Plans have been submitted for The Gasworks – New Town, a new neighbourhood of 1,202 homes and public green space that will set a benchmark for energy-efficient living in Manchester’s Northern Gateway regeneration area
The Gasworks – New Town will be a significant part of the 383-acre Northern Gateway project, which is a joint venture between the Far East Consortium and Manchester City Council.
Manchester City Council secured £51.6m from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to finance the first stage of the Northern Gateway, which includes Red Bank and other planned development at Collyhurst and New Cross Central.
Proposed by developer, Southvalley Estates Ltd (part of MCR Property Group), The Gasworks will be the first residential development to form part of New Town, one of seven neighbourhoods outlined by Manchester City Council’s £1bn Northern Gateway masterplan.
The Gasworks – New Town is designed by architects, AHR, with landscape and public realm envisaged by Planit-IE.
The vision for New Town is to transform the area into a thriving community with substantial green space, connected to the city centre and wider development projects across the Irk River Valley.
Once home to the former Gould Street gasworks, the majority of the 2.7-hectare brownfield site earmarked by Southvalley Estates for redevelopment is currently being used as surface car parking.
Working with planning consultant, WSP, the developer held a public consultation in August 2020 to gather feedback on its draft proposals from local communities, workers and stakeholders.
Reducing emissions
The Gasworks – New Town will create 1,202 highly energy-efficient homes, plus two commercial units, a pocket park and new pedestrian and cycling routes through the site, with links to Angel Meadows and surrounding residential developments.
Energy efficiency, carbon reduction and creating a sense of place were prominent in the feedback received.
The formal planning application addresses these elements ambitiously.
To further reduce emissions, the plans also maximise cycle parking with more than 1,200 spaces for residents and pedestrian routes to encourage more environmentally-friendly travel, with only a small amount of car parking in the basements.
The first homes are expected to be completed in 2023.
If planning permission is granted, Southvalley Estates and National Grid will begin to clear the Gasworks site and remediate the land in 2021
Setting the sustainable benchmark
Eliot Baker, planning manager at MCR Property Group, said: “The Gasworks – New Town has always been about creating a lively new community and a sense of place, set in thriving green space.
“Our plans for this former gasworks site go above and beyond the minimum requirements for sustainable development to set the benchmark for other schemes in New Town.
“We feel our bold proposals make the most of this core city centre location in a way that will significantly transform the New Town area and realise the ambitions of the Northern Gateway vision.”
