4,800 homes and new high street for Manchester

Developer Far East Consortium (FEC) has secured approval for two planning applications for its new Red Bank development.  

Red Bank is part of the bigger £4 billion Victoria North regeneration scheme, which will see 15,000 homes built across seven new neighbourhoods in north Manchester over the next decade.  

The ambitious redevelopment plans are a joint venture between FEC and Manchester City Council.  

Red Bank will see 4,800 homes built on 30 acres of largely brownfield site, alongside commercial and social facilities.   

It represents ‘one of the largest residential planning applications in Manchester in recent years’, said FEC. 

Application 1  

This outline application is for up to 3,250 homes and more than 160,000 sq ft of non-residential floorspace including commercial, a health centre, a primary school, residential amenities and community space.  

New public realm will offer green space and wetlands, supporting a minimum 10 per cent biodiversity net gain.  

Application 2 

This full application is for three plots on Dantzic Street, comprising 1,550 homes across seven buildings between six and 34 storeys.  

These will be a mix of apartments and townhouses for build-to-rent (BTR), affordable, and market sale, next to FEC’s 634-home Victoria Riverside scheme, currently under construction.  

A new high street is also planned, with 20,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space. 

Design  

FEC is employing a “wild urbanism” concept, offering green space, biodiversity, active travel and public realm alongside city centre living. 

Masterplan team    

• Schulze+Grassov (public realm)  
• Maccreanor Lavington (master planner)  
• Hawkins\Brown (architect) 
• Useful Projects (sustainability) 

“Red Bank is one of the most under-used areas in Manchester, but its proximity to the city centre and the existing natural assets of the River Irk and St Catherine’s Wood make it the ideal location for a thriving new neighbourhood,” said Hilary Brett, project director at FEC. 

“We are delighted to have received approval and want to thank everyone who has been involved and supported the project to get us to this point. We’re excited to move forward with our next phases of delivery.” 

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