Maine chance to name streets

Manchester residents are being given the chance to name new streets on the site of Manchester City FC's former Maine Road stadium.

A competition to suggest names for five new streets being created in the Maine Place development, at the heart of the regeneration of Moss Side, has been launched.

Suggestions could relate to the area's rich heritage and history, look forward to the future or commemorate a source of local pride - for instance a local hero, heroine or group. While ideas relating to the site's footballing history are welcome, the final five names are intended to reflect the wide variety of sources of Moss Side pride.

Guidelines state that suggestions should not repeat or sound like an existing street name, have negative connotations or associations, be difficult to spell or easily confused with other areas or be named after a living person.

The competition is being run by the 'My Place, My Space' Maine Road arts programme - led by the City Council in partnership with Lowry Homes and community organisations - which is delivering public art and involvement as part of the new development.

Anyone living within the city of Manchester's boundaries can enter a suggestion, but organisers are particularly keen to hear from those who have a connection with the Moss Side and Rusholme area.

The winning street names will be chosen by a panel consisting of representatives from the City Council, Lowry Homes and residents and announced in mid-March.

Councillor Alistair Cox, chair of the Maine Road Steering Group and member of the judging panel, said: "The Maine Place development has a central role to play in the regeneration of Moss Side and Rusholme. The area has a strong community spirit, a fascinating history and a promising future. We're hoping that the winning names will reflect those elements."

Becky Leighton, Lowry Homes' Sales Director, will take part in reviewing the suggestions and said: "There's such a strong sense of place, as well as the obvious sporting heritage surrounding our new development that I'm sure we'll get a great response. This is a rare opportunity for any Manchester resident to leave a permanent reminder of themselves, by literally getting their street name suggestion "on the map". I'm really looking forward to helping make the final choices "

Suggestions, along with an explanation of no more than 30 words of the reason behind them, should be e-mailed to southmanchesterregeneration@manchester.gov.uk by Friday, 7 March. People nominating street names must include their phone number and address.

Alternatively, ideas can be posted in Maine Road stadium-shaped competition boxes placed in community venues around the Moss Side and Rusholme area.

The Maine Place development will consist of 434 homes (197 three or bedroom family houses and 237 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms). A new state-of-the-art primary school, merging St Edward's RC and Bishop Bilsbarrow RC, will be created as part of the development. There is also an agreement in principle from Manchester Primary Care NHS Trust for a new health centre on the site.

Homes on the new development go on general sale on February 21 following an initial sales period in which they were only available to existing Moss Side and Rusholme residents. The sales office is open each day, 11am to 6pm, Tel: 0161 232 7563 or contact Lowry Homes direct on 0161 888 3800 Email sales@lowryhomes.com

Media contact:

Roger Williams, tel: 0161 234 3275