Proposals outlining significant investment plans in and around Gorton District Centre are now out for consultation (Fri 9 December).
The City Council has developed an initial strategy for the areas in Gorton and Belle Vue that highlights potential new public spaces, homes and employment opportunities.
It is these early ideas that are open to consultation to gather vital feedback from the people who live, work and use the areas daily.
What the proposals want to achieve:
- Make the centre greener, including quality green space and tree planting Create a more attractive local area that is comfortable and attractive to spend time in
- Support new events and activities to attract people to visit in the evenings and weekends. Create a new heart of the community, delivering a new civic square and public realm
- Deliver new mixed tenures homes to match local housing demand (including affordable housing such as Social Rent and Shared Ownership)
- Make the centre more accessible by safe walking and cycling
- Encourage a broader mix of uses that will attract different communities and age groups
The key opportunities in the area
There has been some high-quality investment in the Gorton neighbourhood in recent years and the intention is to ensure that the District Centre is a destination of choice for local people, which is also well-connected to the wider area.
- Improve the transport links to fantastic community facilities, including Gorton Hub, Belle Vue Sports Village, Gorton Youth Zone, and the New Co-op Academy
- Better walking and cycling routes to local green spaces, including Debdale Park, Gore Brook Valley and Fallowfield Loop.
- Focusing on key locations for improvement that cover (from west to east) Belle Vue Station, Gorton Hub, Garratt Way (including market and former library), Wellington Street crossroad and Chapman Street crossroad
- Particular focus on Garratt Way as the focal point for the district centre
Areas of great potential
North of Garratt Way (area around Sibley Street, to Wellington Street and Hampden Crescent)
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.
Gorton Market and surrounding area – including improved walking and cycling routes.
This could include improving or remodeling the market building. For example, increase the number of doors and windows to the interior more visible, an enlarged external space for the outdoor market. Plans could also see the development of the Wellington Street area including housing, commercial and retail opportunities.
Garratt Way and the Gorton Hub ‘loop’
Create a more pedestrian friendly ‘high street’ space by narrowing the road width, enlarging the pavements and introduce new planting, lighting and cycle paths. Together these improvements would create a more attractive and vibrant space for shoppers and visitors.
Local people can also attend drop-in sessions in Gorton to find out more:
Friday 16 December, 10am till 2pm at Gorton Hub
Saturday 17 December, 10am till 2pm at Gorton Market
The Gorton District Centre consultation will end on Friday 6 January
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
“Gorton has seen some really exciting investment in recent years from the Belle Vue Sports Village, the recent opening of the Gorton Hub and the new Coop Academy school that will open soon. We have an opportunity to capitalise on this momentum and develop an ambitious plan for the local area – creating a district centre that can help the area to meet its potential.
“This consultation gives local people a general flavour of the kind of investment we want to make in their community – but the feedback we get from local people will help us guide the development as plans progress.
“As ever, I would urge as many people as possible who live in, work at or shop in the district centre to give us your thoughts. As someone who uses the area daily your insight is invaluable.”