en.Wedoany.com Reported - The updated draft of the Water Street Strategic Regeneration Framework (Water Street SRF), proposed by Manchester City Council, is expected to receive administrative approval next week. The draft, supported by over 90% of respondents, plans to create a city center district centered around a new urban park on the 4.4-acre site currently occupied by the Manchester Industrial Centre, with proposals for four towers and a park.
The council conducted a public consultation this year on updating the development framework for the site, with reports indicating "overwhelming public support" for the proposals. The proposed Water Street Strategic Regeneration Framework will be built around a new urban park comparable in size to the successfully operated Mayfield public space.
The existing Strategic Regeneration Framework dates back to 2017 and set out a development plan for the council-owned Manchester Industrial Centre area, comprising five plots, buildings up to 31 stories, and approximately 900 homes. The 2026 version, drafted by SimpsonHaugh, envisions taller and denser development projects.
The Strategic Regeneration Framework broadly plans a landscape-led new community, including new homes (20% of which are affordable housing), improved public spaces, enhanced walking and cycling connections, and significant green infrastructure around the River Medlock. The council stated that environmental and public realm improvements received particularly strong support.
The consultation received 117 responses, including 107 from residents, 7 from businesses, and 3 from local interest groups or statutory bodies. Previously, Manchester City Council published 19 social media posts promoting the consultation, achieving 44,837 impressions, 774 link clicks, 239 reactions, and 32 shares or retweets.
The new framework responds to recent development projects, including the completion of St John's, Enterprise City, Trinity Islands, Campfield, Potato Wharf, and the delivery of the Aviva Studios entertainment venue. A report submitted to the executive noted that, given the fundamentally changed context, the remaining land on Water Street presents a strategic opportunity to achieve broader city center policy goals: delivering a predominantly residential scheme in a high-quality environment, including a significant public park, enhancing biodiversity, and connecting to other areas.
The framework also highlights the potential for new connections to Liverpool Road and St John's, as well as the future possibility of extending the National Trust's Castlefield Viaduct project. Upon final approval, the Strategic Regeneration Framework will serve as part of a development brief for potential developers to engage with the council, as part of an open market sale process expected to begin next year.
Councillor Gavin White, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration, stated that the wider Water Street area has undergone significant regeneration in recent years, with world-class investment at St John's and Aviva Studios on the doorstep, alongside impressive residential developments. This updated regeneration framework will help guide investment to create an inclusive new community through new homes, including affordable housing, complemented by a brand-new city center urban park. This is a major opportunity to create an exciting new district, generate new jobs and green spaces, thereby improving the quality of life for existing and future residents, while helping to meet the demand for new, high-quality homes and supporting Manchester's continued economic growth. On the remaining Water Street plots, we have a blank canvas with immense potential, and we look forward to launching proposals to create a unique space in the city center.
