Twenty-nine acres of strategic regeneration in New Islington, East Manchester has been given the green light with the announcement this week that English Partnerships has signed a development agreement with Manchester City Council and Urban Splash for the development of the Millennium Community project.

Plans for the Strategic Regeneration Framework of New Islington were launched last September. Now that the formal agreement has been signed and outline planning permission given, infrastructure works will start on site in September 2003.

The New Islington Millennium Community will include over 1,400 new homes, offices, leisure facilities, shops and restaurants and a million square feet of parks and gardens in which a new primary school and a new health clinic will be located. The development will also utilise more environmentally friendly materials in house construction to reduce household waste and energy consumption.

Duncan Innes, Head of Millennium Communities, English Partnerships said: “This announcement marks the final ´green light´ for the development of the New Islington Millennium Community.”

“The innovative and exciting plans for the development, unveiled by Urban Splash last year, will bring together new methods of planning, design and construction to transform this run down estate into a vibrant new sustainable community.”

Tom Bloxham MBE, chairman Urban Splash, added: “We want to make this the best area in Manchester – period. The agenda for New Islington is very rich. We want to demonstrate that world-class architecture; mixed income communities and an innovative green agenda are capable of working together to make this area very special.”

Chief Executive of New East Manchester Ltd, Tom Russell said: “The development at New Islington is a key part of the regeneration currently under way in the entire East Manchester area.”

“It’s location in Ancoats – a stepping stone between Manchester’s vibrant City Centre and the City of Manchester Stadium, Sportcity and beyond – has attracted significant interest and investment from developers and businesses which is resulting in greater confidence in the area.”