Future Shawe looks good!
PLANS FOR TOWN CENTRE MAKEOVER AFTER 50 YEARS
WYTHENSHAWE town centre could be rebuilt as the council looks to transform its faded precinct and add in hundreds of new homes.
Manchester town hall says the current shopping hub – which while extremely well-used, dates back to the 1960s – ‘will not meet the needs or aspirations’ of the town’s booming population.
Officials are in early discussions with leaseholder St Modwen and social landlord Wythenshawe Community Housing Group about significantly regenerating the area over the next few years. Local MP Mike Kane has welcomed the news, arguing the Rowlandsway hub is ‘showing its age.’
Wythenshawe has seen significant waves of investment in recent years, including the new transport interchange, a revamp of the A&E and the £24m upgrade of community facilities at the Forum.
But while the shopping precinct remains extremely popular – and has the lowest number of empty units of any town centre in the north west – it now turns its back on the transport hub and the council believes it is time for a revamp. “The regeneration and redevelopment of Wythenshawe town centre will be a major project for the council over the next few years,” says an update from the town hall’s property team going before councillors tomorrow. With a 70,000 population catchment, the current centre will not meet the needs or aspirations of the existing and growing population as it stands.
“The centre’s proximity to the airport and the employment opportunities that will be generated by its continued expansion provide an important economic driver that will help to secure investment in the centre and support the development of residential uses as well as improved retail, leisure and commercial uses.
“Initial discussions have been held with both St Modwen and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and a process will be established to guide development in the centre, with full engagement of local members, businesses and residents in the process.”
Asked for more detail on the plans, Manchester council said that ‘very early initial discussions have taken place about how Wythenshawe town centre could be transformed to meet its potential.’ “There is no preconceived idea of what the development will entail at this point,” it added.
Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Mr Kane said the centre was overdue a full modernisation in the wake of other significant investment in the town and around the airport.
“Built in the 1960s, Wythenshawe civic centre is showing its age,” he said.
“While still popular with residents and visitors, we need a centre that will compliment the state-of-the-art transport hub at its heart. Now is the opportunity for a mixed-use residential and commercial centre, bringing a nighttime economy to the town.”
St Modwen and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group have been asked for comment.