The new town would bridge the gap between the city centre, Sportcity and the Etihad Campus.
Ambitious plans to transform Holt Town into a new woodland town are set to be put in front of Manchester City Council Executives, following positive feedback from a public consultation.
If approved, the regeneration would bring around 4,500 new homes to the area, alongside public spaces and green spaces – including a river park, cultural hub and lido.
Holt Town is an inner-city area of East Manchester, situated along the Medlock Valley between Ancoats and the Etihad Campus. The area was originally established in 1785 by David Holt for the factory workers of Manchester.
The regeneration proposals seek to transform Holt Town into a highly sustainable mixed use neighbourhood, including thousands of homes ranging from family housing through to age-friendly and key worker apartments.
A commitment would be made to make the community fully inclusive with at least 20% of the new homes being social, council or genuinely affordable housing.
15 acres of high quality green spaces would also be developed, including a river park, lido and a kilometre-long play street spine connecting St Annes School with Park View Community School in Miles Platting.
Other plans include 30,000 square feet of commercial space, a cultural hub and a Mobility Mill, which would bring centralised parking to the neighbourhood, addressing current car parking issues in the area.
It would be developed with an urban layout that prioritises active travel and public transport over car use, making things fully accessible for pedestrians and cyclists, while easing current congestion problems.
Holt Town sits on the East Manchester line of the Metrolink system, offering direct routes to Manchester Piccadilly, the Etihad Campus, MediaCity and beyond.
As a digitally enabled neighbourhood, smart technical infrastructure would be integrated, enabling the delivery of local digital solutions and services.
“We have an opportunity to deliver a transformative programme of investment and we expect this area to be Manchester’s next urban regeneration exemplar, creating a neighbourhood that meets the needs of our city and our people – with at least 4,500 new homes, including significant affordable housing options,” Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, explained.
“This neighbourhood will represent a people first focus around active travel, green spaces, new play spaces for young people – and a digital first approach that will better connect the community with local services.”
The plans will be discussed in a Manchester City Council committee meeting on Wednesday 22nd January 2025.
