The report of the Strategic Director - Growth & Development was to follow and is now enclosed.

In February 2020 the Executive had received a draft refreshed Neighbourhood Development Framework (NDF) for Ancoats and New Islington (Minute Exe/20/24).  The revised elements in that refresh had related to the back of Ancoats, referred to as the Poland Street Zone, and the former Central Retail Park. At that time the Executive had approved that a programme of public and stakeholder consultation should be undertaken.

That extended period of public consultation on revised proposals for the Poland Street Zone involving local residents, businesses, land and property owners, public and statutory bodies and community sector organisations had been undertaken between March and May 2020. Following this exercise, and based on the responses to that, a final draft of the Ancoats and New Islington NDF Poland Street Zone had been produced and was being proposed for approval.

The consultation plans had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and some planned events had had to be cancelled. The consultation techniques that had been employed included:

·         An updated Ancoats and New Islington consultation web page on the council’s website.

·         Letters to all local residents (465 addresses) within the study area consultation boundary.

·         Letters to local businesses within the study area registered on the Manchester City Council Business Rates Database.

·         Letters to property and landowners delivered to all freehold and leasehold interests registered at the land registry within the consultation boundary area.

·         Consultation notification emails to key public and statutory stakeholders.

·         Consultation notification emails to non-statutory stakeholder groups including community groups.

·         Press release and news articles on the manchester.gov.uk website, supported by social media.

·         A dedicated email address and telephone information line.

A total of 130 responses had been received: 119 via an online questionnaire and a further 11 by email. Of those, 120 of the responses were from people who live, work or visit the area frequently.  A further 2 responses were from a local community group, 4 responses from or on behalf of local landowners, and others from statutory consultees.

The responses to the consultation had been largely positive and recurring themes and comments had include:

·         strong support of the vision and priorities contained within the draft NDF update and the strategy to maximise opportunities for future development;

·         strong support for the proposals linked to reduced car use and improved connectivity and pedestrian and cycle routes through the area;

·         further comments were made in relation to car parking and how this is managed in terms of on street parking and centralised parking provision to service the area and support businesses and residents;

·         strong support for the objectives of maintaining the character and conservation status of the area and ensuring that appropriate consideration is given to this in future developments;

·         highlighting the need for flood management and sustainable drainage solutions where appropriate;

·         highlighting the need for design to positively address the waterways corridor and link to wider green and blue networks;

·         highlighting the need to consider flexibility on building massing and heights at certain locations in the area;

·         support for the delivery of affordable housing across a range of typologies and tenures;

·         highlighting the need to ensure live work mix is balanced appropriately to ensure that either use is not detrimental to the other; and

·         support for potential of green streets and open green spaces that could be used for a variety of activities.  However, concern was expressed about the possible loss of public open space at Ancoats Green.

An updated version of the Development Framework had been produced to take into account and respond to the issues raised in the consultation. A copy of that revised document was appended to the report under consideration. The Executive approved that revised version.

To take forward the implementation of the Framework the report proposed that the remit of the partnership company that had been established to take forward the redevelopment of the Central Retail Park be extended so as to allow that partnership company to undertake feasibility work in relation to Council land interests in the Poland Street Zone, which would inform future developments proposals for that area. That was supported.

Decisions

1.         To note the comments received from stakeholders including local landowners, residents, businesses and statutory consultees.

2.         To approve the final version of the refreshed Ancoats and New Islington Neighbourhood Development Framework Poland Street Zone to guide and co-ordinate the future development of the area, with the intention that it will be a material consideration in the Council’s decision making role as Local Planning Authority.

3.         To approve an extension to the remit of Manchester Life Strategic Development Company Limited (MLSDC) to undertake feasibility work relating to City Council owned sites within the Poland Street Zone.

4.         To authorise the City Solicitor to complete all the necessary documentation to give effect to these decisions.