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Voicescape strengthens Local Government team and wins new Council Tax Collections contract

News

Sam Whitear

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19/07/2022

Voicescape strengthens Local Government team and wins new Council Tax Collections contract

Voicescape, a software business that provides tenant engagement solutions for social landlords and Council Tax collections for local authorities, has been appointed by Newcastle City Council to help manage increasing Council Tax arrears.

The Council has over 110,000 properties subject to council tax and will use Voicescape’s Collections solution within its revenue and benefits team to manage council tax collection. It is hoped that, by using the technology, the scale and quality of customer engagement will improve – something that has been seen with tenants of Your Homes Newcastle, an existing Voicescape customer which manages estates and housing stock on behalf of the Council.

Lesley Watson, Revenues & Benefits Manager at Newcastle City Council, commented: “The last two years have created significant challenges due to the impact of COVID-19. During this period, our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure they have supported residents. However, it’s clear that as the cost of living bites, we need to increase community engagement and support our officers further to maximise income collection. We’re confident Voicescape will play a vital role in helping us achieve our aims.”

As part of Voicescape’s ambition to strengthen its position in the public sector, the Manchester-based business has appointed Sean Sutton as the new Head of Local Government.

Formerly Head of Public Sector at Esendex, he brings more than 11 years’ experience in managing software applications in both central and local government, together with 15 years’ experience working across a more diverse cross-section of industries. Working in both private and public sectors, he has helped to increase market engagement and business process efficiencies through the use of digital technology.

Bill Williams, Chief Revenue Officer at Voicescape, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Sean to the team at a time of significant change in the market. With a proven track record in taking a dynamic approach to process and system improvement, particularly across central and local government, we’re confident his arrival will help us to amplify our core message of driving resident engagement through digital transformation within local government such as at Newcastle City Council.”

The pressures facing households have had a direct impact on collection and arrears figures in local government, with an average drop in collection rates of 1.12%, and as much as 10% for some councils. This equates to an average arrears increase of £1.2 million per council for the billing period and an increase in total arrears of £2.7 million.

“At a strategic level, Sean has consistently shown the ability to identify and maximise real business transformation opportunities. This, together with a keen sense of understanding customer and staff needs, results in ideas becoming practical winning strategies – something we’re very keen to tap into for the benefit of our customers,” Williams added.

Prior to joining Voicescape, Sean also held senior positions at Civica Digital and boxxe. During his career, he has worked alongside the Welsh Government, The Ministry of Justice (MOJ), The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DCLG), and NI Direct, to successfully deliver digital transformation projects.

Sutton said: “I passionately believe that ‘digital’ should be at the core of every business strategy for client and staff engagement. Mobile platforms are ‘the route into change’. Everywhere you look, you see people browsing their mobile devices. Digital is the language of today, and for the future generations of residents.

“Voicescape is setting the pace when it comes to tackling the pain points and challenges of arrears management in local government through digital transformation. This brand new approach to service provision is not only exciting, but also has the potential to really transform the ways in which organisations such as Newcastle City Council operate. At a time of increased financial and operational pressures, we have a real opportunity to drive meaningful change at both a strategic and operational level for local authorities.”

Aticus Law expands offering by appointing new Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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19/07/2022

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Aticus Law expands offering by appointing new Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate

Legal heavyweight Safia Iftikhar brings national experience to the role

Leading Northwest law firm Aticus Law has boosted its private client services offering in the region with the appointment of Safia Iftikhar as its new Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate.

Bringing years of experience to the role, Safia joins from Simpson Millar, having previously progressed through the ranks of multiple nationally accredited law firms.

A specialist in Private client legal services – Wills, Lasting Power of Attorney and Probate – she has helped hundreds of clients with their future planning. She has dealt with a national client base, managing offices within Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

She will now lead Aticus’ strong wills, trust and probate team, operating out of its offices in Wilmslow and Manchester.

Aticus has a forward-thinking approach to delivering its services online so that people can continue to access the support they need when they need it.

Safia, who enjoys travelling, sightseeing, trying out new cuisine, reading, yoga and baking in her spare time, said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Aticus team following what has been an extremely busy period for the firm.

“The team has a fantastic reputation across the North West, and I’m looking forward to further building on that in the months ahead.”

Aticus Co-founder and Partner, Edward Judge, added: “We could not be more pleased to welcome Safia to the team.

“Not only does she have a wealth of experience and expertise that will truly enhance the existing Wills, Trusts and Probate offering here at Aticus, but she is also extremely motivated and passionate about helping people.

“Her arrival at the firm truly complements our wider private client offering.”

Appointment News: Pixel Kicks makes four appointments across teams

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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19/07/2022

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Appointment News: Pixel Kicks makes four appointments across teams

Pixel Kicks, the Manchester based full-service digital agency, has made four new appointments in its business development, project management and web development teams.

Jamie Bray is Pixel Kick’s new business development manager. Jamie has joined the agency from Shopblocks. He also previously worked for Deliveroo. Jamie’s primary focus will be on identifying high-quality new business opportunities from a steady feed of inbound enquiries, as well as proactively building a qualified new business pipeline.

In the web development team Luke Ratcliffe has joined as a UX designer whilst Cora Marcu is its newest junior front-end developer. Luke’s previous role was at Cultivate Creative Limited where he worked for nine years. Cora started her career in digital marketing and project management but after six years she decided to move into web development. She recently relocated from Romania and is a graduate of Manchester Codes.

The final new appointment is Fiona Hammond, project coordinator. Fiona has just graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University after achieving a First Class Honours in Digital Media and Communications. Whilst studying, she freelanced for 50 Pound Social and also interned at Supremo.

This latest batch of new starters has increased Pixel Kicks’ total headcount to 19. The agency has also recently won a string of new contracts and launched major projects for brands including UA92, Marvelous Games, PRGX and Joseph Holt.

Chris Buckley – MD of Pixel Kicks – added: “The past 12 months has been a transformational period for the agency and has seen rapid growth in both our client roster and team. Pixel Kicks’ success is solely based on the talents and expertise of its people and I’m sure Jamie, Luke, Cora and Fiona will play an instrumental part in our ongoing expansion plans.”

OKX reveals giant street art of Manchester City players

News

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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OKX reveals giant street art of Manchester City players

OKX Celebrates becoming the Official Training Kit Partner of Manchester City for the 2022/2023 season with cyber-punk inspired creations
OKX has commissioned renowned street artist Akse P19 to create artworks featuring Manchester City players Haaland, Grealish, Cancelo and Stones, across four locations in Manchester

MANCHESTER, 15TH July, 2022 – OKX, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency platform, today revealed giant murals of Manchester City players Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, João Cancelo and John Stones across four high-football locations in Manchester.

The cyber-punk inspired street art has been specially commissioned to celebrate OKX becoming the Official Training Kit Partner of Manchester City for the 2022/2023 season. The agreement will see OKX featured across the training kit of the Manchester City men’s and women’s first teams.

Renowned street artist Akse_P19 and Global Street Art Agency have spent a week creating the attention-grabbing pieces. The murals are fitted out with QR codes that City fans can scan for a chance to win their very own season ticket in the OKX Hospitality Box.

Akse_19 AKA, Eric Akse, is a French born graffiti artist of Vietnamese heritage who has been based in Manchester since 1997. Akse started painting in 1992 and is a member of the P19 Graffiti Crew.

Eric Akse said: “As an artist who has been living and working in Manchester for the last 25 years, it means a lot to be able to bring such iconic players to life across this great city. We wanted to create big, bold statements, using cyber-punk inspired animation that would present the players in a new light. It is a statement of OKX’s passion and commitment to the Man City fans and community ahead of the new football season.”

A full list of the mural locations follows

John Stones: 11 Newton Street
Erling Haaland: 75 Port Street
João Cancelo: 60 Shudehill
Jack Grealish: 7 Thomas Street

OKX’s future ambitions with Manchester City include continuing to supercharge the fan experience, providing key learning initiatives and resources to help customers trade responsibly, and delivering programs to empower and enrich the Manchester community. OKX was announced as Manchester City’s Official Cryptocurrency Exchange Partner in March.

Ilchester® Vegan Melting Mature wins Gold at International Cheese Awards

Awards

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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Ilchester® Vegan Melting Mature wins Gold at International Cheese Awards

Ilchester®, the UK’s number one blended and snacking cheese supplier, has a lot to celebrate after its first plant-based cheeze, the Ilchester Vegan Melting Mature won the Gold Award in the Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative category in the prestigious International Cheese Awards 2022 in Staffordshire.

Ilchester Vegan Melting Mature, which launched last summer and has been described as the “best vegan melting cheeze on the market” by The Independent, scooped the sought-after award at the cheese industry’s highly regarded awards ceremony.

The multi-award-winning Applewood® Vegan, the plant-based alternative to the UK’s number one smoky cheese, won the Silver Award Dairy Free Cheese Alternative in the ‘Cheese – any variety that contains savoury additives’ category. Applewood Vegan and Ilchester Vegan are both made by Norseland, the UK’s number one blended cheese supplier.

Talking about the awards’ success, Lisa Harrison, Marketing Manager for Ilchester and Applewood, said: “This is the first award for Ilchester’s first-ever plant-based cheeze and what an award to win! The International Cheese Awards 2022 are highly respected in the industry and across the world, and the competition is always very tough, so I am really thrilled that the Ilchester Vegan Melting Mature has won the Gold Award in the Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative category.

“The Melting Mature has been well received by vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians as it is known for sharing the same meltability factor as dairy cheddar cheeses, something that vegans have often said lacks in other plant-based cheeses. The ‘M Factor’ has been key to its success and I hope this is the first of many awards for this alternative to dairy cheddar.”

The Silver Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative Award is the ninth accolade for Applewood Vegan, which launched in October 2019 and was the UK’s first major cheese brand to launch a vegan cheese alternative.

Commenting on the ninth award success for Applewood Vegan, Harrison said: “Like our Ilchester Vegan cheese, meltability coupled with its smoky flavouring, has been the key to Applewood Vegan’s success and its popularity has allowed us to launch it in grated and slices format.

“Applewood Vegan is the second biggest vegan cheeze brand in the latest year and the fastest growing. The recognition from the International Cheese Awards is the icing on the cake for this much-loved plant-based cheeze.”

Sustainable Manufacturing: Three UK Businesses Working Towards a Net Zero Future

Green

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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Sustainable Manufacturing: Three UK Businesses Working Towards a Net Zero Future

The climate crisis is at the forefront of public discussion. The UK government is working towards a
pledge to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To do this, the
government has presented the Ten Point Plan for the Green Industrial Revolution. This plan will
allow the private sector to thrive in a way that is beneficial for the environment. By 2030, the
government will invest £90 billion and support 44,000 jobs within green industries.
Manufacturing accounts for a huge amount of carbon emissions. According to the Office for National
Statistics, manufacturing was the fourth highest industry contributing to greenhouse gas emissions
between 1990-2020.
The UK has seen a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. However, despite the Ten
Point Plan, there is still a long way to go if the United Kingdom is to achieve net zero by 2050.
Thankfully, companies in the manufacturing industry are working towards combatting the climate
crisis.
Here, with some insights from David Taylor at the commercial LPG division at Flogas, we explore how
manufacturing companies are reducing their carbon emissions and helping to lead the UK towards a
net zero future.
Taylors of Harrogate: carbon-neutral Yorkshire Tea
Taylors of Harrogate is a family-owned business based in Yorkshire, England. The company produces
a number of products, including a wide range of teas and coffee. Its most notable product is
Yorkshire Tea, which was voted the best cup of tea by Brits in 2021. As a company, Taylors prides
itself on prioritising people and the planet. Following this ethos, they build lasting relationships with
their suppliers and sustainably source their ingredients.
Taylors combats the climate crisis in many ways. The company aims to make all of its plastic
packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. As well as this, Taylors began reducing its
carbon emissions in 2015 and has since announced in 2020 that the company is completely carbon
neutral. In order to achieve this, the business measured the average volume of carbon dioxide that
was emitted into the earth’s atmosphere at every stage of its production line.
This technique allows companies to calculate how much carbon offsetting they need to achieve to
balance out the emissions they cannot avoid. Companies that use this method make up for their
day-to-day greenhouse gas emissions by contributing to offsetting projects. These projects can
encompass work such as forest conservation and renewably energy expansion. In collaboration with
the Kenya Tea Development Agency, Taylors has encouraged over 7000 farmers to plant almost 2
million trees. This is carbon offsetting, as the trees absorb carbon dioxide and balance greenhouse
gas emissions.
Siemens UK: zero waste in Newcastle and wind turbine energy

A manufacturing company founded in the UK; Siemens has sites across the country. This includes
Electrum manufacturing sites in Wythenshawe and healthcare manufacturing facilities in Swords.
Siemens manufactures a number of integral products and systems, such as traffic lights, gas
turbines, and medical scanners.
Siemens recycles 92% of its materials and has an amazing 0% landfill waste capacity in Newcastle.
The company has also spearheaded multiple national projects, including the Keele University Smart
Energy Network Demonstrator. This is the largest grid in Europe. The project positively affects 350
buildings on campus and reduces 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
As well as this, Siemens is committed to expanding the use of renewable energy. The company
created a wind turbine blade factory in Hull, which is the nation’s largest offshore wind
manufacturing facility. The UK government is said to be investing £160 million into the blade factory.
The investment will double the factory’s size and provide a total of 1200 jobs across the whole
facility. The company’s current project, the 1.4GW Hornsea Two, powers the equivalent of 1.3
million homes. Siemens’ turbines are utilised in the North Sea and around the world, powering a
future free from harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Quorn: recycled packaging and reducing the use of plastic
Quorn is a manufacturing company based in Stokesley, Yorkshire. The UK company, which produces
meat-free food alternatives, is committed to tackling carbon emissions one bite at a time. In fact,
switching just one meal to Quorn mince is said to save the same amount of greenhouse gases as it
takes to charge a phone for three years.
The food manufacturing industry is responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Livestock farming accounts for 14.5% of all emissions alone. In an effort to reduce its carbon
footprint, Quorn calculates its carbon emissions from farm to fork. This includes the ingredients,
factories, packaging, and transport it uses during the process. Quorn pieces produce a minuscule
0.22kg of carbon dioxide per serving. To put meat-free products into perspective, UK chicken
produces 5kg of carbon dioxide per serving.
Moreover, Quorn has committed to reducing plastic waste within the food manufacturing industry.
As of 2019, Quorn has removed all black plastic from products. Additionally, the company has
created ready meal PET trays made of 80% recycled material. However, plastic packaging is
important to the hygiene and safety of a food product, so it cannot always be avoided. To ensure it
minimises its impact on the environment, Quorn collaborates with RECOUP and WRAP UK Plastic
Pack.

There is a long way to go before the UK can achieve carbon neutrality. Whether the nation achieves
net zero by 2050 is down to the government’s cooperation with UK companies. Manufacturing
companies are an important part of this. Now, corporations are responding to the climate crisis
more than ever. Companies are achieving carbon neutrality, expanding turbine power, and recycling
plastic waste. How will your business continue to lead the way in sustainable manufacturing?

Manchester based Europa Support Major New National Campaign

News

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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Manchester based Europa Support Major New National Campaign

Local logistics firm, Europa Worldwide Group, which has a base in Manchester, is supporting a new national logistics sector recruitment campaign.

The logistics sector is expected to have worker shortages of 400,000 by 2026, the new campaign aims to change perception of the industry as well as providing a jobs portal.

Keeping food on the shelves and keeping the wheels of industry turning throughout Covid-19 and Brexit have shone a light on how fundamental logistics is to us all. Combine that with decarbonising the supply chain, the shift to ecommerce it’s clear why logistics is so critical to the country’s economy.

The first of its type, called “Generation Logistics” campaign is being co-ordinated by the trade bodies the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and Logistics UK, in partnership with the Department for Transport. For many years, logistics has been the “invisible secret” supporting the UK’s economic growth and development.

Europa itself is growing massively and has almost doubled its work force over the past nine years, now employing over 1,300 at sites across the UK and is currently recruiting for another 150 staff across the UK.

The Manchester branch, which is based at Magnetic House, Media Village, Waterfront Quay, is home to a team of 20. As well as recruiting, the company is focusing on recognising internal talent and is currently promoting one person EVERY week.

By shining a spotlight on the skilled, complex nature of the UK’s interconnected logistics industry the campaign aims to attract, identify and develop a new and diverse generation of talent to fill vacancies industry-wide and future-proof the sector.

Tom Jenkins, Central Services Director at Europa Worldwide Group Comments “It’s a time of huge recruitment challenges across our sector, right across the supply chain from customer service to drivers and warehouse operators, so it’s time to change perceptions and share the story of how essential our industry is. We are delighted to be joining forces with other industry leaders to support Generation Logistics to initiate much needed change.”

The Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, commented “I am proud to support the Generation Logistics campaign.

“Logistics is a vital sector to the UK economy. The pandemic has once again demonstrated the strategic importance of supply-chains and their associated workers. Their work to keep the UK moving was exemplary and I have nothing but admiration for those unsung heroes who keep the UK trading, keep food on our shelves and provide our factories, shops, hospitals and schools with the supplies they need. Logistics workers make a substantial difference to our lives, every day.

“However, we have a new challenge facing us as we look to the future of freight. We need to attract a diverse and skilled workforce to play a key part in a new exciting era transforming an industry at the forefront of innovation and technology. There are thousands of logistics roles available to people from all backgrounds, experience and skills. This campaign will showcase those opportunities in artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, autonomous vehicles and the decarbonisation of the supply chain.

“The Government has shown in the 33 interventions it put in place to address the HGV driver shortage that it is ready to take fast and effective action to support the logistics sector and invest where it is needed. We are funding 11,000 HGV driver bootcamp training places as well as investing a total of £52.5 million in road side facilities for drivers and lorry parking as well as delivering more HGV driver testing than ever before.

“This industry campaign is integral to not only supporting growth of this vital sector but also ensuring we have the workforce needed for now and the future.”

In addition to a comprehensive web portal, containing careers advice and guidance, jobs and news, the campaign will focus on a number of key demographic areas, all of which could be inclined towards taking up a role in logistics.

Europa Worldwide Group is an ambitious independent logistics operator with three divisions, Europa Road, Europa Air & Sea, and Europa Warehouse, and has featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for the third time. The Group employs over 1,300 across the UK, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and had a turnover of £300m last year.

Gleeson Homes raises thousands for Springhill Hospice

CSR

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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Gleeson Homes raises thousands for Springhill Hospice

Over its last financial year, housebuilder Gleeson Homes’ Greater Manchester region has been supporting Springhill Hospice.

Springhill Hospice is a charity located in Rochdale that provides free palliative and end-of-life care to people aged 18 and over, as well counselling, therapy and bereavement services. It offers a wide range of nursing, medical and other support services to their patients, families and carers.

Over the last 12 months, Gleeson colleagues have raised funds in several ways, including through donating show home furniture, collection pots [placed around sites?] and donations towards dress down Fridays.

In total, the region is pleased to have raised an astounding £6,000 in total, which will help Springhill Hospice significantly.

Arron Passarelli, Divisional Managing Director, commented: “I am so proud of what we have achieved for such a fantastic cause. Springhill Hospice is a charity close to many people’s hearts, and I’m sure it will benefit from the much needed funds we have raised, allowing Springhill to continue with the brilliant work it does to support those who need it the most. At Gleeson, we are keen to offer our support wherever we can, giving back to local charities and supporting our communities.”

Vicki Murray, Corporate and Partnerships Fundraiser at Springhill Hospice, said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Gleeson Homes for its wonderful donation of furniture that we’ve been able to sell through our charity shops, as well as funds raised directly for Springhill. These generous donations have raised an incredible amount which will go towards the ongoing costs of providing care for patients and their families here at Springhill Hospice.”

Gleeson’s Community Matters programme has been implemented to ensure that the communities in which Gleeson builds also feel the benefit of new developments, with the housebuilder understanding the importance of involving local people before and during the construction of its homes, leaving a legacy once works are complete.

The programme also sees Gleeson donate to and work with local sports teams and community groups, collaborate with schools on a range of initiatives and provide jobs and apprenticeships for local people.

JMW advises on £6.6m Stretford acquisition

Acquisitions

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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JMW advises on £6.6m Stretford acquisition

The Real Estate team at JMW Solicitors has advised Blueoak Estates on its latest deal; the acquisition of Alexander House in a circa £6.6million deal.

Blueoak Estates is a developer of luxury, sustainable homes across the North West. This latest deal will further expand its pipeline, which comprises several new schemes including St Michael’s Park and Tollemache Green.

Alexander House is a 63,000 sq. ft. commercial building in Stretford. The acquisition will see plans move forward to redevelop the property for residential use, creating 110 beautifully designed one and two-bedroom luxury apartments.

The project is Blueoak’s most ambitious development to date, transforming the imposing 1970’s office building into an aspirational new address.

Iain MacLean, Managing Director of Blueoak Estates, said: “This is a huge project for us that will see us upscale our established model considerably. The building is very much a product of its era; a 1970’s angular, concrete structure.

“Our aim now is to repurpose Alexander House, reconfigure the floor space and introduce modern features and functionality to make it perfectly suited for the young demographic we believe these homes will appeal to. This is a brilliant location and is gaining real traction in terms of a place that people want to live, with brilliant infrastructure and plenty of excellent places in which to socialise.

“The conversion to residential from commercial is very much our sweet spot and we’re excited to be taking on this latest challenge that shifts our aspirations up a gear in terms of size and scale.”

Thomas Pearson, Partner and Head of Real Estate Commercial at JMW Solicitors, said: “This is an exciting new acquisition for Blueoak, which will build further on its reputation for delivering high-quality, sustainable new homes and follows a successful start to 2022, which has seen the completion of several key deals across the North West.”

“We’re pleased to have been able to support Blueoak once again in getting this latest transaction across the line, and look forward to working together as development plans move forward.”

Savills was the agent on the deal.

VICTORIA NORTH – Planning application approved to transform brownfield land and unlock thousands of homes in Red Bank

Property

Sam Whitear

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18/07/2022

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VICTORIA NORTH – Planning application approved to transform brownfield land and unlock thousands of homes in Red Bank

– 5,500 new homes will be unlocked in the Red Bank neighbourhood

– First phase of the new City River Park agreed

Planning approval has been agreed for a City Council application that will invest in the crucial infrastructure for the development of new housing and City River Park in Red Bank – one of the first phases of the major Victoria North regeneration area.

The approved plans will ready the Red Bank neighbourhood for future residential development – and include land remediation, earthworks and change in site levels, and begin the major investment of new green spaces on the banks of the River Irk, while also revitalising the existing St Catherine’s Wood.

This element of the Red Bank investment will also deliver preliminary transport infrastructure, including facilitating a new permanent road and junction into the Red Bank neighbourhood, along with new drainage, street works and utilities infrastructure for the area.

These key infrastructure improvements will pave the way for future planning applications for new homes from the Council’s Joint Venture Partner for Victoria North – Far East Consortium (FEC) – and other third-party developers.

This phase of the Victoria North regeneration programme is being funding through a £51.6m grant award from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), which is being provided to address various infrastructure constraints at the site and support the delivery of up to 5,500 new low carbon homes (across a range tenure types, including affordable housing) in the coming years – while bringing more than 25-acres of brownfield land back into use.

The investment in the first phase of a long-term investment to create the City River Park, which will eventually link Red Bank close to the city centre to Queens Park in Collyhurst through interconnected, high-quality green spaces.

The Red Bank area is currently characterised by underused brownfield land and invasive species – including Japanese Knotweed – and these works will bring forward the process of removing vegetation, create welcoming and managed routes through the area for walking and cycling, and become a catalyst to clean the River Irk.

The first phase of the City River Park along with new green space by the River Irk and the key improvements to St Catherine’s Wood.

This investment also looks to create new habitats and attract wildlife back to the Irk Valley. The commitment is to deliver a BioDiversity Net Gain of 10% in this part of the city through a series of linked planning applications relating to infrastructure, green space, river improvements and new residential development.

This application follows an initial planning application in December 2021 that approved the start of enabling works at the Red Bank site, including the removal of invasive trees and vegetation, the creation of a temporary haul road, and the demolition of the former Creamline Dairies buildings.

Victoria North is a joint venture programme between Manchester City Council and developer Far East Consortium (FEC).

Over the next 15 to 20 years, the Victoria North project will deliver more than 15,000 new homes (at least 20% of which will be affordable housing), with each neighbourhood connected by high quality green spaces and 46-hectare City River Park, which will open up and celebrate the Irk River Valley for the first time in decades.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “This is a welcome approval as it marks a critical early step in the long-term ambitions for the Red Bank neighbourhood. This part of our city has lain dormant for many years and it’s truly exciting to see the potential of the Victoria North area beginning to be realised.

“Eventually we will see 5,500 new homes in the Red Bank neighbourhood alone, including significant affordable housing bring a large swathe of underused brownfield land back into use – alongside a wonderful new City River Park.

“This is another brilliant example of the Council developing new high quality green space – while investing in new walking and cycling routes – celebrating an otherwise largely forgotten corner of Manchester.”

Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig, said: “Victoria North remains one of the largest regeneration programmes the UK has ever seen and will be transformational for our city. The Red Bank area is largely underused brownfield and unmanaged, unwelcoming scrub land, but will become an attractive new, green neighbourhood.

“Over the next 15 years this investment will deliver 15,000 new homes and 46hectares of interconnected green space across the Victoria North area.

“This is a long-term, aspirational programme of regeneration – and represents exactly the type of vision we should be striving for in our city to meet demand for new housing, many of which will be social and genuinely affordable homes while creating sustainable and attractive neighbourhoods.”

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