GMPF picks developer for Chorlton Shopping Centre
The Greater Manchester Pension Fund has selected the PJ Livesey Group as development partner for the proposed transformation of the South Manchester retail complex.
The 3.2 acre site, bounded by Barlow Moor Road, Wilbraham Road and Nicolas Road, comprises the shopping centre, together with Graeme House and an adjoining 200-space surface car park.
A development framework, setting out residential-led regeneration for the site, was adopted by Manchester City Council in 2017.
The framework, drawn up by 5plus Architects and Avison Young, suggests up to 190 homes – a mix of townhouses and apartments – could be created at the site.
PJ Livesey development director James Woodmansee said: “This is a huge opportunity but also a huge challenge to get right and it has to meet the needs of the Chorlton community.
“We want it to be the centrepiece of the neighbourhood, a place where people come to shop, to meet and to live with a range of high-quality housing available to meet all needs.”
He added: “This new partnership marks the start of new life for the shopping centre site, and it also marks the start of extensive consultation about what that new life should be and we want local people to help us shape that.”
A consultation on PJ Livesey’s proposals will begin later this year. Existing retailers will continue to trade as normal during this process.
Gareth Conroy, director at Avison Young – the property manager to The Greater Manchester Pension Fund – said: “Sustainability will be a focus of the project and we look forward to evolving the existing development framework to create something special which has a positive impact on Chorlton.
“The project is further evidence of GMPF’s continued investment within Greater Manchester, helping to stimulate the local economy whilst at the same time delivering much-needed new homes.”
The redevelopment of Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre has been in the pipeline for more than a decade and now the GMPF is embarking on a fresh push to realise the site’s potential.
GMPF has owned the site since April 2014 when it bought it from Development Securities, now U+I, for £10m.
Prior to that, Altrincham-based developer Citybranch, along with Manchester City Council and Ask Developments, had aborted redevelopment plans in the 2009 recession and sold the site to Development Securities in 2011.
The process of finding a development partner for the scheme began 12 months ago.
At the time, GMPF said it would dispose of the site via a development agreement. In addition, GMPF is to provide the purchaser with 80% of the cash needed to fund the development.
GMPF will not charge interest on the loan but will be entitled to 50% of development profits, according to sales documents.
190 homes is far too few for such a well-connected, well-serviced area. Needs to be at least treble that, and these extra people would provide extra footfall to support local shops and businesses. Decent Metrolink, cycling and bus routes nearby as well so parking provision can be kept to a minimum
By Anonymous
As a Chorlton resident – at long last – it’s taken long enough & wish PJ Livesey genuine good luck with transforming this tired centre Nine years since GMPF took control, a development framework six years ago & a year to find a development partner. God’s speed!
By justin.strong2207@gmail.com
I’d like to hope that the mature trees and bit of planted open space survives – no other such space in central Chorlton
By Harpsicord
I hope PJL rise to the challenge and bring forward a scheme of genuine quality. The speed at which this scheme progresses to development will, to a large extent, be a function of the scheme quality, funding, local Elected Members and the Manchester Planning Committee. Let’s hope such planetary alignment can be achieved but you always have to worry about the Planning Committee these days! So God’s speed indeed.
By Anonymous
Really look forward to seeing this. The development framework had many sensible suggestions but it predated (i think) Co-op funeral site plans so how they interact will be interesting to see. Assuming the proposal ins’t absurd, I predict the community reaction will give lie to the ‘Chorlton is full of nimbys’ discourse.
By Bob Allatt
I left Chorlton for Trafford because the parking in Chorlton is an absolute joke, there’s no resident permit system and no wardens, it’s chaos
By Stephen
@ anonymous – there isn’t space for 600 homes on that site. 190 is ambitious.
By Anonymous
Any chance of some positive public engagement regarding this site and not the usual, here’s what we thought was right consultation rubbish?
By Dan
Wow, this superb once-in-a-generation opportunity has been a long time in the making! Some great local businesses aside, Chorlton has been blighted by this monolith for a decade or two beyond its best before… What with a regenerated heart of Chorlton, new homes, and decent supermarket provision at last, whether it be the long talked of Booths, a Waitrose (possibly less likely currently) or a relocated M&S Food Hall – bring it on! Cannot wait for the consultation to commence!
By Pragmatist
The centre of Chorlton is not a place to be proud of ,it is neglected and run down: the only retail outlets are takeaways and charity shops, gone are the days when Chorlton had some excellent independent shops. Traffic and parking are diabolical and are there really services to provide for a further influx of residents, certainly not as things stand at the moment. I have lived in Chorlton for 40 years and have just seen it go down to the extent that I no longer shop there. We need a serious upgrade of services and retail outlets to enable Chorlton to return to what it once was with a variety of of high standard independent outlets .I can think of only 4 at present
By Angela Ralph
Are P J Livessy a Manchester company. ? What is the timescale for the work to be completed?
By Peter Meadows
With a site of that size, it’s more about putting the ‘heart’ back in the town centre with high quality housing. I don’t even think houses suit that site either, but rather some well designed apartments for across the generations with focus on independent vendors in the retail and creatives in the commercial and facilities for the community.
By Another Manc
Problem is, they’ll all be sold to investors for cheap, instead of locals trying to buy their first property just like everywhere else in Manchester
By Anonymous
Appallingly managed – can’t see how PJ Livesey can possibly lose on this one!
By R. Mark Clayton
More than enough homes for such a small area. How many will be affordable homes for local.people? Please give us back the small shops not big chain shops. It’s the small traders that give Chorlton the unique vibe.
By Anonymous
Poor scheme, should be at least 30 stories tall here
By Giant Skyscraper Fan
This has to be community/ retail first, not housing. This should be a central spot for local residents (and those visiting) to enjoy and for local business to thrive. We do NOT need more housing, affordable or not on this central site – there is already congestion on roads and local services (schools/ dentists/ doctors) are already at breaking point!
By Paul
Manchester really need to be maximising the development potential here and go dense. This is one of the best connected parts of the city, yet Chorlton feels somewhere that peaked about 15 years ago. This site and the Morrisons/Screwfix site could do with mixed-use, dense development which will bring new residents to the heart of the area. The tram, cycle and bus connections are better than 95% of Greater Manchester – we need to be putting people where these connections exist, so we stop clogging up the roads.
By Density Brings Activity
At last! Not only should the shopping centre needs redevelopment but the entire shopping areas on Wilbraham Road, Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Road.
These are old, ugly and decrepit buildings which all need to be replaced.
By John K
Paul – new apartments will compliment the retail offer already in Chorlton as well as what is proposed with the shopping centre redevelopment. What’s more, they likely won’t need a car cause Chorlton provides everything they need as well as Metrolink and bus connections. Win win!
By Anonymous
I hope they can reinstate the ‘lost’ part of Manchester Road that runs through the site to ease traffic congestion at the four banks (one bank) crossroads. Also would be good to see shop fronts along Barlow Moor Road rather the backside we see now.
By Anonymous
How are they going to fit 190 homes on there Inc townhouses? Is the precinct going to knocked down?
By Sibt
PNW staff – would it be worth adding a link to the 2017 consultation documents? I think they would answer a lot of peoples questions from the comments.
By Bradford
Thanks, Bradford. A link to where the framework can be downloaded has now been added. Cheers, Dan
By Dan Whelan
Looking forward to this should it go ahead. Chorlton have been waiting for this for many years so it’s welcomed
By Roseanne
Almost everybody in Chorlton has a car, it doesn’t matter if there’s a tram, people still want to go places that aren’t the city centre
By Frank
@Frank
You can always hire a car, you don’t have to own one.
By SW
Please, please, please let there be a rent-to-buy option for first time buyers. There is no other way to afford buying in Chorlton, the prices are so steep!
By Sarah
Sarah, if you can’t afford Chorlton, buy elsewhere, I can’t afford a house in Alderley Edge so I have to live elsewhere, that’s how it works
By Wynn
New residents in flats will complain about the bars and try to get them shut down, it’s already happening in Altrincham, town centres don’t need flats, they need shops, bars and restaurants
By Wynn
The development has been in the pipelines for years now, it’s about time something is done. Hopefully it will be resident friendly where car parking will be fairly priced. Traders have loss business for years now due to parking facilities and down graded shops in the square and it’s very difficult to find parking spaces in Chorlton central, disabled bays which is not much are normally taken up by non disabled people barely sees traffic warden petrollimg the area. Things needs changing..
By Carol
Is there going to be any provision for parking? Very important for older or less mobile residents visiting health centre.
By Anonymous
Not only is Chorlton Cross centre in need of redevelopment but the whole of the shopping area spanning Manchester Road, Barlow Moor Road and Wilbraham Road need redevelopment.
The shop fronts and flats above are truly an eyesore with decaying facades, rotting window frames, scruffy passageways, uneven footpaths and commercial waste bins blighting the area.
These do not give Chorlton a good impression unlike Urmston which has far superior facilities.
By Kaz Klein
Can you please indicate when the construction due to start at Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre and the duration of construction.
Thank you.
By Ali Hessavi