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This is how we're spending the cash Mr Chancellor

Nicole Kenny
6/ 6/2008

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling visited Ancoats on Monday afternoon to witness first hand projects that are bringing new life to east Manchester.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was in town to launch the Manchester Independent Economic Review – a £1.35m year-long study of Manchester's economic potential.

Throughout the day Darling toured a variety of projects including MediaCity UK at Salford Quays, the City South Partnership and Manchester's University Core Technology Facility.

The Chancellor then arrived in Ancoats and was given a tour of the area, where he visited the redundant old Waulk Mill and Royal Mill that have been transformed into apartments and commercial space, retaining their historic character.

He also saw the new Cotton Field eco park at New Islington, Manchester's Millennium Community where thousands of homes will be built around an attractive lake.

The Chancellor ended his visit at the new £6.5 million Ancoats Clinic, a state-of-the-art centre providing health and social care services for New Islington residents and for those living in Ancoats and the surrounding area.

He was told about a range of other regeneration projects such as the prestigious business park at Central Park and Sportcity.

Robert Hough, chairman of the urban regeneration company New East Manchester, said: "The Chancellor was very impressed by the transformational and comprehensive nature of the regeneration projects that he saw, embracing structural, social, economic, environmental and educational improvements.

"He was also impressed by the design of the new buildings, especially the new homes at New Islington, which he thought were very appealing and would stand the test of time most attractively."

David Chilton, area director of English Partnerships, added: "Effective regeneration can only be achieved through true partnership working which really is the key to the significant progress being made across east Manchester."