A new heart for Gorton takes a further step forward as plans are submitted that detail a new public square where local people and visitors can relax and spend time.
The application presents an opportunity to transform 1,900sqm of underused car park space adjacent to the Existing Gorton Market and Tesco, off Garratt Way in east Manchester.
This investment will include:
- A new public town square area that allows people to dwell and enjoy
- An active and flexible space that can be used for events and pop-up opportunities.
- A raised terrace area with seating for local people to relax, creating outdoor space for Gorton Market and other local businesses
- New nature area with significant planting, new trees and opportunities to increase the biodiversity of the site
- Imaginative play features for young people
- Light projection features to animate the space that can be used flexibly through the year
- The square will enhance the existing market offer, helping to increase footfall in the district centre and create a destination space in Gorton.
There will also be an altered road layout, improving safety through traffic calming measures – and new walking and cycling routes that will help local people to choose active travel options.
The planning application follows the adoption of the Gorton District Centre Development Framework in January 2023.
The wider investment in the Gorton community will include the opportunity to deliver new homes on nearby brownfield land with a mixed tenure approach that matches local housing demand – including affordable housing.
Manchester City Council has been successful in securing investment through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund for this scheme, funding dedicated to improving local areas. The fund is administrated through the GMCA.
The design team for the proposals are Halliday Meecham Architects and DEP Landscape Architecture.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
"This is a welcome milestone for the Gorton community and represents the delivery phase of our commitment to investment in our local district centres, supporting local businesses to thrive and our residents to take pride in their high street.
“The current Tesco car park is massively underused, and this investment brings a new heart to the Gorton high street, complementing the recent major investment at the Gorton Hub, creating a new town square and green public space where local and visitors can relax and spend time – helping to increase footfall and activity in the local area.”