Manchester City Council, placemaking specialist Muse, and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) have entered into a collaboration agreement to deliver the initial phases of new housing as part of Wythenshawe’s £500 million regeneration project. The partnership was formally announced at the UKREiiF investment forum.
Muse was appointed last summer as the council’s development partner to help bring to life a once-in-a-generation regeneration of the town centre. The ambitious plans include a major transformation of Civic – the town’s shopping centre – with the addition of a new Culture Hub, a food hall, public square, and flexible workspace. Significant progress has already been made, with a planning application submitted for the Culture Hub and a public engagement campaign underway to ensure the local community has a say in shaping the area’s future.
Over the next decade, the broader regeneration will see up to 2,000 new homes built, including a substantial number of affordable properties. The collaboration with WCHG will kickstart development on three initial sites, with the potential to deliver around 400 affordable homes for residents from all walks of life.
Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, commented:
“The people of Wythenshawe have told us that they want to see quality new homes as part of the transformation of their town centre and the wider neighbourhood, which will include lots of affordable housing to meet demand in the area. As one of the largest social landlords in the city – and already well known by thousands of tenants locally – Wythenshawe Community Housing Group is the obvious partner to help us realise the ambitious home building plans we have for this community. We look forward to continuing the long partnership we have enjoyed with them to deliver the homes our city needs.”
Joe Stockton, Senior Development Manager at Muse, said:
“The collaboration with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group made perfect sense –they are so well connected in the community, and they bring a huge amount of local knowledge to support our ambitions to build the high-quality homes that Wythenshawe needs.
“Together, we will create sustainable neighbourhoods with spaces for the community to grow and a mix of homes that keep families together and deliver long lasting benefits for local people.”
Andrea Lowman, executive director of development at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said: “We’re proud to bring our expertise, local knowledge, and long-standing relationships into this partnership.
“This is an opportunity to create a town centre that truly works for everyone – whether you’re a young family, a first-time buyer, a long-standing Wythenshawe resident, or a new business owner.
“The partnership will reflect the ambitions of the people who live here and transform the town centre into a vibrant new neighbourhood.”
Public consultation on the first residential planning application is set to begin in autumn 2025, with construction of the first new homes expected to start in late 2026.
