A lido may be on the way to Manchester for the first time in decades, as part of major plans to regenerate Holt Town.
The area just beyond Ancoats and New Islington could be transformed into a ‘woodland town’, with thousands of new homes and high quality green spaces.
The new town would ‘bridge the gap’ between the bustling city centre and major cultural venues like Co-op Live, the Etihad Stadium, and all the other facilities at SportCity and the Etihad Campus.
If it all goes ahead as planned, Holt Town will be home to a lido – something that’s been on a lot of Manchester wishlists for decades.
Plans include building around 4,500 new homes- including at least 20% genuinely affordable properties, family housing, apartments and age-friendly homes.
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It’ll all incorporate high quality green spaces surrounding a 1km play street spine, provision of new local services, cultural opportunities, and significant affordable workspace, plus a focus on green travel rather than car use.
Around 15 acres of green space would be created, enhancing Holt Town’s proximity to the canals and rivers.
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How Holt Town could look after its regeneration. Credit: SuppliedHolt Town’s regeneration plans include a lido for ManchesterHolt Town will be built along the canals and rivers near ManchesterThe new ‘woodland town’ will be built along the canal
Manchester City Council’s executive will be asked to approve the ambitious Holt Town plans at a committee meeting next week (22 January), following positive feedback public consultation last year, where 10,000 people viewed the plans and 411 formal responses showed strong support.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Holt Town has huge potential and this is feeding our ambition to create a brand new woodland town – the first of its kind in Manchester.
“We have an opportunity to deliver a transformative programme of investment and we expect this area to be Manchester’s next urban regeneration exemplar, creating a neighbourhood that meets the needs of our city and our people – with at least 4,500 new homes, including significant affordable housing options.
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“This neigbourhood will represent a people first focus around active travel, green spaces, new play spaces for young people – and a digital first approach that will better connect the community with local services.
“Following consultation, we are beginning to move to the early delivery phase for Holt Town – a new town within the city of Manchester – that will finally bridge the gap between the city centre, Sportcity and the Etihad Campus in east Manchester.”
10 hot properties for sale in Greater Manchester | February 2025
Emily Sergeant
Every month, we show you some of the hottest properties currently on the market in Greater Manchester.
It’s safe to say that Mancunians love a good nosey around other peoples’ houses, and after all, Greater Manchester is a brilliant place to live.
But what can your money currently get you in the area?
In our monthly Hot Property series, we scour the internet to find 10 more of the most diverse, jaw-dropping, accessible, and beautifully-presented homes currently on the market in Greater Manchester for you to take a look at.
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Oaklands
Bamford, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL11
Cowell & Norford
Oaklands / Credit: Cowell & Norford
Detached | x5 Bedrooms | x5 Bathrooms
Occupying a generous corner plot within a secure gated development in one of Rochdale’s most affluent areas, Bamford – with a wide range of top-performing local schools, shops, restaurants, and countryside walks on the doorstep – is this stunning five-bedroom detached house that has been finished to the highest of standards.
A true credit to the current owners, boasting bespoke-quality fixtures and fittings in every room, some of the stand-out features of this family home include the expansive modern kitchen-diner, master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, and several reception rooms.
Externally, the property has well-maintained lawned garden areas to the front and rear, and there is a double integral garage and ample off-road driveway parking for multiple vehicles.
This is definitely one to view and appreciate all it has to offer.
Oaklands / Credit: Cowell & Norford
The property is currently on the market with Rochdale-based independent estate agents, Cowell & Norford, for £850,000 (Offers in Excess of).
This attractive three-bedroom Victorian terraced property situated on a pleasant residential street in the popular town of Prestwich, with everything the area is known and loved for, like the impressive collection of restaurants, cafes and bars, only a short walk away, is brimming with character throughout, making it an ideal family home in a vibrant community.
Perfectly balancing original features with modern touches, you’ll be greeted by high ceilings and a sense of light and space from the moment you enter the home.
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The property’s stand-out feature has to be the stunning shaker-style kitchen, installed in 2022, which boasts is undoubtedly the heart of the home, boasting bi-fold doors opening onto the rear garden, where you’ll find an immaculately-presented outdoor space for entertaining.
Gardner Road / Credit: WeLocate
The property is currently on the market with the Bury-based branch of estate agency chain, WeLocate, for a Guide Price of £400,000.
This beautifully presented four-bedroom family home on Shaw Moor Avenue sits at the on a pretty tree-lined residential street at the heart of the popular Tameside town of Stalybridge.
Estate agents say this home has “so much to offer” prospective buyers.
Internally, the property boasts lots of natural light, with several spacious reception rooms, a modern dining-kitchen, and up to five large bedrooms – including a loft room – each offering space and flexibility, while externally, you’ll find well-maintained lawned gardens and shrubbery wrapping around the elevated property.
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You’ll also be able to benefit from the property’s integral garage space, and convenient off-road driveway parking.
Shaw Moor Avenue / Credit: A Wilson Estates
The property is currently on the market with Stalybridge-based estate agents, A Wilson Estates, for £500,000 (Offers Over).
Pemberton Road / Credit: Alan Batt Sales & Lettings
Detached | x5 Bedrooms | x2 Bathrooms
Sat proudly behind grand metal gates on a sought-after street in Winstanley – which is one of the most affluent suburban towns in Wigan, benefitting from being close to amenities, good local education options, and travel links across Greater Manchester and beyond – is this five-bedroom detached home that’s ideal for growing families of all sizes.
The property has been extended and finished to a high standard throughout, meaning it’s ready for the new owners to move straight into and make their own.
As well as the bags of internal space, externally the property boasts well-maintained garden areas to both the front and the rear, as well as a large front driveway suitable for several vehicles, and in integral garage for extra storage space.
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Pemberton Road / Credit: Alan Batt Sales & Lettings
The property is currently on the market with Wigan-based estate agents, Alan Batt Sales & Lettings, for £650,000 (Offers Over).
With stone cottages as pretty as this one, on both the inside and out, there’s no wonder Uppermill is so popular.
Sitting at the end of an attractive row of terraces on a quiet cul-de-sac in one of Saddleworth’s best-loved villages, which provides the best of semi-rural living while still being close to all the amenities, local schooling options, and transport links you could need, is this three-bedroom stone cottage which has so much of its original character and charm retained.
The current owners have managed to preserve and restore much of what makes this property so special internally, while externally, you’ll find easy-to-care-for garden spaces to both the front and rear.
Buckley Street / Credit: West Riding
The property is currently on the market with Uppermill-based independent estate agents, West Riding, for £335,000.
Ramsbottom is one of Bury – and Greater Manchester’s – most sought-after towns, known and loved for its collection of independent businesses, good local schools, and proximity to countryside, making it top of the list for many first time buyers, growing families, and downsizers alike.
And with properties as immaculate as this one, it’s not hard to see why.
Sat within a large plot on a quiet cul-de-sac is this four-bedroom detached property that has been renovated by the current owners throughout to offer bright, flexible, and spacious living accommodations with everything needed for modern-day life.
Stepping outside the property is where you’ll find a driveway big enough to fit three cars on, and stunningly-landscaped rear garden with both decking and lawn space.
Falstone Avenue / Credit: Wainwrights
The property is currently on the market with Bury-based independent estate agents, Wainwrights, for £450,000.
Situated on a newly-built residential estate in the ever-popular Salford suburb of Worsley, which has always been one of the regions’s most sought-after places to call home, loved for its collection of amenities, leafy streets, and easy access into Manchester city centre and beyond – is this three-bedroom semi ideal for growing families.
Having been renovated and finished with love and care by the current owners, the property now boasts modern fitted kitchens and bathrooms, spacious bedrooms, and lots of flexible living space throughout.
Externally, the property benefits from driveway parking and lawned garden areas to both the front and the rear.
Bonnington Close / Credit: Keenans
The property is currently on the market with the Swinton branch of local estate agency chain, Keenans, for £300,000.
Greater Manchester’s most affluent and sought-after town has absolutely no shortage of impressive homes, but this really is something special.
Behind the doors of this four-bedroom detached family home set among expansive gardens in the little Trafford town of Hale – which is popular for its wide range of amenities, excellent local schools, and convenient transport links – you’ll find an immaculate family home that’s flooded with natural light at every turn.
Estate agents say the property stands within an extremely-private plot which is “one of the best positions on the road”, and benefits from having plenty of off-road driveway parking to the front as well as a large lawned garden to the rear.
Blenhiem Close / Credit: Carter Groves
The property is currently on the market with Hale-based independent estate agents, Carter Groves, for £1.65 million.
Properties as pristinely-renovated like this don’t come to the market very often.
If you’re looking for a spacious family home that you can quite literally move straight into and call your own, then this stunning four-bedroom detached property in the popular Stockport residential area of Davenport could be just what you’re after – especially if you’re keen to be close to amenities, good local schools, and convenient transport links.
The property has been immaculately finished by the current owners, with no expense spared on fixtures and fittings, making the spaces designed for both style and function in equal measure.
If the inside of the property wasn’t impressive enough as it is, when you step outside, you’ll find a sizeable driveway and double integral garage to the front, while bi-fold doors lead from the kitchen-diner out to the attractive rear garden.
Frewland Avenue / Credit: Julian Wadden
The property is currently on the market with the the Stockport branch of local estate agency chain, Julian Wadden, for £825,000 (Offers Over).
Back Water Street, Egerton, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL7
Claves
Park View / Credit: Claves
Detached | x5 Bedrooms | x4 Bathrooms
Situated in the highly-sought-after Bolton village of Egerton, overlooking the green fields of the village’s park, with a wide range of amenities, excellent local schools, and transport links only a short distance away, is this attractive five-bedroom detached family home that’s offered to the market in immaculate condition and is ready to move straight into.
The property boasts light and spacious accommodations throughout, with the current owners having renovated many rooms to a high standard.
Stepping outside, you’ll find the property has large gardens to both the front and rear behind its wooden gates, and has a large driveway as well as two garages for multiple vehicles.
Park View / Credit: Claves
The property is currently on the market with Bolton-based independent estate agents, Claves, for £775,000 (Offers Over).
Featured Image – West Riding | Carter Groves | Julian Wadden
Property
Salford named one of the most expensive UK cities to rent in
Emily Sergeant
One of Greater Manchester’s major cities has been named among the most expensive UK cities to rent a property in.
It was just last week that the Greater Manchester town of Swinton was named a ‘property hotspot’ for 2025 by Rightmove, after house prices there increased by nearly 10% on average last year, and now, the city of Salford itself is also being put under the property spotlight.
That’s because the leading property listing platform has highlighted the city as being one of the most expensive for renters in the whole of the UK.
With 2025 set to be a year of relocation for many, Rightmove has looked at rental costs across more than 50 cities in Great Britain in a bid to find the cheapest – and by contrast, the most expensive – places to rent right now.
Salford has been named one of the most expensive UK cities to rent in / Credit: Benjamin Elliott | Pexels
When it comes to the most expensive UK city to rent in, we doubt it’ll come as a shock to you that the English capital of London takes the top spot.
Some of the other expected cities featuring in the top 10 list, according to Rightmove’s research, include Oxford, Brighton, Cambridge, and the Scottish capital on Edinburgh, but a more surprising entry for Greater Manchester residents is the fact that Salford takes up the eighth spot – with an average monthly rental price of £1,739.
Top 10 most expensive UK cities to rent in
London (£2,695)
St. Albans (£2,330)
Oxford (£2,041)
Winchester (£1,985)
Brighton (£1,880)
Cambridge (£1,870)
Chelmsford (£1,857)
Salford (£1,739)
Milton Keynes (£1,641)
Edinburgh (£1,620)
What's happening in the rental market? 🏡
👉 The average advertised rent of properties coming to market outside of London has fallen for the first time since pre-pandemic 2019, dropping by 0.2% to £1,341 per calendar month.
On the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest UK city to rent a property in is Hull, with the average monthly rental price there being £799, while some of the other North West cities featuring in the top 10 include Preston, Lancaster, and Carlisle.
When taking a look nationally, the average advertised rent per calendar month stands at £1,526, as of January 2025 – which is up 4.3% compared with this time year last year.
But Rightmove says that price changes, as well as average rental prices, vary significantly depending on the location.
Take Salford for example, which is one of the most expensive cities for renting, the monthly cost of renting has jumped by 30.5% in the last year, whereas in Dundee, prices have dropped by 3.7% during the same period.
Daisy Jackson -
16th January 2025 
