Our refreshed plans for the former Central Retail Park site on Great Ancoats Street
This consultation has now closed
In 2017, Manchester City Council bought the former Central Retail Park site to ensure it is redeveloped to make the most positive contribution to this growing part of the city – for our residents, businesses and visitors.
We produced and consulted on a Central Retail Park Development Framework in 2020, which outlined the vision to create a new commercial district with the ability to attract new businesses and talent to Manchester to support the ongoing growth of the city centre.
This new, updated draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) has been produced to build on many of the key design principles set out in the 2020 Framework, but also to positively respond to the latest market requirements.
Our new vision involves creating a high-quality, sustainable office district, supported by retail and leisure facilities with attractive public realm at its centre. We have taken on board the feedback provided by residents during the 2020 consultation on the desire for more green open space in the area and have included more green space within these updated proposals for the site.
As well as bringing new jobs and investment to the area, new green space and pedestrian and cycle routes will benefit local residents, workers and visitors alike.
The new draft SRF for the site also responds to a potential interest from the Government Property Agency (GPA) to locate government offices on the site. The GPA is exploring options for delivering office solutions in Manchester to meet the needs of various civil servant departments. This supports the Government's commitment to locate more civil servants outside of London and support levelling up.
Proposals for the site
Regeneration of the former Central Retail Park will create a high-quality, sustainable office district with an attractive public realm at its centre. It will deliver significant new employment opportunities that benefit the city and the local community.
The draft Strategic Regeneration Framework sets out a new vision for the development of the site with a focus on:
- New office and workspaces - the site could be home to around 8,000 jobs and contribute to the continued regeneration of the Ancoats neighbourhood and help meet growing demand in this part of the city.
- Green spaces – Developing this site will create a new public link through to the existing Cotton Field Park behind and create a green space at the heart of the low-carbon commercial district. The new public realm, which would be open to all, could provide a range of spaces from terraced lawns and informal seating to lush planting.
- Retail and leisure spaces – the vision includes spaces for shops and cafés, providing attractive new facilities for local residents and the new working population of the site.
- Connectivity – the vision promotes new and improved links for pedestrian and cyclists in the area, making it easier, safer and more attractive to walk or cycle into the city or towards key transport hubs. The site’s proximity to Manchester’s main transport routes will make it a prime location for future business.
We want to hear your views on the draft SRF as it continues to take shape.