MIPIM | Strangeways prison relocation still on the cards
Manchester City Council remains in “regular, active conversations” with the Labour government about the relocation of HMP Manchester to clear the site for wider redevelopment, and said that plans “would have to be amended if the prison does stay”, indicating progress has been made during talks.
Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing at Manchester City Council told a MIPIM audience that the relocation of the 19th century prison could still go ahead and that the Labour government has been far more receptive to negotiations than governments of the last decade.
He said: “There is some really good, regular dialogue with government at a senior level.
“[We are] trying to find a solution that works not only for the government, the UK, and the Ministry of Justice but for Strangeways and communities in Salford and Manchester.”
“We still need some provision in the Greater Manchester area for prisons – just not here.”
Cllr White did concede that the decision would ultimately be made by the Ministry of Justice, but that meetings have been set up with the minister and at the officer level with civil servants.
He added that with the Labour government in power, discussions over the prison have made more progress.
The 320-acre opportunity to transform the areas of Strangeways and Cambridge in neighbouring Salford by building more than 7,000 homes and creating 3.2m sq ft of commercial space has been laid out in the Strangeways Strategic Regeneration Framework.
Kimberley Grieveson, principal at Avison Young, the firm leading the regeneration, added: “The masterplan has very much been designed flexibly – but was clear long term [the prison] is not fit for purpose, and we have to make some moves before a decision [on its relocation] comes.”
Cllr White said he understood it was a big decision for the government to make, but said the prison is a “declining asset” that “isn’t really working from a security point of view”.
Cllr Jack Youd, deputy mayor of Salford City Council, quipped that he was glad it wasn’t Salford City Council’s problem, but acknowledged the prison and its famous ventilation tower is a “feature” in the city and is a “distinct image on the Manchester skyline” of which the heritage aspect remains “really important”.
How the park might look. Credit: via Salford City Council
Park of ‘regional significance’
The SRF sets out 60 acres of land that have been deemed too high a risk of flooding for development and sets out a vision for Copper Park instead. This park would provide green space and act as a ‘sponge’ for when flooding hits.
The SRF has stated the park, located north of the Irwell, east of Great Clowes Street, and south of Broughton Lane in an area dominated by low-grade industrial units would host green space of “regional significance”.
When asked if all 60 acres of the park would be accessible, Cllr White said: “[Our] ambition is to make it a real, accessible asset for residents of Salford and Manchester.”
Details and specifics of the park have not yet been ironed out, but it would be “accessible as possible, for most of the year”.
White added: “It will feel like a park, but also it will feel like a way of dealing with some of the flooding.”
The Strangeways and Cambridge SRF Boundary. Credit: via SRF
Lessons from Stockholm
Linda Thiel, director at Stockholm-based White Arkitekter used the example of Slussen, a 25-year, £25bn, river-crossing development in Stockholm, that has caused many issues for residents over the years to demonstrate how large-scale redevelopments can successfully progress.
She said that projects of this scale need to find a “balance between steering and initiative”, they should give back to the community early to keep residents onside, while providing strong communication, with complete and concrete plans to assure residents.
She added: “You have to have a mandate over time to secure this growth”, alluding to the Labour government’s recent success at the polls.
not gonna happen. prisons are way over capacity, projected to get even more so, and govt looks to be cutting fundings for departments like MoJ. Even if MoJ builds a new prison for GM, they almost certainly wont be closing existing ones.
By Anonymous
Put it underground so we don’t have to look at it and build over the top. Or wait till it falls down. It’s older than my socks and in just as much need of repair.
By Anonymous
We can’t build new hospitals so why would there be a rush/support to build a new Strangeways replacement and where would it go. Prisons are at capacity anyway so this isn’t going to shut soon and new ones have there own planning issues, They haven’t joined the dots, whilst its an ambitious plan it isn’t live to the position of its main constraint.
By Anonymous
Please build a more suitable prison and reuse the old one. It makes sense.
Link the green spaces up to the proposed park, with links to Northern Gateway and let’s really make this a game changer.
By Anonymous
The PURGE!!!
By Allergic to Squirrels
Unfortunately GMP are still declining to publish crime statistics, while everywhere else does. However at last count closing a prison in the city would seem to be untenable.
By John