Greater Manchester publishes 10-year plan to protect women
Mayor Andy Burnham declared he wanted the "streets, workplaces, schools, universities and homes of this city-region to be safe for every woman and girl."
Greater Manchester Combined Authority has published a 10-point plan to protect females – with Mayor Andy Burnham declaring he wanted the “streets, workplaces, schools, universities and homes to be safe for every woman and girl.”
The GMCA’s Gender Based Abuse Strategy has been “deliberately brought forward” following the case of Sarah Everard – whose tragic death has sparked a national ‘Reclaim These Streets’ movement to tackle misogyny and violence in Britain.
Proposals of the decade-long plan include introducing an emergency contact system for passengers on public transport (to alert the police discreetly); Public Space Protection Orders; and a public campaign on what is sometimes called ‘low level’ harm such as wolf-whistling, catcalling and stalking.
The strategy also pledges that anyone who suffers misogynistic abuse will be “offered the same protections as those afforded to all hate crime victims.”
Earlier this week the Government made a similar promise – saying it would “on an experimental basis” ask police to record crimes of violence motivated by a person’s sex or gender.
🗣️ "We want to change the story on violence against women and girls.
"We have got to seek to change attitudes right across society."
Today, the Deputy Mayor announced proposals for a Gender Based Abuse Strategy for Greater Manchester.
— Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (@MayorofGM) March 17, 2021
Statistics show that one in four women in the UK will experience some form of sexual assault or domestic abuse in their lifetime.
In Greater Manchester, 36% of all violent crime reported to the police entails domestic abuse.
Mayor Andy Burnham said that such cases had gone on “far too long”.
“Firstly, we need to work together with a range of agencies to improve the services we provide to victims, and secondly we need to challenge attitudes and behaviours,” he stated.
“It’s why I intend to bring forward a high-profile campaign asking men and boys to think about their behaviour and how it makes women and girls feel so we become a better and safer place to live and work.”
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Bev Hughes declared that “enough is enough”.
“I hear the harrowing stories every day and the toll it takes on women physically and mentally,” she stated.
“It’s pervasive in our everyday life, from walking down a street and being called names because of how you are dressed, or being followed, or being threatened or being attacked.
“I’m proud of the Gender Based Abuse Strategy proposals we’ve published today and I want to thank the many people who have helped us already to get to this point. However, there may be other issues we should include so I’d want everyone in Greater Manchester to help us get it right.”
‘Eyesore’ Northern Quarter car park to be redeveloped as ambitious new neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
An underused multi-storey car park in the heart of the city centre is set to be sold and redeveloped as an ‘ambitious’ new neighbourhood.
The ‘eyesore’ car park situated in Manchester’s iconic Northern Quarter will be transformed into what Manchester City Council is hoping will become a green and sustainable neighbourhood set to complement the ‘unique and independent’ ethos of the area.
It comes after developers CBRE were appointed by the Council last year to market the Church Street site for disposal, ahead of seeking formal planning permission.
The new scheme will deliver more than 300 new homes – including 60 affordable homes – alongside new commercial opportunities and high-quality public spaces.
A before and proposed after of Church Street Car Park / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s expected that the development will respect the heritage and architecture of the historic city centre neighbourhood and help to enhance the wider area, all while improving a car park site that has long fallen out of favour.
The new neighbourhood will also feature four new public squares and green spaces, along with opportunities for pedestrianising the surrounding streets as part of the public realm.
As mentioned, commercial space is also part of the plans, as the ground floor of the building will offer a mix of smaller, more affordable units to ensure local independent businesses can access the neighbourhood, alongside units for food and beverage outlets.
“For too long, the Church Street car park has been an eyesore and a barrier to the ongoing success of the Northern Quarter,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“We want to bring forward a world-class development that has the potential to completely transform this part of the neighbourhood, together with the newest city centre public squares and green spaces.”
The final legal negotiations will conclude over the summer, and it’s expected that a public consultation will then take place to inform a future planning application.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
‘Major milestone’ as planning permission secured to transform Oldham town centre
Emily Sergeant
Planning permission has been granted for six transformational sites in Oldham town centre, with developers calling it a ‘major milestone’.
This approval marks a key step forward in Muse Places and Oldham Council‘s long-term partnership with a shared ambition to deliver a ‘vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable’ town centre that not only reflects Oldham’s heritage but also meets the needs of the people who live there.
Following ‘extensive consultation’ with the local community earlier this year, where hundreds of people took park and shared valuable feedback to help shape the proposals, a total of 1,619 new homes will be delivered as part of the plans, offering a mix of high-quality, energy-efficient apartments designed for families, older people, and young professionals.
The plans also include social and affordable housing provision too in a bid to help more local people find a home that suits their needs and circumstances.
According to the Council and developers, the approved plans will bring underused sites back into ‘productive’ use and support a ‘cleaner, greener’ future for Oldham, opening the door to new opportunities for local businesses and communities alike.
“This decision marks a key milestone in delivering on our promises for Oldham,” commented Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Council.
Planning permission has been secured to transform Oldham town centre / Credit: Muse Places
“Oldham Council and Muse have a shared, ambitious vision to create a quality place that people genuinely want to spend time in.
“I am thrilled that we can continue moving forward with our plans, delivering high-quality homes, including the provision of social and affordable homes to meet local needs. We will also support local businesses and create opportunities for everyone, as part of a clean, green and sustainable future.
“Together, we are creating a place that we can all be proud of.”
Site investigation works are now complete at the Civic Centre, and works at Prince’s Gate will begin shortly, followed by the former Magistrates’ Court later this year.
With planning consent secured and preparatory works underway, construction at Prince’s Gate is expected to begin this autumn.
The Manc -
18th March 2021 
