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A consultation is now open to gather local views on the plans to deliver a new cultural hub within the former Co-operative department store as part of the transformation of Wythenshawe Civic Centre.
Manchester City Council (MCC) says the Culture Hub will ‘look to add to and build on what is already on offer at the Civic, boosting arts and creative industries in the wider Wythenshawe area, creating job opportunities and pathways to choose the arts as a career’.
The hub would provide facilities and creative spaces for artists, creative businesses, local people, and community groups looking for an opportunity to fulfil their creative aspirations, or for more established artists or collectives keen to grow and develop.
MCC would like to hear from residents interested in shaping or being part of the new cultural offer, or those already working in the creative sector and looking for new facilities.
The consultation will be open until Sunday 4 February and can be completed here.
The Culture Hub is part of the wider long-term regeneration plan for Wythenshawe Civic, which will transform the town centre over the next decade and more – boosted by the successful £20 million Levelling Up funding bid, which will help kickstart the programme of investment.
MCC is currently in the process of finding a joint venture development partner to drive the project, with the successful team expected to be announced in the summer of 2024.
The opportunity is to transform the 1970s shopping centre and surrounding areas through an aspirational project that will deliver a new public square, new shops, net zero carbon commercial, community, and cultural space, and around 1,600 new homes built on council-owned land.
The housing will be a mix of tenures including affordable rent and shared ownership options.
Cllr Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We want Wythenshawe Civic to deliver for local people and we’re thinking differently about what is already on offer in the town centre and what we can bring in to enhance the space, encourage more visitors to support the economy of the local area, and develop new job opportunities.
“Cultural investment has proven an innovative way of supporting regeneration plans in different communities across the city – helping to broaden the visitor experience and attract new businesses. What this looks like and how it works is really up to the local people and organisations that will use it.
“Of course, this is only one part of the ambitious plans that we have for Wythenshawe Civic, but we hope this is a positive early step in creating a new destination town centre. We would urge as many people to take part as possible and help shape the Civic of the future.”
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