Background
In 2018, we adopted the updated Manchester Piccadilly Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF). This covered a substantial area of the city centre, with Piccadilly station and the new High Speed 2 (HS2) station at its heart.
The Manchester Piccadilly SRF is intended to:
- manage future change in the area and
- coordinate investments to capitalise on regeneration opportunities created by the arrival of HS2. This includes anticipated demand from businesses to invest in the area, and people to live and visit the area.
The Manchester Piccadilly SRF recognises HS2’s arrival as a once-in-a-century opportunity to deliver transformational change.
East Village Central is on the north eastern edge of the Manchester Piccadilly SRF area. It has a strategic role to play in delivering the vision and ambitions set out. It forms part of the wider East Village Neighbourhood as defined in the SRF.
This masterplan for East Village Central supplements - and helps deliver - the Manchester Piccadilly SRF. It does not repeat or duplicate the Manchester Piccadilly SRF. Rather, it aims to add value to it and provide a clearer definition of:
- this location’s future role and purpose in delivering the SRF
- the principles which any future development proposals are required to reflect
The existing site accommodates Stocktons Furniture, a family-owned Manchester business which has been trading since 1953. Due to changes in customer shopping habits, the business is reviewing its future operations and has taken the decision to vacate the premises and commence the process to become an exclusively online business, given the significantly reduced requirement for a physical showroom in recent times.
The remainder of the site accommodates a former manufacturing business, Presbar Diecastings. Presbar Diecastings ceased operations on site in December 2020. In the interim period, planning permission has been granted to use the former manufacturing buildings as an entertainment, food and drink venue known as “Diecast” on a temporary, 5-year basis. This is to enable the site to be used productively and economically, whilst plans for its comprehensive redevelopment are finalised.
The vacation of the site by these businesses provides the opportunity for its redevelopment and to kick start the regeneration of key area of the city centre.