CPO Decision Gives Green Light to New £40 million Openshaw Development

CPO Decision Gives Green Light to New £40 million Openshaw Development

22 January 2009

 The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – Hazel Blears – has ruled in favour of granting Compulsory Purchase Orders to bring forward a long-awaited development in Openshaw, east Manchester.

 The £40 million scheme which will be anchored by a 79,250 sq ft Morrisons store, is being brought forward on an 11.9 acre site off Ashton Old Road  in Openshaw.

 Retail property developers Dransfield Properties Ltd are working in partnership on the development with New East Manchester as part of the co-ordinated regeneration of the eastern side of the city.

 The company has already acquired two thirds of the land needed to deliver the ambitious district centre scheme and a CPO inquiry was held in the summer of 2008 in the hope of securing further land to complete the site.

 The CPOs relate to 19 property interests affected by the development. 

 The inspector’s report following last year’s inquiry has now been published and concluded there is a compelling case in the public interest for the land to be taken into the development site.

 As well as the new Morrisons store the mixed use scheme will include: 

• 80,000 sq ft of smaller retail units
• 670 car parking spaces
• Stand alone office space
• A new health and fitness centre
• Improved outdoor spaces in the centre

Retail Property Director for Dransfield Properties, Andrew Malley, said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has considered the findings of the inquiry and found in our favour.

 “There is a great need for this development. Retail facilities on this scale are not currently available in this part of East Manchester, as well as serving the local population the development will serve the wider community on this major route in the city. We have worked closely with NEM and the local authority in the delivery of the scheme and are now looking forward to starting work by early summer.”

 The plans for this ambitious district centre development were given the go-ahead in May 2007, it will eventually create up to 750 new jobs in the area.

 Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester, said: “The new District Centre development is part of the wider regeneration of Openshaw and the whole of east Manchester.

 “It forms part of public and private sector investment totalling hundreds of millions of pounds that will see some major projects starting this year (2009), including two new Metrolink lines costing more than £200 million, the £31.5 million East Manchester Academy incorporating a new District Library, and some exciting developments at Sportcity.

 “In Openshaw itself there is already a new health centre and Greggs will open their new £16 million North West head quarters and bakery in Openshaw this month, reinforcing the security of 300 east Manchester jobs.

 “Manchester Settlement’s new £2.2 million community centre, The New Roundhouse, will open nearby this year, and the first residents will soon be moving into the first phase of the large new housing development in the Toxteth Street area.

 “Our aim is to increase the local population by creating family neighbourhoods that retain existing residents and attract new families as part of the wider regeneration of the whole of east Manchester.”

 The area subject to compulsory purchase is 4.82 hectares adjacent to and including part of the existing District Centre on Ashton Old Road, bounded by Turton Street and Rock Street, Ashton Old Road, Fairfield Road and the former GEC-Alstom factory.

 For further information about Dransfield Properties visit the company’s website at www.dransfield.co.uk

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk