Bid to build 716-home residential scheme back before planning committee

A proposal to build 716 homes in Newton Heath is back before Manchester City Council planning committee next week (October 20).

The scheme was on last month’s agenda but was deferred over concerns the works will be unsafe for children walking to school.

The proposals by Nuvu Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Your Housing Group, included plans to transform the area with the addition of a new secondary school, park, and community hub.

As part of the proposal, a 47-acre site that once housed Jackson’s Brickworks, but has since lain empty for around three decades, will be transformed to include both apartments and houses, as well as parts of the Rochdale Canal opened up.

Your Housing Group – the housing association which acquired the 47-acre site off Ten Acres Lane in 2020 – said the scheme would incorporate public realm in the form of pocket parks, a community park, and landscaping along the canal towpath, together with improved access to the towpath for pedestrian and cyclists.

However, during last month’s planning meeting, Cllr John Flanagan, ward councillor for Miles Platting and Newton Heath, voiced his concerns about safe access for children walking to a new school which is planned nearby.

He pointed out safety concerns for school children walking through a construction site and was also concerned the development didn’t include amenities such as GP surgery and dentists.

The committee deferred approval for the scheme until a further site visit to the Jackson’s Brickwork’s site.

Planning officers say they are minded to approve the application, subject to legal agreements.