Residents of Wythenshawe have condemned the Civic Centre shopping hub as an 'absolute c**p' ghost town, despite Manchester City Council's pledge of £500 million regeneration. The once-bustling centre, touted as the 'beating heart' of the town, now stands largely shuttered, with only a few shops like B&M and Asda remaining open.
Longtime local Elizabeth Byford said there was 'nothing to see' at the facility, while Jane Thorley described homeless people fighting outside Asda for 'which spot is theirs', adding: 'Nobody likes coming here. There's just no life here.' Alan Rourke, 67, called the centre 'utterly flat' and said high rents had driven businesses away, creating a vicious cycle.
Manchester City Council has partnered with developer Muse to deliver up to 2,000 new homes and community spaces over the next 10–15 years. A spokesperson said they have been consulting locals and that work on a Culture Hub has been approved, with planning applications for new homes expected by the end of the year.
Despite the promises, residents remain sceptical. Rourke remarked: 'Unless you lived here, nobody would bother coming. It would be a waste of time.'
