New Cross Masterplan, Manchester City Centre

Homes & Communities Agency

In Autumn 2013, we presented the Homes and Communities Agency with an idea for the regeneration of a largely forgotten “quarter” of the city fringe of Manchester; an area to the north of Swan Street known as New Cross. In April 2014 we were appointed by HCA to prepare initial strategic proposals for the area that would be transformative.

We proposed:

A residential-led development proposition that would provide high quality, high density living for young professionals, down-sizers and young families, supported by complementary uses at street level.

The renaissance of New Cross as an urban quarter that could be enabled by reinforcing and working with the existing urban grain to create a rejuvenated character and city quarter.

A quality environment, creating an enhanced public realm through a series of cohesive human-scale open spaces linked with good quality hard standing and structured landscaping which is pedestrian dominant at its centre. This would re-establish permeable links with its adjacent neighbourhoods.

An alternative choice in terms of price & size for small and medium sized businesses who want to be connected to the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and Manchester City Centre

To provide New Cross with new and improved connections into the City Centre and a stronger position and profile as a neighbourhood within the inner urban core.