Manchester

Plans for a new ‘Wild Urbanism’ regeneration concept at Red Bank have been unveiled

The regeneration will create 5,500 new homes within Victoria North.

Emily Sergeant - 6th December 2021

Developers Far East Consortium (FEC) has unveiled its vision for the “sustainable regeneration” of Manchester’s Red Bank neighbourhood.

It will create 5,500 new homes within Victoria North.

Working with international design practices Maccreanor Lavington and Schulze+Grassov, FEC has applied its ‘Wild Urbanism’ concept across the Red Bank masterplan, and is aiming to connect the built environment with the urban nature of the River Irk Valley to create what it’s calling “a unique city neighbourhood”.

The vision – which applies ’15-minute neighbourhood’ principles – includes the “prioritisation” of green space, biodiversity and public realm, with just 50% of land within the masterplan dedicated to high-density residential development.

The neighbourhood is expected to provide new homes for a diverse mix of people, and will build a new community with both “long-term infrastructure” and social amenities.

Other key features within FEC’s masterplan for the largely-brownfield site include a focus on active travel, the revitalisation of St Catherine’s Wood as part of the wider City River Park, improvements to the River Irk, and new social and community facilities – including initial proposals for a new primary school and health centre.

Integral to the regeneration project is a “connected, safe and inviting network of public spaces” where pedestrians and cyclists are prioritised to support healthy and active lifestyles, and FEC says that the strategy has been designed to “increase connectivity” between Red Bank, Collyhurst, Cheetham Hill, New Cross, and Manchester city centre, all while creating an “accessible frontage” the River Irk.

£51.6m of investment – which has been secured through a bid by joint venture partner Manchester City Council (MCC) via the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) – will see the Council deliver critical infrastructure to help “unlock the neighbourhood”, including re-naturalisation of the River Irk, as well as the first phase of the City River Park, site remediation, access routes and new utility connections.

Speaking on the unveiling of the plans, Hilary Brett-Parr – Project Director at FEC – said: “The River Irk and its valley provides an opportunity to create a unique, sustainable, residential community within an incredible setting.

“Our ambition is to establish Red Bank as a key location within Victoria North, unlike anywhere else in the city, providing plenty of access to wild, green spaces within a healthy urban environment for people to live, visit and work.

“To support the new community in Red Bank, we also recognise the importance of social and community infrastructure and at this early stage have identified locations for a new health centre and primary school needed to allow the new community to flourish.

“We will be working closely with MCC to develop these proposals.”

Cllr Gavin White – Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Employment – added: “Red Bank has a huge amount of potential, as part of our ambitious Victoria North project, and aside from the overall investment opportunity to deliver 5,500 new homes on this brownfield site, the area lends itself to a bold and innovative approach to development – putting green space, active travel and sustainability at the heart of the investment. 

“Red Bank gives us a blank canvas to create from scratch a blueprint for sustainable urban development in this part of North Manchester alongside the River Irk.”

Local residents and stakeholders are invited to view the plans as part of a public consultation programme, with events taking place on 8 and 9 December.

Featured Image – Far East Consortium (FEC)