News

All the restrictions being lifted on Monday March 29: What you can and can’t do

Boris Johnson confirmed that lockdown easing remains on course in England - with "absolutely nothing in the data" to suggest plans should change.

The Manc The Manc - 22nd March 2021

The Stay At Home Order is officially lifted in England on March 29 as the country takes another big step towards exiting lockdown restrictions.

Following the reopening of schools earlier this month, the next stage of the Government’s roadmap out of national lockdown will proceed as planned from Monday – with a further set of measures being “irreversibly” removed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously warned that the impact of a third wave of COVID-19 infections being seen in Europe would “wash up on our shores” in due course, but emphasised that England would nonetheless “bash on with the roadmap set out”.

Over the weekend, the PM confirmed that lockdown easing indeed remained on schedule, stating: “And as things stand, I can see absolutely nothing in the data to dissuade me from continuing along our roadmap to freedom, unlocking our economy and getting back to the life we love.”

The changes being made on March 29 allow for more social contact, the return of some outdoor sport, and slightly more freedom in terms of travel.

What measures are being lifted on March 29?

  • The ‘Rule of Six’ returns – This means you’re allowed to meet up in groups of six, or two households, anywhere outdoors, but no meeting inside homes is permitted.
  • Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, can reopen.
  • Organised outdoor sports for children and adults are permitted.
  • Outdoor parent and child groups, with a maximum of 15 parents, can take place.

The “Stay at Home” rule will be removed from March 29.

However, people should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.

Travel abroad is still prohibited.

When will more restrictions be lifted?

If the data allows it, further restrictions will be eased on April 12 as part of ‘Step Two’ of lifting England’s lockdown.

This will see the reopening of non-essential retail, gyms, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries and museums – as well as outdoor hospitality and self-catered accommodation.

Under current plans, further restrictions are then set to be lifted on May 17 – including the resumption of service for the indoor hospitality sector.

The final step of the roadmap commences on June 21, with a view to lifting all lockdown measures by this date.

You can view the Government’s full roadmap to exiting lockdown online.

News

Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light

The chance to live in Manchester city centre’s newest park (and one of its only green spaces) has taken a step closer, with plans for new Mayfield Park homes given the green light.

879 apartments have been approved this week, which will have ‘the ultimate front garden’.

The Mayfield district has been undergoing major changes in the last few years, including the redevelopment of Depot Mayfield (into Freight Island, plus a music venue for events like Warehouse Project) and the opening of the beautiful Mayfield Park.

And now hundreds of new one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes will be added to the area, as well as a 40% increase in the size of the park.

The plans for the first homes at Mayfield Park were met with unanimous approval by the City Council’s Planning Committee.

The residences will span across four buildings, with low-rise elements peppered in amongst the taller blocks, and will also be home to restaurants, cafes, and health and wellness facilities.

A new tree-lined road through the development will enhance walking and cycling connectivity from east Manchester into the city centre.

More than 880 jobs will be generated during the construction phase, plus 120 full-time jobs when operational.

Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light. Credit: Assembly Studios
Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light. Credit: Assembly Studios

The proposals suggest that the apartments will contribute £2 million annually in Council Tax and a major £10 million boost to local businesses through increased spending.

The high-quality homes are designed by Studio Egret West and shedkm, designed to reflect the industrial heritage of the area, including distinctive arches.

20% of the first phase of homes are intended to be classed as affordable housing and will be prioritised for key workers in Manchester.

Henrietta Nowne, Development Director at Landsec, representing The Mayfield Partnership, said: “For the first time, Mancunians will have the ultimate back garden within the award-winning Mayfield Park.

“An opportunity like this hasn’t existed before in Manchester. Since starting on site earlier this month, there’s real momentum building as we continue to grow a green, healthy and connected district in the heart of Manchester.”

The approval marks the next chapter of the continued transformation of the Mayfield district near Piccadilly Station, led by Manchester City Council, TfGM, London Continental Railways (LCR), and Landsec.

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Featured image: Assembly Studios

News

Revenue from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester City Council is set to earmark almost £250,000 to support grassroots music venues in the city.

Following on from the success of the city’s huge summer of music, which in recent weeks has seen hundreds of thousands of fans converge in the city to see massive names like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Charlie XCX, Elbow, and Robbie Williams, as well as other talents like Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender still yet to come.

Oh yeah, and there was also that small matter of Oasis reuniting for five nostalgia-drenched gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park earlier last month.

Over the course of the summer, it has been estimated that Manchester will have attracted a whopping 1.3 million music tourists, which is being described as a ‘tremendous’ boost for the city’s economy as a whole, especially the hospitality industry.

Concert crowd
Revenue made from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ this summer is to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues / Credit: Eldhose Kuriyan | Joshua Hanson (via Unsplash)

These huge events are also generating income for the Council too, either by being hosted in the city’s largest parks with commercial arrangements for their use, or through the business rates paid by major venues – and it’s this income that has been earmarked to go towards supporting grassroots music venues throughout the city.

As well as reinvesting part of this revenue into parks and greenspaces, the Council is planning to set aside £245,000 to be made available in financial support for Manchester’s grassroots venues.

While exact details are in the process of being finalised, the intention is that the scheme will be administered by the Music Venue Trust to ensure that the money gets to where it is needed as ‘quickly and effectively’ as possible.

It’s estimated that Manchester will have welcomed 1.3 million music tourists before summer’s out / Credit: Nathan Mullet (via Unsplash)

“Manchester is a big noise in the music world,” commented Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, “and this summer, all eyes have been on the city as we’ve hosted some huge concerts and seen unprecedented success in our large venues.

“But while the biggest gigs might dominate the headlines, we know they are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem, with grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow.

“We know that across the country, grassroots venues are struggling. That’s why we want to ensure that our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events.

“We’re blessed in Manchester with an array of great smaller venues.

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“They are there to be enjoyed and I’d encouraged anyone who values them to get out and support them.”

Featured Image – Rahul Kukreja (via Unsplash)

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