08 September 2010
Work starts on Eastlands site preparation
Urban regeneration company, New East Manchester has announced
that work will start today, Monday 6 September, on site preparation
of a 17 acre plot (6.88 hectares) at Eastlands next to the City of
Manchester stadium.
The £8 million project is being undertaken by remediation
specialists Buckingham Group Contracting and follows extensive site
investigations. The works, which include capping disused mine
shafts from the former Bradford colliery, will take seven
months.
Funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Manchester
City Council, the Northwest European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF) and the NWDA, the scheme will make the land, which formed
part of the site proposed for the regional casino, ready for future
development.
The project builds on other investment by the four funding
partners to support the continued development of Eastland’s
sporting, leisure and economic infrastructure, including the new
National Indoor BMX Centre and a network of new pedestrian and
cycle links to the surrounding area, which are currently on
site.
Eddie Smith, chief executive of New East Manchester said: “This
is a crucial step towards bringing this strategically important
piece of land back into use. When the right developer is
found we want to be in a position to be ready to move quickly and
deliver a scheme that will make Eastlands a leading international
leisure and sporting destination. Not only do we want to
create a scheme that will attract significant visitors to East
Manchester and bring economic benefits to the whole North West
region, but we also remain committed to creating employment
opportunities for local people.”
Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council
said: “This work is vital and will mean we can hit the ground
running when the right scheme is found for the site. The investment
will also speed up potential for bringing new jobs to the area,
creating a lasting economic legacy for east Manchester
residents.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, managing the
Northwest ERDF Programme, said: “These changes present a
regeneration opportunity on a scale unprecedented in an English
city. It’s another piece of the jigsaw in enabling East
Manchester’s community to look forward to a brighter future.
“ERDF funding for the project will help tackle the industrial
legacy of a key site within Eastlands, getting it ready for future
private-sector led investment and accelerating the creation of new
jobs for the region.”
Deborah McLaughlin, North West Director of the Homes and
Communities agency said: “The remediation brings us a step closer
to getting the land back into productive use. Once the future
public realm works are also complete, Eastlands will be poised to
become a key destination, bringing with it job opportunities for
local people.”
Eastlands was originally built to host the 2002 Commonwealth
Games and has created a lasting legacy since that time with
facilities including the original stadium (now home to Manchester
City FC), Manchester Regional Arena, National Squash Centre, Tennis
Centre, English Institute of Sport, Manchester Velodrome and, most
recently, the construction of the new National Indoor BMX Centre.
Each year, over 400 events are held at the complex, attracting over
4.5m visitors and providing employment for local residents.
For more information on New East Manchester visit www.neweastmanchester.com.
Ends
For further information contact Roz Hughes at New East
Manchester on 0161 223 1155.
Notes to editors
New East Manchester (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a
partnership between Manchester City Council, the national housing
and regeneration agency Homes & Communities Agency and the
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is NEM's
role to turn the Regeneration Framework into action, secure the
required public and private funding, lead on specific major
development projects and co-ordinate regeneration and renewal
initiatives in the area.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real
difference to people and businesses in the Northwest. With €755
million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the
competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in
enterprise and employment.
ERDF in the Northwest is managed by the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA).
For further information please visit www.erdfnw.co.uk