'UK's biggest regeneration scheme' takes step forward

Wythenshawe's Civic Centre will be completely transformed as part of the plans

A £500m town centre rebuild, described as "one of the country’s biggest regeneration projects", is set to move forward.

The plans to regenerate a cluster of sites in the centre of Wythenshawe, in Manchester, include a new cultural hub, public square, shops, community spaces and the building of more than 1,700 homes.

Manchester City Council is to appoint a developer to help deliver the scheme and attract private sector investment next month.

Council leader Bev Craig said local people in Wythenshawe deserved something of "much higher quality" than the existing "unloved" 1970s town centre.

The plans include a new public square, food halls, and shops

Ms Craig said the council was hoping to draw on "significant" private sector investment to meet the long-term, £500m cost of the project, and appointing a developer as partner would help this.

She said the council was "really excited" about the scheme, which she said covered the same footprint as Preston city centre in Lancashire.

"Wythenshawe has got massive potential," she added.

Public funds including a £20m Levelling Up fund grant, plus close to £12m from Manchester City Council, have gone into the scheme to fund the food hall and new community spaces.

Working in collaboration with Manchester Arts Centre HOME, a former Co-op department store would also be converted into a creative hub with studios, performance and events spaces, and a cinema.

Bev Craig is the leader of Manchester City Council

The new homes earmarked under the scheme would be built on pockets of empty land in the centre of Wythenshawe.

Ms Craig said the council was keen to see "at least 30% of those to be genuinely affordable homes".

"People also tell us they want a good mix of private homes so that, when their kids grow-up and do well, they can afford to buy their own homes nearby".

The old Wythenshawe bus station site has been derelict for almost 10 years

Rabbie Promat opened a Thai noodle takeaway at Wythenshawe Civic Centre in August 2020, and said her eatery has grown in popularity, particularly among customers who moved to Manchester from Hong Kong.

She said she was “really looking forward to the regeneration”, as the existing town centre “is not the best”.

“I'm really looking forward to the new food court, if more people come here, it’s good for everybody.”

Rabbie Promat opened a Thai takeaway at the centre during the Covid pandemic

The council purchased Wythenshawe Civic Centre in 2022 and held a consultation on the proposals, known as the Wythenshawe Civic Project, earlier this year.

Trams were first connected to the town centre in November 2014 and a new transport interchange opened eight months later, leaving the old bus station site derelict.

There are also empty office buildings on Rowlandsway, while the old police station site on Brownley Road is vacant.