An Architectural Chrismas Market December 14, 2009

Please go along to Manchester School of Architecture and join in with Manchester School of Architecture Christmas market.  There will be a range of interesting architecture related fun activities, things to ponder and items for sale. There will be refreshments including mulled wine, mince pies and gingerbread.

As well as interesting activities and fun things to look at, the market will be an opportunity to discuss some of the student architects’ projects for the city of Manchester – projects which include the following issues and areas:

Homelessness and squatting
Reuse of empty sites across the city
The redevelopment of Oldham town hall square
Linking Cheetham hill and the Irk Valley
Promoting Ardwick green
The culture of the Northern Quarter
The cities approach to prostitution
Spaces for contemplation
Hosting the next G20 summit in Manchester
The St.Peter’s Square redevelopment
The redevelopment of Chorlton district centre
The rise of growing your own food
Lighting The River Irk
Future paradigms
Creative unemployment
The future of Wythenshawe civic centre

We hope you can spare some time during the day to come and see us -  pop in for 10 minutes, stay for a longer discussion or come and join in one of the design games or other activities.

10am – 6pm 18th December

Manchester School of Architecture
ROOM 602
Chatham Tower
All Saints Campus
Cavendish Street
Manchester
M15 6BR

Core Strategy Consultation October 30, 2009

OK we’re almost there now

Welcome to the Proposed Options Stage the Core Strategy for Manchester.  Consultation opens on Monday the 9th of November until 4th January 2009.

I can tell you that Option B was the most popular option following the refined options stage earlier this year (72% of us preferred B), which should please most of you no end.

As ever I’ll be sending a briefing paper to SNAG members ASAP to give you the low down on how the Proposed Option is shaping up.  Certainly none of the headline Spatial Policies have change, but I am yet to see if there is any devil in the detail; I should think not.

So what’s in the option which will lead to the flourishing of Manchester into a green and pleasant, sustainable 21st century haven of well-being and knowledge based industrial excellence?   I’ve only had a quick flick through so these are but my first impressions:

The usual slugs in the pottage include the preference of economic growth over economic development, airport growth (although there are mentions of high speed rail links) over greenbelt protection and a focus on development of the city centre as opposed to effectual sites for employment in the burbs.

I am picking up heightened levels of climate change related activity compared with the previous incarnation of this strategy but the dedicated climate change info measures just 1 small paragraph here and another one there on my climate change policyometer.  The waste management enthusiasts amongst you may find this rather disappointing.

So what’s coming up roses?  If I take number of pages as a proxy to the level of good policy, housing and design are smelling the sweetest.  Economic growth is of course the compost feeding everything in our great Mancunian City.

Watch this space.

Best Wishes, Tim.

Looking After Our Town Centre April 23, 2009

The Department of Communities and Local Government has produced a new guide on town centre management.  This short guide is for town centre managers and their local partners (that means you).  It offers practical help in setting out how we can work together to make sure that our town centres reach their full potential, even in tough times, so that we can all enjoy, and be proud of, the centres of our great towns.

But it also looks further ahead.  It is vital that those involved in town centres – planners, service managers, businesses, local groups and communities – develop a clear vision, and actively plan to take advantage of new opportunities when the recovery begins.

Looking After Our Town Centres can be viewed here.