Looking to the east

Four years on from successfully hosting the Commonwealth Games, a catalyst for the regeneration of this part of the city, NEM is driving forward the transformation of an area nearly 2,000 ha in size with public and private sector investment totalling an average of £200m a year. The report highlights the fact that the hosting of the Commonwealth Games together with the city council prioritising east Manchester has been critical to the success of the programme so far. East Manchester has in fact ‘added value’ to the economic success of the city centre over the past decade.
Covering an area just east of the city centre to the boundary with Tameside, the strategic framework for east Manchester links into Manchester city council’s vision and strategy for the city and its environs.

Now in its sixth year, the urban regeneration company is on track to achieve its target to build 12,500 homes in its first 10 to 15 years, with more than 3,500 new homes already completed or on-site and a further 6,000 in the pipeline. In the first five years, more than 3,000 jobs have been created or safeguarded, unemployment is down from 14.2 percent to 5.7 percent with 500 local companies supported. The area has two new primary schools and two state-of-the art health clinics are near completion.

Professor Parkinson, commenting on New East Manchester Ltd, said: “NEM provides many important lessons about the processes, people, politics, and powers that are required to achieve successful urban regeneration. It is a very good example of a truly comprehensive urban regeneration company. Their ability to make a real difference to both the physical and social environment of this important part of the city in a relatively short space of time is remarkable.”
Robert Hough, Chairman of New East Manchester Ltd said: “We were very fortunate to have Professor Michael Parkinson undertake this work. As a leading figure in urban regeneration, we could not have found anyone better placed to conduct our review. Our task is to regenerate a huge area of former industrial concentration, very close to the centre of one of the most dynamic cities in the UK. We have achieved a tremendous amount but there is still a great deal more to do to ensure we leave a lasting legacy for the communities who themselves have contributed so much. Vital investment needs to continue to guarantee a sustainable future for the area.”

Paul Spooner, regional director of English Partnerships said: “NEM works to a well-developed strategy and sees the bigger picture, which this report clearly indicates. Partnership work, across both the public and private sector, is also key to success. Without it regeneration on this scale simply cannot be achieved.”

Maurice Gubbins, northwest regional development agency policy and partnerships manager, said: “this report highlights the impressive scale of innovative, high-impact regeneration activity that has taken place in east Manchester since its establishment, which is creating significant numbers of jobs, levering in major investment and greatly improving the quality of life for local residents. It is through strong and effective partnership working that we have been able to achieve these levels of success and I am sure that east Manchester will continue to witness these benefits for many years to come.”

For more information, or to download a summary of the report, visit www.neweastmanchester.com. Alternatively, contact Roz Hughes at New East Manchester on 0161 223 1155

Key projects
The following projects are highlighted in Professor Michael Parkinson’s report as examples of successful regeneration:

Central Park will ultimately provide 1.4 million sq ft of business space and generate up to 10,000 new jobs. Thanks to the successful delivery of the Commonwealth Games, Sportcity became an important catalyst for regeneration in east Manchester.

On completion of Beswick Neighbourhood Planning, over 1,100 homes will have been created alongside a new high school and improved retail facilities. • New Islington is a 12.5 ha site featuring an eco park, new canals, apartments, houses and a health clinic.

From a baseline pass rate of 19 percent A* to C grades, educational attainment has risen dramatically to over 50 percent. two east Manchester primary schools were included in the top five most improved schools nationally in the government’s recent performance league table. St Anne’s RC Primary school in Ancoats topped the table, while a mile down the road, Nicholas Varley Community school in Miles Platting came fifth, making them two of the ‘most improved schools’ in the country, having made the most sustained improvement since 2003.