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'Massive' Investment Secured For Miles Platting

24.01.2006

Manchester City Council today announced the preferred partner for the redevelopment of Miles Platting in East Manchester, heralding the start of the first stage in the transformation of a107 hectare (264 acre) area of Manchester, two miles east of the city centre. Through a private finance initiative (PFI), well in excess of £100 million of public money will be invested, along with private sector funding, in a regeneration scheme that will see the refurbishment of approximately 1, 600 council properties and the construction of over 1,000 new build family houses and apartments.

The redevelopment work will be undertaken by the Renaissance consortium, which is led by national affordable housing provider Lovell, in partnership with Family Housing Association (Manchester) Ltd - which is part of the Adactus Housing Group - and Mill Group. Architects PRP are the consortium’s designers.

Councillor Eddy Newman, Executive Member for Housing at Manchester City Council said: “This level of investment is massive by any standards and we are very fortunate to have secured it for the regeneration of Miles Platting. Although it was a close run race between the two bidders, Renaissance was selected as preferred partner because their bid demonstrated a strong commitment to creating and maintaining a sustainable community over the next 30 years. We want local tenants and homeowners to be part of the rebirth of Miles Platting and are totally committed to ensuring all residents can remain in the area if they choose, and will be able to afford to do so.”

Tom Russell, chief executive of New East Manchester Ltd added: “To reach this stage we have already undertaken a lengthy consultation process which included two public exhibition events attended by over 600 local people. This dialogue will continue throughout the process. Starting next month we will be contacting everyone to finalise the neighbourhood plan and discuss rehousing options for residents whose homes are to be cleared to make way for the improvements. Renewal will obviously involve taking out some of the existing properties, but we have come a long way since the slum clearance of the 1960s and any demolition will be kept to a minimum and will be in close consultation with those effected.”

Lovell managing director Stewart Davenport said: “The Renaissance consortium is delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for this exciting PFI housing scheme. We look forward to working in partnership with Manchester City Council and local residents on this project which will deliver a major regeneration of the area and dramatically improve the quality of life for the local community.”

The neighbourhood plan will be finalised by late summer and a five-year comprehensive refurbishment programme for existing properties will start in early 2007. Work will start on the construction of the new build homes in 2008. It estimated that the new-build housing scheme will take approximately eight years to complete.

For press photography, please contact vanessa.clarke@prparchitects.co.uk

For more information, visit Miles Platting Library on Wednesdays between 12pm and 4pm from 25 January or contact Gary Sullivan or Colleen Scott on 0161 234 4743/1494 or e-mail manchester.housing@manchester.gov.uk.

For further information contact Roz Hughes at New East Manchester on 0161 223 1155

Notes to editors

New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a partnership between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is NEM's role to implement the Regeneration Framework, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects as well as co-ordinate the range of regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.

The regeneration programme for East Manchester covers nearly 2,000 hectares of East Manchester and this vast area has been split into 17 individual neighbourhoods.

To plan effectively for the future, New East Manchester Ltd working with Manchester City Council’s Housing Department has embarked upon a comprehensive neighbourhood planning process.

Neighbourhood Plans will guide future development and investment that will maintain, and where necessary, create sustainable communities. The purpose of these Neighbourhood Plans is to critically examine the potential for each area working in close liaison with local people. They will look specifically at shopping and community facilities, sporting and recreation areas, all tenures of housing, crime and safety issues together with business, jobs and training opportunities. The Neighbourhood Plans will build upon work already conducted and bring together many other initiatives that are currently under way. Each local community will have the opportunity to participate fully.

Miles Platting covers an area from the border of Ancoats Urban Village and New Islington to Hulme Hall Lane, Oldham Road and Bradford Road.

The two construction consortia involved in the bidding process were New City Vision led by Laing O’Rourke and Renaissance, led by Lovell.