Plans for a block of new townhouses in Manchester city centre have been revealed, transforming an underused plot of land in town.
If the plans go ahead, we could see 21 new townhouses, with private roof terraces and basement parking, built in one of the city’s most rapidly-developing districts.
PH Property Holdings Ltd are proposing to build the new high-quality three-bedroom homes around a treelined courtyard.
While developments in Manchester tend to shoot straight up in the air, building sky-high apartments in modern skyscrapers, this one is approaching things a little differently.
The plans are to add ‘premium, low-rise family homes’ to this part of town, bringing it back into residential use as it was from the late 18th until the mid-20th century.
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The homes that previously stood here were demolished after the Second World War, later becoming car parking for Granada Studios, and then an enclosed garden with Breeze Studios within it, which remained in use until the studio’s closure in 2013.
While these days it looks to be a patch of rare green space in the city centre, the proposed site isn’t actually accessible to the public currently.
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It stands between the revamped Grape Street (which leads to the St John’s district and Aviva Studios), the new Soho House and Mollie’s Motel building, the former Great John Street Hotel, and St John’s Gardens, and is just a stone’s throw from the Science and Industry Museum.
Where the new townhouses could be built in Manchester. Credit: PH Property Holdings Ltd
The proposals say: “High-quality architecture and sensitive landscaping will ensure the development fits well with the surrounding neighbourhood while enhancing the public realm and creating an attractive, welcoming environment.
“The overall ambition is to create a sustainable residential community that contributes positively to the area’s character.
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“The proposal will help diversify Manchester’s city-centre housing offer through the introduction of premium family townhouses in a location that has historically served a residential purpose. By reinstating the site’s former use, the development will help meet the city’s housing targets, strengthen the area’s sense of place, and support a more balanced housing mix in the city centre.”
You can have your say on the proposals HERE, until 1 February.
There will also be a public drop-in session on Tuesday 27 January 2026 at Castlefield Hotel (Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4JR) from 4pm to 7pm.
Transformational plans set to be approved for ‘major’ new Manchester city centre park
Emily Sergeant
‘Transformational’ plans to regenerate an underused Manchester city centre site are set to be approved next week.
Following ‘overwhelming’ public support for proposals set out in a public consultation earlier this year – where more than 90% of respondents supported the key principles – Manchester City Council says its executive is expected approve an ambitious vision for the Water Street neighbourhood at a meeting next week (Weds 8 July).
The Water Street Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) is set to create a city centre district developed around a new urban park.
The SRF is described as being a ‘high-level blueprint’ for future investment that will guide development through the planning process.
The plans are comprised of a new landscape-led neighbourhood that combines homes – including 20% of them being ‘affordable’ – improved public spaces, enhanced walking and cycling connections, and ‘significant’ new green infrastructure centred around the River Medlock.
Sustainability was highlighted as an area of importance to local residents in the consultation, and to meet these demands, the plans include increased biodiversity, sustainable drainage features, and a largely car-free neighbourhood to support Manchester’s zero-carbon ambitions, as well as the new urban park being at the heart of it all.
The new neighbourhood will also offer plenty of new jobs, skills, and investment opportunities.
“The wider Water Street area has seen major regeneration in recent years with world-class investment at St John’s and Aviva Studios on its doorstep, alongside impressive residential developments,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration.
“This renewed regeneration framework will help guide investment to bring this area up to the same ambitious level with new housing, including affordable housing to create an inclusive new neighbourhood, complemented by a brand-new city centre urban park.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council (Supplied)
Property
UK’s most popular commuter towns named and four are in Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The UK’s most popular commuter towns have been named, and four of them are here in Greater Manchester.
Where are the most popular commuter towns in the UK right now?
Well, new data collated based on the number of people enquiring about available properties on Rightmove has revealed the locations where buyer demand is highest, and with Manchester being one of the largest cities in the country, of course there’s some Greater Manchester towns on the list.
Rightmove says that choosing the best commuter town requires buyers to balance a number of factors – including property prices, travel times, and local lifestyle.
To narrow it down, the property platform has chosen to focus on commuter towns within a 45-minute rail journey to the target city, and with at least 20,000 people living there.
For Manchester, it’s Stockport that’s taken the title as the city’s most popular commuter town, as amazinly, it generated 70% more enquiries per listing than Manchester itself.
The UK’s most popular commuter towns have been named / Credit: James Feaver (via Unsplash) | Manchester City Council
Being just an eight-minute journey from Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport has an average property price of £308,299.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, the picturesque Stockport town of Marple takes second spot on the list, while the Tameside town of Stalybridge comes in third place, and Rochdale also features in the top five, alongside Warrington – which is just outside of our region’s borders, but is only a short 22-minute train journey into the city centre.
Transport options is obviously one of the most important factors in what makes a town a so-called ‘commuter town’.
Stockport benefits from around six fast trains per hour, while Stalybridge and Rochdale offer four per hour. Marple is less frequent at two per hour but still attracts strong interest, likely due to its lifestyle appeal and stunning setting on the edge of the Peak District.
Price growth has been strong across most of the Manchester commuter towns, with Stalybridge (+6.1%) and Rochdale (+5.8%) seeing notable increases year-on-year.
However, average prices for four out of the five commuter locations on the list were higher than the average Manchester property price (£261,891), suggesting that lifestyle factors were a stronger draw for Manchester’s surrounding towns.
Daisy Jackson -
16th January 2026 
