A proposed new park by Great Ancoats Street ‘is a good start but not enough’ green space, according to a campaign group.
Trees Not Cars has called on Manchester City Council to rethink proposed plans for the former Central Retail Park, which are currently out for public consultation. It’s understood that the government is eyeing up space in the huge new office complex, which will sit alongside the park.
Currently, the plans are still at ‘vision’ stage, so no formal planning application has been submitted. However, Trees Not Cars want the council to put the brakes on the project and take another look.
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“It’s great progress to see [the council] has taken note and incorporated some green space into their plans,” Gemma Cameron from the group said. “This is a good start but it’s not enough. Significant green space for local families to enjoy is needed. We still believe Manchester needs more trees and fewer cars for the health of local children, including those in the school.”
Another member, Julia Kovaliova, added: “I’m a mother of three children, one of whom suffers from asthma. I have been living locally for over 10 years. We have waited for so long to get quality green space, where my children can play safely and enjoy the outdoors away from noise and pollution from traffic.
“Cotton Field Park is too small and is not suitable for young children. Mayfield Park has great facilities, but for a mum with a baby in a pram, the 10-15 mins walk can take much longer and the route is not safe with multiple busy roads to navigate and cross.
“We will be surrounded by residential buildings if the revised strategic regeneration framework goes ahead. We need plans that serve local families and residents' needs.
“Ancoats has already lost three acres at New Islington Green, cherished by local people. Manchester City Council have an opportunity here to replace the loss of New Islington Green on the 10 acre site at Central Retail Park. It’s public after all.”
The group’s response also includes an alternative plan, which would see more of the ex-retail site, which shut down in 2019, turned into green areas. Trees Not Cars says it can incorporate the 3.7 acres of greenery lost with the development of New Islington Green within the confines of the site.
“[It’s] still half the size of Angel Meadow (approx 6 acres) this is an amount of publicly owned green space which connects to the Marina, provides a barrier of trees against the pollution from Great Ancoats Street and has enough space to provide something that serves the community need, rather than just a path to the marina,” a statement from the group said.
The group also say they have concerns over the shadows cast by office blocks, providing 3D imagery of how they think the park will be affected by the darkness. Chris Northwood, a Lib Dem campaigner in the area, said: "The images show how the plans don't deliver enough benefit for the local community, which should be a key priority. We support Trees Not Cars's proposal to increase the green space provided. The Council should deliver a proper park for Ancoats and New Islington."
In response to the calls, council leader Bev Craig said the authority is ‘absolutely committed to increasing green space and parks’, and pointed to the regeneration of the nearby Ancoats Green. She added in a statement to the M.E.N.: "We know the benefit access to green space can have for our residents and we are absolutely committed to increasing green space and parks as part of our development plans for the city.
"The new Mayfield Park is a great example of that, alongside the £34m plan for public realm and green space as part of the next phase of Ancoats - which includes the transformation of Ancoats Green, a new children's play area, a 76 percent net increase in trees and 600 sqm of new planting. And the new neighbourhoods being developed as part of the long-term Victoria North programme will each be connected by 46 hectares of high-quality, public green space.
"The proposals for the former Central Retail Park are to develop an exemplar low carbon commercial district, which will have an attractive green space at its heart and generous footways and attractive planting. Trees will be a key part of the public realm plans - along with significant new planting schemes.
"Importantly, the green heart of the site will also open up and celebrate Cotton Field Park behind for the first time, creating a green link between Great Ancoats Street and New Islington."
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