Report of the Director of City Centre Growth and Infrastructure attached

The Executive considered a report of the Director of City Centre Growth and Infrastructure, which provided an update on the activities to bring forward investment and development in the next phases of sustainable growth in the Ancoats area since the preparation of a Neighbourhood Development Framework (NDF) in July 2020.

The Executive Member for Housing and Employment reported that the next phase of investment and development would create a forward looking, low carbon neighbourhood for aspirational young people and families along with balanced approaches to providing a mix of tenure.  A sequenced programme of development would help to meet the comprehensive needs of a changing resident and working population in east Manchester, adjacent to the regional centre with all of its employment and cultural attractions.

A range of development proposals linked to the Ancoats Mobility Hub (AMH) and a wider public realm strategy were all being progressed, details of which were provided in the report. 

Other sites in a mix of ownerships were also being prepared for future development and Planning consent had already been gained for key components of the plan, but further land assembly would be necessary to achieve the required comprehensive approach. 

It was also reported that the public realm strategy integrated with further land assembly would be required and co-ordination of transport and movement interventions would deliver the next high quality, sustainable phase of neighbourhood development in Ancoats.

The Leader commented that what had been achieved in the redevelopment of Ancoats, especially in the last five years, had been the most amazing transformation of a  neighbourhood that had been seen in the city and there was now a real opportunity to build on the redevelopment that had taken place to date

Decisions

The Executive:-

(1)      Note the progress being made to bring forward sustainable development at the Back of Ancoats.

(2)      Note the progress made to gain planning permission and complete site assembly to support the realisation of the Ancoats Mobility Hub (AMH) and that a further report will be brought to the Executive in due course that sets out proposals for the delivery and operation of the AMH. 

(3)      Note progress towards the preparation of a public realm strategy integrated with the next phases of development and that the draft strategy will be brought back to the Executive in 2021 prior to undertaking stakeholder consultation. 

(4)      Note that £4.7 million is being sought from the Brownfield Land Fund administered by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to undertake public realm works in the Back of Ancoats. 

(5)      Agree to delegate approval of the funding agreement to the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer.

(6)      Endorse the on-going collaboration with landowners to support delivery of the sustainable place making vision of the Back of Ancoats. 

(7)      Note that a number of remaining land and property acquisitions are still required to achieve the overall vision of the NDF.

(8)      Note that if the Council is unable to secure the voluntary acquisition of outstanding land interests required for the delivery of the overall development programme a future report will be brought to Executive to seek authority to make a Compulsory Purchase Order.