Manchester City Council has submitted a planning application for the temporary use of three car parks next to Moston Lane, marking an early step in a £41m regeneration programme for the area.
The car parks, accessed from Cole Street and Albine Street, are intended to ease any displaced parking demand while wider regeneration works take place. A planning report said the temporary car parks would provide flexibility to accommodate displaced parking during this period, with provision reduced as replacement parking is delivered through future developments.
Plans for new homes, public square and GP centre
Up to £41m will be spent around Moston Lane on a transformational project that includes new homes, a public square, a new GP health centre and new spaces for shops. Subject to planning permission, construction work could start as soon as 2027.
The proposed public square is designed to create a new heart for the community. Manchester City Council said earlier this year that it would be used for markets and community events, and would feature new seating, lighting, trees and plants to attract visitors and shoppers.
District centre status and local support
Moston was designated as a district centre by the council earlier this year, placing it alongside Withington, Chorlton and Levenshulme as one of the most important parts of the city for shops and businesses.
Councillor Gavin White, Manchester City Council's executive member for housing and regeneration, said: "We have made a major commitment to investment in our high streets and district centres across Manchester because we know how important these hubs are to local communities to access services, shops and to spend time while also supporting local businesses and economic growth. Moston is one of our most ambitious programmes to date and will see major transformation in the coming years.
"We want to make sure that the ambitious regeneration programme supports local businesses in the short and long-term and for Moston Lane this includes creating a brand-new public square and relocating a local supermarket. And while building the new supermarket site will mean an existing car park will close, but this planning application will mean three further car parking sites will be available over the next three years to make sure that visitors to Moston Lane can continue to park and maintain footfall and support the local economy.
"In terms of next steps, we expect the new supermarket to progress in the coming months. And we expect consultation on the residential sites close to Moston Lane to take place next year. Both are part of a £41m programme of investment for this neighbourhood to reinvigorate the local economy, build new homes - including genuinely affordable housing - a new NHS GP health centre and new commercial space for shops, alongside the public square.
"This is neighbourhood investment with real vision and long-term aspiration - and we want this to be the type of blueprint we strive for in communities in every part of our city."
Local reaction
Locals backed the regeneration plans in September. Ray, 65, who runs a café on Moston Lane, said the area needs support. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "For me, at the moment it's going down, I've never seen it like this before. If they are changing things, then I'll be happy, maybe we will get more new shops for the area."
