‘unclaimed’ space creates an STRATEGY to restore its health and to create atmosphere of decline and is an attractive environment for difficult to manage and maintain. The key elements of the recreational activities. strategy are: Limited funds call for OS 1.2 Linked trails should be creativity in stewardship and OS 1 Improve North built along the River Irk and management Manchester’s Image. its tributaries, the Moston, Notwithstanding the importance of Boggart Hole and Dam Head North Manchester’s open spaces, The appeal of North Brooks. An essential element in funds are limited for their creation Manchester’s open spaces must the river valley vision, the trails will and maintenance. A strategic be improved as part of the help to restore the river as a central approach is required to extract holistic approach to feature within North Manchester, funds from the regeneration regeneration. This means connect all areas of North process to help to pay for their investing in parks, establishing Manchester to each other and the improvement and long term trails, and creating “events” city centre, and increase the level maintenance. such as interpretation centres, of amenity for local residents and fishing ponds, historic sites, and visitors alike. Key links required 13.3 OBJECTIVES cultural centres to support a include: much wider range of users: The open space strategy objectives anglers, mountain bikers, • A landmark connection to the are to: runners, and walkers in city centre addition to attracting a higher • From Queens Road to • Improve North Manchester’s level of casual usage by local Harpurhey Reservoirs image residents. Furthermore, by • Along the Upper Irk Valley • Contribute to improving the creating a greater range of • From the Irk Valley to quality of life users and activities, there will Heaton Park • Supporting wider regeneration be greater opportunity to link • From Queen’s Road to objectives including those to private sector funding. New Moston related to health, education and culture ACTION : North Manchester should be also • Eradicate the problem connected to existing regional long of derelict and neglected OS1.1 Broaden the appeal of distance trails such as the Irwell open spaces public open spaces by creating Sculpture Trail, the Cheshire Ring • Engage the wider community in trails, improved open spaces, Canal Walk, Trail, the stewardship of open spaces and a set of “events” that Rochdale Way and Oldham Way to invite greater use. the Pennines. The Irk Valley, already the subject of intensive work by the Irk Valley Steering Group, should be consolidated as a green corridor in which employment, recreation and housing can co-exist. At the

107 SECTION 13 • PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

OS.1.2 Introduce events into of contaminated land. Funding OS.1.4 Continued investment the Irk Valley that celebrate for remediation of the tip in major parks and Boggart its industrial heritage. There is should be a high priority. Hole Clough. North Manchester’s an interesting story to be told • Bowker Vale Fishing Ponds, major parks require improvement to about the River Irk related to its are set within the woodland to make them into principal industrial heritage and its the south of Blackley New Road. attractions. Complementing the ecological assets. The emerging Fishing Ponds are one of the recent investment in Heaton Park, trail along the river could link opportunities for casual and Queen’s Park should also be together a chain of events and informal mentoring between restored to become a cultural focus points of interpretation so that adults and youth, part of a and an important junction in the visitors can experience the river’s holistic strategy to reduce youth open space system from which story. Strategic locations along the exclusion and crime, and they east-west and north-south linkages Irk Valley to create “events” include: should be improved. can be formed. Opened in 1846, Queen’s Park was one of Britain’s • The CIS Tower, Victoria OS.1.3 Create a network of first municipal parks. It is a Grade Station and St Michaels linked recreational trails. In II Park in the Register of Parks and Flags are at the start of the Irk addition to the Irk Valley trail, Gardens of Historic Interest, and Valley Trail in the City Centre. North Manchester’s open spaces every effort should be made to These need to be celebrated should be linked through a wider safeguard it. and their histories explained. network of trails that will create • The Viaducts along the valley new recreational opportunities and Furthermore, this further are forgotten icons of the improve connections to the wider investment is required in Boggart that made conurbation. Hole Clough, an unspoilt wooded Manchester a leading city of its ravine containing a site of time. The viaducts present Within North Manchester a loop biological importance (designated opportunities for development, should connect the Irk Valley with in Manchester City Council’s UDP) whether that is in the shape of Queen’s Park, Moston Brook, as well as a wide range of facilities. small workshops or events that Broadhurst Clough and Park, With its quite dramatic and varied make use of the arches and Shackliffe Green, Boggart Hole topography and the added bonus celebration through, for Clough, Bailey’s Wood and French of a charming name, Boggart Hole example, lighting strategies. Barn Lane. Key links are Clough has the attributes of a • Queen’s Park, is situated at required between: regional destination and local the confluence of the Irk Valley community resource. The recent and Moston Brook. It is growing • Queens Park to achievement of Green Flag status in stature as a focal point for Harpurhey Reservoirs acknowledges the extent of cultural activities and acts as an • Queens Park to Moston Brook improvements achieved in the last important orientation point for • Moston Brook to five years, but great scope exists for future recreational users of the Broadhurst Clough further action. Initiatives should Irk Valley trails. • Broadhurst Park to aim to improve its image, sense of • The Harpurhey Reservoirs, Shackliffe Green safety, and to restore facilities. located to the south and the • Bailey’s Wood to French north of Harpurhey Road, are an Barn Lane ideal opportunity for restoration

108 North Manchester Mela, Heaton Park SECTION 13 • PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

OS.1.5 Continued investment impoverished by the run off will also allow a more focussed and good management of local from an adjacent tip, to create effort on improving quality in parks. North Manchester has a an interpretive centre the remaining open spaces. number of local parks such as • Broadhurst Clough and the Broadhurst, Crumpsall and south east of Broadhurst Park ACTION: Nuthurst which play an important are valuable wildlife sites where role in terms of local facilities and access is encouraged and OS.2.1 Raise the profile of key environmental quality. So do a enjoyed by many people underutilised sites. Several open wide range of smaller, local play • Blackley Forest is a community spaces within North Manchester go areas and open spaces within forest that has been neglected almost unnoticed but are housing areas. All of these require in the past but is now going potentially valuable, both as open further investment and a higher through a phase of regeneration space ‘events’ in their own right, standard of management in order in large measure through local and as opportunities to lever to maximise their contribution to community participation higher quality development at their boosting the desirability and • Bailey’s Wood, a woodlands area edges. These sites should be sustainability of the residential which is also the focus of identified, better defined and areas around them. restoration driven from within celebrated. In some cases, simply the adjacent community naming them could raise their OS.1.6 Enhance and restore • Bowker Vale Reservoirs which profile and identify them as a areas of particular biological are the focus of angling activity ‘place’ that can be visited and and historical significance and in this part of the Irk Valley utilised. Examples, some of which interest. Opportunity exists are already the focus of voluntary throughout North Manchester to OS 2 Eradicate the or community regeneration restore higher levels of biodiversity. problems of neglected and efforts, include: This is important in its own right, derelict land as a measure of environmental • Moston Vale which was once a health. Areas of biodiversity and A large proportion of open steep edged valley with the conservation will also make a space in North Manchester is Moston Brook running through contribution to other aspects of the informal or with a vague role it prior to culverting and tipping strategy, such as education, by and identity. The opportunity is in recent decades creating places for students to visit to form new parks and / or to • Bailey’s Wood, one of and learn. Places where develop on under utilised open Manchester’s few ancient semi- biodiversity and nature space. Whilst a few key sites natural woodlands, which conservation can be promoted might form valuable open currently goes largely unnoticed include: spaces, funding for new parks is • Moston Meadow, the large limited and so the aim for the expanse of informal open space • Shackliffe Green, a wildlife site majority of neglected and in the upper part of Moston adjacent to Boggart Hole derelict sites should be to Brook between St Mary’s Road Clough, could be utilised more develop them. This is an and Broadway effectively for educational opportunity for early, high purposes value development that will • Restoration of the Harpurhey assist to create a step change in Reservoirs, currently North Manchester’s housing. It

110 SECTION 13 • PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

OS.2.2 Identify sites for early ACTION: such as a cafe along the river development. A number of corridor or within the major parks, underutilised open spaces could be OS.3.1 Build on the momentum the interface between improved developed without detrimentally and support voluntary open spaces and adjacent sites (ie. impacting the open space amenity agencies. The voluntary agencies more valuable development sites). within North Manchester. In fact involved in North Manchester’s The challenge will be to better doing so, would help to focus on open spaces have provided a utilise mainstream funding to improving the quality of remaining momentum on which to build, and ensure that it works effectively to open spaces. Early sites on which mechanisms for further support the overall regeneration development should be considered engagement of the community in strategy for North Manchester. include: North Manchester’s regeneration. This will require careful analysis of The work of these organisations how mainstream expenditure is i. The land around the will help to achieve and perpetuate currently applied to assess the Charlestown Towers a high quality, well-used public potential for redirecting and ii. The land around the towers on realm. Coordination between targeting funding so as to support Blackley New Road groups will help to maximize use of the policy and programmes iii. Lands in Higher Blackley in the available resources, prevent identified for each local plan vicinity of the Convent replication or conflicting activity, initiative. and allow experiences and lessons OS 3 Promote partnerships to be shared. The Irk Valley This represents a significant to enable strategic Steering Group should be challenge as it requires the investment and strengthened and better coordination and buy-in from a maintenance of open spaces. funding to achieve this and the number of public service agencies development of a warden or ranger – the City Council, Greater In an improved state, North service should be considered. Manchester Police and the local Manchester’s open spaces will health authorities. provide wide benefits for all of OS.3.2 Encourage resident the area’s stakeholders. With involvement. Resident All of these public services could the limited funds available to involvement in the improvement contribute to the regeneration manage and improve parks and and long-term stewardship of process by ensuring that their open spaces, every effort North Manchester’s open spaces expenditure was directed in a should be made to form will make an important manner that addressed the specific partnerships to increase funds, contribution to their restoration. It needs of the local communities labour resources and will also build community capacity, targeted within this overall strategy stewardship. Early partnerships commitment and pride. for investment and change. should be sought with those who will experience early OS.3.3 Engage the private benefits, such as residents and sector. Opportunities for the private sector. enhanced private sector activity should be identified and pursued. Specific opportunities include discrete commercial opportunities

111 North Manchester Neighbourhood Retail Areas SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION

SHOPPING MEETING THE DAY TO DAY NEEDS

14 INTRODUCTION The high street once formed the heart of most neighbourhoods and was the place where local shops could be found to meet shopping needs. Quality food stores are frequently the hallmark of sustainable and healthy neighbourhoods and those with the means will often drive substantial distances to frequent them.

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Over the last 15-20 years retailing stores, which makes the provision of provision and to best understand has changed considerably good quality local centres and shops which ones fit within the modern throughout the country. The major important. Within the heart of retail hierarchy and, therefore, which supermarkets and national multiples North Manchester, Asda at ones should be supported and how. have grown in influence at the Harpurhey is the largest Ultimately, the findings of this study expense of small, independent retail supermarket. This store is to will be important in guiding private businesses. Traditional high streets undergo a programme of sector investment in the area. and local retail centres have been improvement as part of the wider eroded, resulting in a high degree of redevelopment of the Retail Centre 14.2 ISSUES property vacancy, a limited retail which is to include 120,000sqft of offer, poor environmental quality new retail floor space, a new retail The retail issues to be addressed are: and knock-on effects of social market, new combined leisure centre exclusion, crime, poor health, a loss and children’s centre and new police Poor quality shops of neighbourhood pride and out- station. Long-term efforts to secure disadvantage migration. There continue to be a similar investment in Cheetham North Manchester examples of high streets which Hill have recently borne fruit. The poor physical environment, thrive, often related to the quality of proliferation of fast food the provision and environment. It Neighbourhood retail provision takeaways, and the lack of quality should also be recognised that across North Manchester is varied. goods in North Manchester impact peoples’ shopping habits have Much of the area has followed upon the quality of life of existing dramatically changed over the last existing national trends, seeing the residents and disadvantages them 10-20 years. Increasingly busy lives traditional high streets eroded and a by offering poorer quality products, mean that people no longer have plethora of discount and take-away particularly food which affects the time to visit local shops on a shops emerging. However, there is health and lifestyle. It also means regular basis but instead prefer to still a role for local centres and high leakage of spending power as some do their shopping in a single weekly streets within the retail hierarchy, residents will travel outside the or even monthly visit to a provided both quality and quantity area for better quality and choice. supermarket. are managed appropriately. Cheetham centre and high street The quality of shops needs to The situation is no different in contains some unique high quality improve to support regeneration North Manchester. The recent shopping and a vibrant mix of shops For many, the quality of local shops hierarchy has been determined by serving its diverse communities. is one of many factors considered higher quality supermarket provision Investment in the physical when choosing to move to an area. primarily located within and on the environment has facilitated some Furthermore, those with greater periphery of North Manchester: the growth but there is a continued wealth will often travel Sainsbury’s in Heaton Park, Tesco’s need to manage the functionality of considerable distances to visit a in , Morrisons in the centre to ensure its long-term high quality shop. The lack of and most recently the prosperity. quality actively discourages Asda Walmart in New East prospective residents and shoppers. Manchester. Again, low car Within this shifting context, the The conditions to attract higher ownership makes it difficult for Council has recently embarked upon quality shops must be established some of North Manchester’s a city wide Retail Study to explore to support the regeneration of the residents to avail themselves of the the appropriate role of district area. opportunities presented by these centres and neighbourhood

114 SECTION 14 • SHOPPING

Shopping & Community Facilities

Key

115 SECTION 14 • SHOPPING

High quality shops follow the regeneration of Harpurhey, one of will also introduce greater market; getting them to sign the immediate opportunities for competition. Future development of on early requires change in North Manchester. The the District Centres should aim to establishment of the proposed redevelopment continues make them more outward looking appropriate financial to shape a relatively inward looking in order to engage and connect to conditions shopping centre. Quality of design the surrounding area. Because shops are market led, in this and future phases should be providing higher quality shops considered to reach out and make As well, a greater mix of uses hand-in hand with new housing is connections to the surrounding should be encouraged to locate in a challenge. Early phases must neighbourhood, and therefore and around them to enhance their contain a large enough number of maximise the regenerative benefit vitality and viability. This type of houses to support shops as greater for the community. strategy is already evident in the buying power will support a greater refurbishment of the Harpurhey number, quality and range of 14.3 RETAIL District Centre which is seeing shops. Alternatively, financial the addition of a leisure centre conditions need to be created to The objectives of the Retail and police station. The next attract high quality stores early on. Strategy are: phases include a new MANCAT 6th Form College and a review Make more use of existing • improve the quality of shops of health services. resources to retain shoppers available for longer • provide residents with good SH.1.2 Proactively encourage Just as is a draw for the access to conveniently located consolidation. Where low wider area, so too should shops and services demand and over provision have Cheetham. Its ethnic diversity and • ensure high quality support resulted in high vacancy rates, and range of local businesses represent services to enable shopping distinct lack of quality shops, a a regional draw for shoppers and areas to prosper proactive strategy of consolidation, diners seeking a new or interesting • support the city’s retail relocation and encouragement of a experience. There are a number of hierarchy greater mix of use should be shops within Cheetham which adopted. This is especially the case continue to draw people from the 14.4 THE RETAIL STRATEGY in places such as Moston Lane, wider area. Similarly, the new M8 where over provision, but low Retail Park and Big W will attract SH 1 Improve the quality demand, has resulted in high levels shoppers into the area. These are of shops available. of empty shops coupled with low resources to capitalise upon. The quality. However, local shopping goal must be to attract more ACTION: areas do play a highly valuable role visitors and retain them in the area in serving the very local day to day for longer periods of time. SH.1.1 Encourage the needs of communities. There is evolution of District Centres also great potential for individual into mixed-use town centres. retailers and niche shops to prosper Make more of the Harpurhey Over time the District Centres will in these circumstances and create a Retail Centre refurbishment be refurbished and greater intensity very distinct sense of place. Good The redevelopment of the of development will follow. This examples of this within the city Harpurhey Retail Centre is will bring new retail into the include Beech Road in . potentially a catalyst for the centres of a higher quality which

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SH 2 Provide residents with SH.2.2 Focus on accessibility. • Environmented improvements good access to conveniently focusing on: redevelopment of located shops and services. This should be addressed by surplus or vacant space, • improving the quality and safety improvements to the public ACTION: of the pedestrian environment realm and shop front both within improvement grants SH.2.1 Promote ‘community the shopping areas and along • Creating an active, mixed use service clusters’ so that each major connecting routes environment through proactive neighbourhood has local shops • appropriate bus routings and planning policies aimed at: and services within walking schedules clustering of supporting distance. The approach to • appropriate number and facilities, promoting mixed uses clustering will aim to provide a location of bus stops including flats over shops, cluster of shops/services within • particular emphasis on access to proactive engineering or easy walking distance of the area’s big food stores redevelopment schemes and communities, based on existing encouraging active frontages concentrations of shops and SH 3 Ensure high quality and quality design services. support to enable shopping areas to prosper SH 4 Support the City’s As planning applications for shops retail hierarchy. and restaurants are received and as ACTION: each service identifies an office Action: location, decisions regarding their SH. 3.1 Provide pro-active suitability should be made in light support services for SH.4.1 Establish a retail of the desire to cluster. The community service clusters. As hierarchy for North approach must be strategic and part of a holistic strategy, local Manchester. Retail provision in concentrate on clustering shops shops and services, and particularly North Manchester is fairly well and services. This will be food stores, require pro-active established with two centres at particularly relevant to the work in support aimed at Cheetham and Harpurhey, local the near future of the Primary Care high streets such as Moston Lane, Trust which is aiming to • Reducing crime and fear of Lansdowne Road and Victoria consolidate the large number of crime by focusing on: security Avenue and a number of local doctors’ surgeries and health improvement grants, ongoing shopping parades scattered services into fewer, higher quality liasing with local police, throughout the area. The city’s and more accessible locations. securing vacant buildings and retail strategy will establish the adherence to design guidelines role of local centres and provision, In tandem with the Strategic that improve natural and which should be supported Framework, the city-wide retail surveillance and how. This work should inform study will provide further guidance • Ongoing business support investment in North Manchester. with respect to appropriate levels focusing on: off-site business of retail provision across the city advice, provision of trusted and and North Manchester. Work in experienced advisors, courses in identifying, encouraging and marketing and retailing and supporting community service advice from major retailers. This clusters should be refined as the is particularly important for results of this study are completed. food shops

117 Queens Park CONCLUSION

North Manchester extends from Manchester’s thriving city centre to the city’s northern boundary and is home to 86,000 residents. It includes six City Council wards: Blackley, Charlestown, Moston, Crumpsall, Cheetham and Harpurhey, along with the Collyhurst area of the Central Ward. These neighbourhoods are today confronting an array of challenging and inter-related economic, social and physical issues. However, there are also many strengths and new opportunities within the area that should be exploited to re-position North Manchester to take full advantage of economic change and prosperity from the city and wider region.

Once home to many of the areas industrial workers, the area still enjoys grand parks and views out over the conurbation and a strong sense of community and pride. Against these positive attributes a number of problems exist. Economic decline has lead to acute housing market failure in some parts. Empty homes encourage further decline and many people are trapped in negative equity. Associated with this, is an increase in crime, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, poverty, ill health and poor educational attainment. The ability to relate housing demand to economic changes affecting the area has not kept pace with the rate of decline. The state of the problem has been sudden and precipitous.

The North Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework sets out a road map to the future. This document, together with an emerging series of more localised plans, and the baseline statistics, demonstrate a clear and deliverable strategy to change North Manchester. The plans for physical change are broadly illustrated and the work continues on the detail of accompanying action plans. Importantly though, change is well underway with many major projects already happening.

The creation of this strategy has been notable for the high level of public consultation and the huge commitment shown by a broad section of the community. This commitment of the community, its leaders, key stakeholders and the City, has demonstrated a desire for change and the energy to ensure it happens.

With our thanks to all those who have contributed to this document, in particular:

The people of North Manchester. Elected representatives for Blackley, Central, Charlestown, Cheetham, Crumpsall, Harpurhey and Moston. M.P. for Blackley. Schools, Colleges, children and young people in North Manchester. Businesses and workers across North Manchester. All departments of Manchester City Council. Members of the North Manchester Strategy Steering Group: MANCAT, Avecia (Blackley), North Manchester PCT, Greater Manchester Police, CABE.

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Photography: Jan Chlebik Except for: Paul Herrmann - p6, 79, 88, 98 & 112 Paul Cliff - p18, 34, 38, 47, 70 & 82 Creative Director: Frankie Mullen Design & print: Shanleys - 01204 523773 www.shanleysdp.com Manchester City Council, Chief Executives Department, Regeneration Team North

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