After eight years, plans to redevelop the former Central Retail Park site in Manchester are finally nearing fruition. The council is poised to approve proposals for a nine-story office building and a one-hectare park, bringing an end to a saga marked by legal challenges, community initiatives, and stalled progress.
In six days, a long-running saga in Manchester will reach a pivotal point. Proposals for a nine-story office building designed to accommodate 7,000 civil servants and a one-hectare park, complete with 96 trees and three play areas, are poised to receive planning permission from the council. Both developments are intended for the former Central Retail Park site on Great Ancoats Street.
A recent report indicates that council planning officers strongly recommend approval for these projects, potentially marking the culmination of an eight-year journey.The saga commenced in 2017 when Manchester City Council acquired the Central Retail Park, previously home to popular retailers such as Toys R Us and Argos, for £37 million. Following the closure of the shops in 2019, the 10-and-a-half-acre site remained vacant. The council initially envisioned utilizing the existing retail car park as a large pay-and-display facility, but this plan was thwarted by a High Court challenge from campaigners two years later. With the land unoccupied, a community of skateboarders emerged, establishing a DIY skatepark named GooseSide, a tribute to the nesting goslings who found their new habitat after the shoppers departed.However, their reign on Great Ancoats Street was brief. In 2023, fencing was erected to secure the site, effectively ending GooseSide's existence. That same year, renewed plans for the office complex faced intense scrutiny at the town hall, further delaying the redevelopment process. Last year, however, progress accelerated significantly after council leader Bev Craig announced the sale of half the site. Just months later, final plans for both the new office and park were unveiled. The proposed developments will serve as a 'flagship development' for the Government Property Agency (GPA), according to a statement. The GPA emphasizes that the 'Manchester Digital Campus' will establish a benchmark for new building hubs throughout the decade and beyond, prioritizing flexibility, functionality, and collaboration. The agency also claims the project will generate 6,000 construction jobs and bridge the gap on Great Ancoats Street, providing new retail units that will offer amenities for local residents and workers. The proposals are scheduled to be reviewed by Manchester City Council's planning committee on Thursday, February 20, at 2pm
MANCHESTER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE COMPLEX PARK CENTRAL RETAIL PARK TOWN HALL APPROVAL
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