Enclosed is the report of the Strategic Director Growth and Development.

1.         To note the outcome of the public consultation on the draft updated Strategic Regeneration Framework for Manchester Science Park.

2.         To approve the draft updated Strategic Regeneration Framework for Manchester Science Park, and request that the Planning and Highways Committee take the Framework into account as a material consideration when considering planning applications for the site.

The Science Park was formed by the City Council and the Victoria University of Manchester in 1978 to capture benefits that could be gained through the creativity and knowledge available at the universities. The first building was completed in 1984 followed by a second in 1989. Since then it had expended and developed and was now home to a range of domestic and international companies operating in a range of business sectors. In March 2014 we had welcomed the preparation of a draft Regeneration Framework for Manchester Science Park (MSP) and asked the Chief Executive to undertake a public consultation exercise on that draft (Minute Exe/14/032). In September 2014 we had considered the responses to those consultations and approved the adoption of the Framework as a material planning consideration for new development proposals within the Park (minute Exe/14/086).

In December 2018 it had been proposed that new draft Framework was needed to set out a refreshed strategy which would recognised an increasing demand for additional floorspace to support the growth in science-based economic activity. It had been suggested that there needed to be an ambitious expansion of MSP in order to ensure that the unique opportunity to capture that demand was not lost. Therefore, a draft of an updated Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) had been proposed and it was agreed that draft should be subject to public consultation (Minute Exe/18/104).

The Strategic Director, Growth and Development now submitted a report on the outcome of that consultation.  In March 2019 over 2,300 consultation letters had been sent to local residents, landowners, businesses and stakeholders. The letters had explained how to participate and engage in the consultation process and where to see the SRF document. The draft framework was made available on the Council’s website from 20 March 2019, and comments were invited on this. The formal consultations had then closed on 3 May 2019. As well as the consultation activities of the Council, Manchester Science Partnerships had also organised meetings and a site visit for residents and other stakeholders.

There had been nine responses to the consultation; six from individual residents; one from a higher education institution and one each from TfGM and Historic England North West. The report examined the issues that had been raised by residents, and went into detail on the responses from three public bodies. In each case the report examined the matter and set out a response on behalf of the Council. Having looked at all the matters that consultees had raised, no amendments to the draft updated SRF were proposed. Having considered the matters that respondents had raised, and the responses to those, it was agreed that the SRF should be adopted.

Decisions

1.         To note the outcome of the public consultation on the draft updated Strategic Regeneration Framework for Manchester Science Park.

2.         To approve the updated Strategic Regeneration Framework for Manchester Science Park, and request that the Planning and Highways Committee take the Framework into account as a material consideration when considering  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76