South Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework South Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework Foreword The South Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework, ‘The Living City’, has been developed in partnership with residents and other partners over an intensive 12 month period. The Framework sets out our key priorities and activities and will guide public and private investment in the area over the next ten to fifteen years. South Manchester is home to some of the most successful neighbourhoods within the city. The character and heritage of the area, larger family homes and high quality green spaces are all features which have attracted higher earning households to live in this part of the city. We need to ensure that we protect and build on these assets to retain existing residents and also attract new ones into the area. However, whilst there are many successful neighbourhoods in South Manchester, there are also some areas which experience considerable disadvantage and have not benefited in the same way. Our aim is to ensure that the whole of South Manchester is successful and attractive with thriving, well-managed neighbourhoods and distinctive, lively centres. South Manchester is also home to a diverse range of communities, including a large proportion of the city’s student population. This diversity is a real asset but we must also address the challenges that this brings in building sustainable neighbourhoods. Over two thousand residents have contributed their views to the development of this Strategic Regeneration Framework and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who have participated and helped to ensure that we have the right priorities for the area. We look forward to continuing to work with residents and our other partners over the coming years, which is essential in ensuring that we translate our vision for South Manchester into reality. Sir Richard Leese Leader of Manchester City Council Contents PART I – INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 1. Introduction 11 2. South Manchester Today 15 3. South Manchester in Context 45 PART II – VISION, OBJECTIVES AND REGENERATION FRAMEWORK 4. A Vision for South Manchester: The Living City 59 . Policy Theme 1: Delivering Popular Neighbourhoods 69 6. Policy Theme 2: Achieving Full Potential in Education, Skills and Employment 123 7. Policy Theme 3: Strengthening Communities – Individuals, Families and Neighbourhoods 143 8. Spatial Framework 167 FIGURES Page FIGURES Page 1. South Manchester SRF Area 6 9. Indices of Multiple Deprivation in Manchester 2004 37 2. SRF Process 13 10. South Manchester’s Neighbourhoods 40 3. SRF Wards 15 11. Strategic Context 48 4. Open Spaces and Recreation 18 12. Integration of South Manchester SRF 54 . Public Transport Plan 22 13. SRF Vision: The Living City 62 6. Neighbourhood Centres and Local Shops 26 14. Spatial Framework 172 7. Housing Market – Spot Values 30 1. Action Plan Areas 174 8. Educational Facilities 34 16. Centre Networks 176 6 7 Figure 1: South Manchester SRF Area 9 Part I – Introduction and Context 10 11 1. Introduction: Structure housing and high levels of deprivation and and Purpose of the SRF worklessness. for South Manchester The SRF will also need to respond to more specific regeneration issues in this area, including the The draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) provision of homes for students, key workers and for South Manchester has been prepared by other residents. The Framework needs to respond Manchester City Council and its partners to guide to the different needs of neighbourhoods across the delivery of public services and future investment the area and underpin the strategy with clear plans in the area. The Council has looked in depth at the for neighbourhood management and onward key issues, challenges and opportunities found implementation. within South Manchester. An in-depth public consultation took place between January and April The South Manchester SRF presents a strong vision 2007 in order to obtain the views of people who for the future of South Manchester: a vision that live and work in the area. This SRF has now been will be delivered through a new policy framework strengthened as a result of these views. that will guide long-term regeneration and neighbourhood renewal. It provides an approach The Overriding Purpose of the SRF that responds specifically to the social, economic and physical needs of the South Manchester area, South Manchester is an important area of the city guiding the activities of the Council, other public of Manchester and is a key contributor to the sector agencies and investment by the private success of both the city and the north west region. sector. The South Manchester SRF is one of five While South Manchester is already home to some SRFs, which between them cover the entire city. successful and attractive residential areas, there are many issues that still need to be tackled to meet In summary, the purpose of the SRF is to: the objectives set out in the city’s Community • Provide a basis for the long-term development Strategy. The Council needs to plan to meet the of the area over the next 10–15 years Community Strategy objectives and ensure that • Define South Manchester’s challenges and successful sustainable neighbourhoods are put in opportunities place across the whole of South Manchester. Delivery of the SRF will lead to further economic • Develop a vision for the future to underpin future growth and the attraction and retention of planning households within the city. • Develop a policy framework that includes, and links up, all aspects of public service delivery, South Manchester is an area with a rich and diverse economic, social and physical regeneration, and group of neighbourhoods, with a wide range of community engagement issues and needs. Some areas are already successful, so the SRF is needed to help continue and build on this success. Other areas, in contrast, have particular issues that the SRF will help to tackle, such as poor 12 • Put in place a policy framework that assists the Structure of the Report Council in delivering bespoke neighbourhood The SRF is structured as follows: management • Provide the basis for focused investment, both Part I: Context – summarises the South Manchester public and private sector, maximising the impact area today and the strategic context for the SRF, and benefit of such investment in the area including the challenges and opportunities. • Reflect the city’s Community Strategy and Part II: Vision, Objectives and Regeneration integrate with neighbouring SRFs in Central Framework – presents the vision and objectives Manchester and Wythenshawe for South Manchester before setting out the • Set out the overarching principles for the overarching policy and Spatial Framework that will development of District Centre plans and other be delivered through the SRF across all policy specific initiatives where these are required areas. • Identify a set of linked programmes to promote Part III: Next Steps – focuses on the delivery and economic growth and long-term sustainability implementation of the SRF. and community cohesion. 13 Figure 2: SRF Process Methodology Engagement Outputs Inception Steering group Project Manual • Meeting • Site Visit • Identity Contacts Baseline Review Key Stakeholders Meetings Baseline Review & • Identification of • Public Sector Opportunity Report challenges and • Private Sector opportunities • Community & Voluntary Sector • Peer review Visioning and options Visioning Workshop South Manchester Futures Report • Possible futures • Including a peer review • Possible & preferred futures • Back to reality Consultation Events Draft SRF for South Manchester Draft SRF • Consultation Summary Spatial Policy • Key stakeholders • Community meetings Key stakeholders Draft Implementation Draft SRF • Delivery plan and performance Spatial Policy • Performance management management framework Delivery Stakeholder and Community Consultation Final South Manchester SRF Steering Group Final South Manchester SRF • Feedback Executive / Cabinet Documents & Summaries • Revision • Summary 14 1 2. South Manchester Today South Manchester: Rich in Diversity Based on the findings of the SRF baseline, this The South Manchester SRF area is an area of great section introduces the South Manchester area and contrast and diversity. Having developed from a its distinctive characteristics. It also summarises the series of smaller settlements, the area has gradually key issues, challenges and opportunities for South expanded to become one of the most sought- Manchester SRF. after residential locations within the city and the wider conurbation. South Manchester SRF Area Its historical development has resulted in a wealth of The South Manchester SRF area runs from Whalley physical assets, including attractive housing areas, a Range, Fallowfield and Levenshulme in the north good transport network and a range of parks and to the Mersey Valley and M60 Motorway in the open space. It has also brought about diversity and south. It includes the ten wards of: character in the physical environment, ranging from • Burnage • Chorlton traditional terraced streets to inter-war housing estates, from river valleys with a countryside feel to Chorlton Park Didsbury East • • inner city neighbourhoods, and from areas of • Didsbury West • Fallowfield notable affluence to pockets of deprivation. Levenshulme Old Moat • • South Manchester is a largely residential area and is • Whalley Range • Withington home to approximately one third of Manchester’s population