Plans submitted for £25 million east Manchester redevelopment

Plans submitted for £25 million east Manchester redevelopment

2 October 2006

Plans have been submitted to Manchester City Council for the £25 million redevelopment of Openshaw district centre in east Manchester.

Urban regeneration specialists Dransfield Properties Limited are working in partnership with Manchester City Council and New East Manchester on the proposals, which will transform a large mixed industrial, commercial and residential area into a new shopping, leisure and commercial complex, creating up to 750 new jobs.

The new facilities will help serve Openshaw’s rapidly growing population.   Regeneration and employment initiatives within the area are set to double the population within 10 to 15 years and 3,000 new homes have already been completed with 6,000 more in the pipeline.

Dransfield Properties were announced as preferred developer for the site last year and is one of the first developers in recent years to bring private inward investment to Openshaw, with a £10 million development on Ashton Old Road which delivered Matalan, Choices Video and the offices of Eastland Homes.

Openshaw district centre, which runs along Ashton Old Road, has been in decline for a number of years.  Its run down condition has discouraged new investment and undermined the attractiveness of the area as a residential and retail location.

The regeneration plans include a large food store, 13 retail units from 1,000 to 22,500 sq ft, office accommodation and a leisure and fitness centre. 672 parking spaces will be provided on the site, as well as an attractive plaza area, restaurants and public art features. 

Feedback on the proposals has been positive.  A public consultation day in 2005 showed 96% of residents are in favour of the development,

Tom Russell, Chief Executive of New East Manchester Ltd commenting on the redevelopment of Openshaw District Centre said: "This is an important milestone in the regeneration of Openshaw.  The scheme will extend and improve the retail offer along Ashton Old Road and complement the new housing development which we expect to see underway in 2007.  This investment from Dransfield Properties will have a tremendous impact on the local economy."

Andrew Malley, Retail Property Director at Dransfield Properties, said: “We are delighted that we are another step nearer to delivering this important scheme.  Creating an extension to the district centre of Openshaw and bringing new shops and facilities to serve this growing population is a vital ingredient in the transformation of the area.”

Notes:
New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a partnership between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).  It is NEM's role to implement the Regeneration Framework, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects as well as co-ordinate the range of regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk