The Tatton Cinema being bulldozed
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Redevelopment of Northenden Residential Sites Underway
News Feature by Herbert Nesquick December 2004
If you've travelled around the suburbs recently, you can't have failed to notice exciting changes with striking new projects, as well as refurbishment of run-down buildings such as factories, pubs, churches, hospitals, post offices and other former public buildings as new housing developments and wine bars. Already we are seeing an overwhelming positive impact on areas such as Timperley, where such new work is giving Brooklands Road a much needed makeover, Gatley, where derelict buildings are being cleared and redeveloped as residential accomodation, and South Central Manchester where areas of unused woodland are being cleared to make way for much needed student accomodation. Already Manchester has a portfolio of new developments to be proud of.
Some of the more succesful recent projects include:
- "Woodcourt" in Brooklands, a rundown building dating back to the 1800s, will be removed and turned into an highly select collection of exclusive homes. Some run-down housing on Brooklands adjacent to the Woodcourt will will also be removed and re-utilised as an access road and car parking facilities for residents of the new development.
- Successful redevelopment of unused park land in Timperley as two major new housing estates
- Two nursing homes in Altrincham demolished to make way for luxury accomodation
- Land surrounding Dane Road in Sale redeveloped as executive housing
- "Tatton" cinema in Gatley is being removed to make way for high-end residential apartments
- Unused areas of woodland are now being cleared and put to use such as "Bluebell Wood" in Victoria park which is successfully redeveloped into 500 student flats
That's not all! A recent government u-turn will axe a proposed extension of the Metrolink through Wythenshawe, meaning that a large amount of land originally cleared for the new tram lines, can now be redeveloped into thousands of flats. This is particularly exciting news for developers.
Sun goes down on the Church Inn
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The appearance of all this new, exclusive luxury accomodation is extremely good news, not just because it's making the place look nicer - it's also great for the economy. Huge amounts of money is being generated for the land owners. Top of the list of priorities for development companies and local authorities is encouragement of such private enterprise, generating massive boosts for amongst others, landlords, builders, property conversion companies, estate agents. Such developments also benefit the country as a whole, encouraging overseas investment in the UK, by overseas landlords and property groups, particularly those involved with large areas of Fallowfield, Didsbury and Withington.
There are further benefits which aren't quite as obvious, particularly for the inner suburbs. In the last century, many residents were driven out by disease, pollution and crime due to overcrowding. Now, thousands of new flats mean that they can move back in. It's encouraging for council tenants, many of whom can now be re-housed and benefit from a vastly improved lifestyle. As everyone's quality of life improves, a cycle of benefit for all is generated - accomodation vacated by tenants may be redeveloped and sold as flats for professionals, or alternatively put to use by government programmes such as the highly succesful asylum programme.
In short, we can't get enough of this beautiful reconstruction of our environment and I'm delighted to tell you that Northenden itself will be the latest benefactor.
Already there are massive programmes of work underway, at the sites of former pub The Jolly Carter on Royle Green Road, and also the site of the St Wilfrids School in Weston Grove. This whole area of land will be completely transformed into luxury detached housing, upwards of 50 houses will be built. This will bring in millions of pounds of revenue and generate countless more over the coming years.
We're about to see the beginning of another multi-million pound programme of work in the village itself on the Barrow Motors site at the end of Church Road - details of the plans are about to be released into the public domain - and don't forget the Church Inn, which has become increasingly run down but will soon be transformed into fantastic, modern, executive apartments!
Northenden Village and Princess Parkway South of M60
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There are also a number of other possible sites which have been identified in the surrounding area - many of these are currently underused and are thus inherently suitable for redevelopment as housing or leisure facilities. These areas are highlighted on our two maps shown here.
The areas of unused land around Homewood Road, Yewtree Lane and Kenworthy are already under discussion for possible alternative uses (Surrounded on our photo by a white line)
Site of Mobil Garage at the North end of the village. If correctly modernised, several dozen flats could be built here on the main road. (Yellow Line)
The second photograph shows the area further south, starting with Longley Lane to the North, and stretching down through the Roundwood Road Estate and showing a huge expanse of land West of Princess Parkway which is crying out for redevelopment.
Area around Princess Parkway to north of Altrincham Rd
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The wooded areas either side of Princess Parkway, surrounding Gib Lane and Gibwood Road are shown with our purple line. Most of this land is completely overgrown with trees and undergrowth and would be a prime candidate for clearing and using for housing.
A large area of unused land between Altrincham and Wythenshawe Road has been identified. As you can clearly see from the picture, this could potentially accomodate an estate the size of Roundwood, which is visible directly across Princess Parkway. The area we're talking about here is outlined in red.
There are a number of small areas of sheltered land which would make extremely charming small developments of apartments, particularly for the more discerning city clientele. Such properties could easily be built on the land adjacent to Penarth Road, surrounding the Church, or perhaps on the field behind the Farmer's Arms on Longley Lane - we've identified these using light blue lines on both maps.
I'm sure you will agree, the opportunities are endless for bringing our village forward and building for the future. All of the above indicates that we have some very exciting time ahead of us. I myself am sorry to have to leave the area, having recently sold my house on Netherwood Road - I heartily recommend anyone in such a position to do the same - and I'm off to live in Florida, where the golf is excellent. I wish all Northenden residents the best and good luck for the future. I will of course be keeping a close eye on developments in the village, through Northenden.net!