Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Regeneration plans showcased in France

Annette Lord
23/ 2/2007

HUGE plans for the regeneration of Holt Town are to be showcased in a prestigious worldwide exhibition in France.

Planners from cities across the globe will descend on the MIPIM property exhibition at the Palais des Festival - venue for the famous film festival - in Cannes next month.

And among the designs on show will be a model of the new Holt Town Waterfront development, which will be the biggest residential-led development in the north of England when it starts next year.

Plans are for a mixture of housing types in a 'residential urban quarter' with the emphasis on families, as well as space for businesses, shops restaurants and bars.

A Metrolink station is also planned at the heart of the development, which will cover 95 acres in a triangle bordered by Miles Platting to the north, Sportcity to the east, Ancoats to the west and Ashton New Road to the south. It will be built over 15 years as part of the New East Manchester redevelopment strategy.

Justine McGuinn, a spokeswoman for regeneration and redevelopment company Cibitas, which has created the model, said: "The Palais des Festival is the used because it is the biggest venue available.

"Cannes actually makes more money out of MIPIM than the film festival, it is that big.

"The Holt Town development will be on the City of Manchester stand, which gives the city chance to show the world what it is doing."

Planning permission for the massive development is scheduled to be submitted in April, with work expected to start early in 2008. The scheme has already received backing from Manchester City Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

"We are excited that Holt Town will be showcased," said New East Manchester development director Peter Skates. "People will be able to see the exciting development which will take place over 10 to 15 years in the area."

New East Manchester Ltd chief executive Tom Russell is one of the people scheduled to go to Cannes.