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

Central Retail Park, on Great Ancoats Street on the eastern side of the city centre, had been an established retail destination in the city. It had occupied the strategically significant site since the late 1980s. In 2015 and 2016 consideration had been given to the possible redevelopment of the site and a Development Framework for the area had been approved in February 2016 (Minute Exe/16/013). The Council holds the freehold on the site and in September 2017 resolved to take full control of the site, buying out the then leaseholder (Minute Exe/17/122). In October 2019 temporary consent had been granted by the Planning and Highways Committee for the site to be used as a car park (Minute PH/19/93). In February 2020 the Executive had endorsed a new draft Development Framework for the Central Retail Park site as a basis for public consultation (Minute Exe/20/24). A report now submitted by the Strategic Director (Growth & Development) reported on the outcome of that consultation and proposed that the revised Framework be adopted.

The vision for the area was for it to become an exemplary net zero-carbon commercial district with the ability to attract new businesses and talent to Manchester. The development should bring together activities and people to create a vibrant mixed use neighbourhood.

The consultation exercise had run for eight weeks from Monday 3 August 2020 to Friday 25 September 2020. A total of 598 responses had been received, the breakdown of which included:

·         471 who describe themselves as local residents

·         19 who describe themselves as local business owners

·         8 who describe themselves as landowners

·         2 who describe themselves as from a statutory body

·         106 who describe themselves as working in the local area

·         142 who describe themselves as a regular visitor to the local area

·         16 who describe themselves as belonging to a local interest group

The report set out the issues that consultees had raised in their responses, including details on the submissions from other statutory bodies, utility companies, housing providers and local councillors.

The report then set out proposed responses to those issues, examining in turn the public realm and greenspace, zero-carbon objectives, the height, density and massing of the proposed developments, the development principles and proposed uses of the land, and traffic and highway safety.

Having examined the outcome of the consultation, the report suggested that the development framework be amended to:

·         highlight the proximity of public space in adjacent areas;

·         note the requirements for the development to be more walking and cycling friendly, particularly in how it links through to adjacent districts; and

·         better capture the aspiration to deliver zero carbon objectives.

That was agreed and the amended framework was adopted.

Decisions

1.         To note the outcome of the public consultation on the draft Development Framework for the former Central Retail Park.

2.         To approve the Development Framework for the former Central Retail Park area and request that Planning and Highways Committee take the framework into account as a material consideration when considering planning applications for the site.