Areas and opportunities for improvement
We want Gorton District Centre to provide a high quality and attractive destination, but also be a place that is well-connected to key locations and features in the wider area. We see the key opportunities being:
- Improved links to fantastic community facilities to the west including;
- Belle Vue Station
- Belle Vue Sports Village
- Gorton Youth Zone
- The new Co-op Academy Belle Vue on Hyde Road
- Better pedestrian and cyclist connections to local green space networks, including;
- Debdale Park
- Gore Brook Valley
- Fallowfield Loop
- Focusing on an area of potential improvement in the district centre that covers (from west to east);
- Belle Vue Station
- Gorton Hub
- Garratt Way including library site and market
- Wellington Street cross roads
- Chapman Street cross roads
- A particular focus on improving Garratt Way as the focal point of the District Centre
Potential areas of change
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North of Garratt Way
This area could include new apartments and townhouses, including the former library site and a reconfiguration of the gymnastics centre with a focus on delivering a mix of affordable housing types. This area could also provide new commercial, retail and food and drink venues – alongside improved footpaths and cycle paths. This could include
- New residential development - for example on the vacated library site, as the library has moved to Gorton Hub
- Potential reconfiguration or relocation of the gymnastics centre, to allow for additional residential development
- Development that could provide for ground floor commercial, retail or food and drink uses, to provide a more animated street experience
- Improved footpaths and cycle paths linking to the north
Gorton Market and surrounding area
Potential improvement of the market building and the public spaces around it, with possible complementary new development and environmental improvements. This could include:
- A remodelled market building, for example providing more windows and doors to make the interior more visible
- Improved and enlarged external space for the outdoor market
- Development in the Wellington Street area, which could include a residential building, with commercial, retail or food and drink uses on the ground floor
- Improved footpaths and cycle paths linking to the east
Garratt Way and Gorton Hub ‘loop’
There is potential for significant improvements to Garratt Way to create a more pedestrian friendly ‘high street’ type space. Also, localised improvements to Whitewell Way and Hyde Road to improve pedestrian connectivity. This could include:
- Narrowing the road width of Garratt Way and Whitewell Way, enlarging the pavements, introducing new planting and cycle paths
- Improved surfaces and lighting in the area
- Environmental improvement scheme along Hyde Road between Whitewell Well and Tesco to create a more vibrant experience for pedestrians
- Potential to consider improved pedestrian crossings