Aytoun St blueprint moves forward
CITY planners are due to rubber-stamp a strategic regeneration framework for the former Manchester Metropolitan University campus around Aytoun Street in the city centre.
The framework, which is going before planners today, will unlock a £175m redevelopment of the site being brought forward by a joint venture between Capital & Centric and Henry Boot. The JV was selected as preferred purchaser of the five-acre site 12 months ago.
The council report states: “The SRF (Strategic Regeneration Framework) will create a new, vibrant and creative mixed use residentially led neighbourhood, integrating the site with the surrounding area,
transforming the environment and appearance of this important gateway with new buildings, new public streets, squares and active commercial and leisure uses at ground floor level.
“The proposals will add to the life and vitality of the area which are integral to the delivery of a new sustainable city centre neighbourhood district. The redevelopment of the Aytoun Street campus will make a substantial contribution to the local economy (the Village).”
Listed buildings Minto & Turner and Minshull House will be retained, the document says.
It adds:” he future redevelopment of the Origin site at the southern end of Canal Street and the redevelopment of the London Road Fire Station, together with the regeneration of the Aytoun Street Campus at the northern end of Canal Street, will be critical to helping the Village enhance its appeal to its existing customer base and a wider market. It will remove key areas of blight at these locations, and support the delivery of a new neighbourhood close to the heart of the city centre.
“The SRF will enable the University to dispose of the Aytoun Street Campus in a manner which not only supports the University’s corporate objectives, but also makes a significant contribution to the long term economic growth of the city, its residential growth and place making ambitions, and in a way that is
commercially deliverable.”
The next stage will be for a public consultation exercise on the SRF with local stakeholders, the council said.
