Manchester’s regeneration has been given a multi-million pound boost alongside the creation of a new ministerial group to support city leaders in bidding for further projects, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said.

Hazel Blears announced that English Partnerships have earmarked around £10m to accelerate the delivery of Sportcity, the largest concentration of sporting venues in Europe. The money will be used for site preparation, in order to unlock the huge potential for leisure, commercial and sporting activity and create new jobs.

Ideas that have been put forward for the site include a new BMX centre, and extreme sports centre including a snowboarders half-pipe, scuba pool, abseiling and climbing walls as well as a sky-diving simulator and white-water rafting course.

The development of Sportcity is expected to create 1,600 new jobs and will be a key part of East Manchester’s wider regeneration drive. The Government is extending the New East Manchester Urban Regeneration Company to 2014, who will invite proposals for the new Sportcity site, and spearhead a series of local regeneration projects, creating a total of 4,000 jobs.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England will also conduct a study into the demand for higher and further education in Manchester.

The Government is also working with councils in Greater Manchester on their plans for a Multi-Area Agreement to be signed this summer to boost jobs, transport, investment and housing through greater co-operation.

The ministerial group will be chaired by Ms Blears, and will bring representatives from Manchester City Council together with ministers from the Department of Health, the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. It will support Manchester city leaders as they progress longer-term projects, including:
* An application for the Transport Innovation Fund, to increase capacity of public transport, and reduce congestion in the city
* A new Transport Hub to provide increased rail links across the North West, subject to a Network Rail study
* Refurbishment of the former Sharp building to house computer gaming company Redvision, and a hub for new games and media businesses
* Three new skills academies: on skills, facilities management and digital media.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:
“This £10m boost for Sportcity will unlock huge sporting potential in East Manchester and attract visitors from across the UK, and beyond. It’s another piece of the jigsaw in Manchester’s regeneration success story, and can help to create new jobs.
“The new ministerial group will also ensure that success continues well into the future by giving the Government’s support to city leaders as they drive forward new jobs, more skills and better transport for our communities.”

The Government has published a new report, which shows that the benefits of regional casinos can be delivered through alternative, but equally effective, projects.

The Review of Alternatives to Casino-Led Regeneration finds that in isolation it would be challenging for any alternatives to achieve the scale of economic benefits that could be secured through a regional casino, but that there is uncertainty around the extent to which these benefits are truly additional. The report goes on to say that once potential economic and social costs of a regional casino are included, and a package of alternative options considered, the difference can be reduced and even eliminated.

The review was commissioned by the Prime Minister in July 2007 to examine whether deprived areas could be equally well served by other forms of regeneration, and considered a series of alternative ways to deliver the benefits a super-casino would bring, including retail and commercial development, or housing-led regeneration.

The review concludes that measuring the impact of a casino on local job creation is highly problematic – as is measuring the effect on inward investment and any other knock-on benefits.

The relatively high pay of casino jobs, for example, can attract commuters from outside the area, which would mean that local people do not necessarily benefit, but would still bear the brunt of any risks faced.

The review also found that the risks and costs associated with smaller and medium sized casinos are much lower than those faced by larger regional ones, and are also outweighed by the regeneration benefits.

The report, A Review of the Alternative Approaches to Regional Casino-Led Regeneration is published today and can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/citiesandregions/casireviewalternatives

Manchester City Council has approved plans for the largest scheme ever to be developed in the city.The outline planning application for Holt Town Waterfront in East Manchester was submitted by specialist regeneration developer Cibitas Investments Ltd. The 38 hectare (95 acre) development is less than a mile east of Manchester city centre and is the largest planning application ever to be approved in Manchester, as well as being one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK.

Adjacent to the flagship Sportscity development, the scheme will be at the forefront of residential-led regeneration in the UK and builds on the success achieved in the area by urban regeneration company New East Manchester.

At the heart of east Manchester, the project will combine the vibrancy and convenience of the city centre with the attractions and amenities of Manchester’s suburbs. The new urban quarter will provide more than 4,300 new homes over the next 10-15 years, the majority of which will be accommodation for families through an innovative mixture of houses, family apartments and duplexes. Each will have its own parking space, access to safe outside green space and private gardens, village squares and waterfronts.

In addition to a range of high quality homes, the area will benefit from a stunning river valley park, a new Metrolink tram stop linking the area both into the city centre and out to the east, a new primary school, studio/office accommodation and a range of shops, bars and restaurants, all of which combine to establish a vibrant mixed neighbourhood just five minutes from the city centre.

David Shelton, managing director at Cibitas, comments: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the City Council’s decision. We have worked hard as a team with colleagues at New East Manchester to develop a commercially viable scheme that will bring something new and exciting to Manchester and the UK.

“Holt Town Waterfront is an ambitious project that will re-define urban family living in the UK – we hope this project becomes a flagship for the rest of the country.”

The scheme is being delivered in partnership with New East Manchester and Manchester City Council.

Tom Russell, chief executive of New East Manchester, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create a new concept in family housing that is not only unique to east Manchester but anywhere in the UK, yet again raising the bar in terms of urban living.

“Holt Town Waterfront is strategically located close to Manchester city centre, and provides an opportunity to create a new community that will integrate with the existing neighbourhoods. Families will have the chance to invest in their future by setting down roots and staying within in the city.”

The first sites are expected to be released to the market in early 2008.

Cibitas was assisted in the preparation of the planning application by GVA Grimley, EDAW, Arup, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Eversheds and Cre8 Management. Manchester City Council’s Planning Committee approved the application at its meeting on 20 December 2007

Figures reveal crime in Newton Heath and Miles Platting dropped 50% as a result of a concentrated effort by over 20 agencies to cut crime and anti-social behaviour during a Respect Action Week.Criminal damage in the area was reduced by 48 per cent compared to the same period last year, burglaries were cut by 78 per cent and anti-social behaviour involving young people dropped by 10 per cent. During the week there were no reported car or bike thefts and despite being in the run-up to Bonfire night there were also no reported incidents of arson.

In total 51 people were arrested by Greater Manchester Police and 14 search warrants were executed and together with Northwards wardens, 65 stop searches were carried out. In addition 36 pupils were spoken to about non attendance at school and 12 children with their parents were warned about anti-social behaviour.

TV Licensing visited 163 addresses, four untaxed cars were seized and both British Gas and United Utilities discovered four homes in the area with illegal connections. Customs and Excise seized over 10,000 illegal cigarettes and 14 kg of illegal tobacco. Police officers confiscated three off-road bikes and one quad bike.

The Fire and Rescue Service fitted smoke alarms in 150 homes, 280 young people took part in youth activities and 15 graffiti sites were cleared. Eight local licensees attended a course on how to prevent underage alcohol sales and 14 off licences and five pubs were visited by police officers.

Sean McGonigle, Director of Regeneration for New East Manchester said: “The success of this Respect week shows that partnership initiatives like this one can deliver a real difference to our communities. Reducing crime and the threat of crime has always and will remain a priority for New East Manchester. We have made great progress in tackling crime but we recognise there is still more to do. Concentrated efforts like this lead to long-term benefits for the area.”

Inspector Steve McFarlane of Newton Health and Miles Platting Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This Respect Action Week has been another great success and partners have worked well together to respond to the requests from local residents.

“The week’s operation has involved a variety of activities focusing on bringing the community together to make their area a better place to live and work in.

“The feedback from the community has been extremely positive and we are hoping to repeat this success again in the New Year.”

For more information visit http://www.neweastmanchester.com/

Morrisons has signed a leasehold deal which will see the company anchoring a £40 million regeneration scheme in Openshaw, east Manchester, in an 80,000 sq ft store to open in the summer of 2009.

Taken on a 35 year lease, the store will be the first large supermarket to serve Openshaw and the Ashton Old Road area.

Urban regeneration specialists Dransfield Properties Ltd are working in partnership with Manchester City Council and urban regeneration company New East Manchester on the new district centre, which is set to transform a large mixed industrial, commercial and residential area into a new shopping, leisure and commercial centre that will create over 700 new jobs.

Consent was secured earlier this year for the scheme which will deliver the supermarket for Morrisons, ten retail units from 1,765 sq ft to 22,500 sq ft, a 22,500 sq ft leisure unit, 57, 000 sq ft of office accommodation, café and restaurant facilities and 670 car parking spaces.

Openshaw is located in one of the country’s largest regeneration areas, and is now seeing the delivery of a large number of high quality housing and city living apartment developments. This investment has been led by New East Manchester, which is well on its way to achieving a key objective of doubling the population of the area over the next 10 to 15 years. Building a new vibrant and district centre to cater for this rapidly growing population is a significant part of New East Manchester’s strategy, and one which will further increase Openshaw’s desirability as a place to live in.

For more information click on www.neweastmanchester.com.

Hey wassup peeps? My name is Jermaine Dalrymple RnB Singer/Songwriter from Manchester……. Well i have been down with music all my life from being a young boy, first picking a microphone @ a very young age learning my trade and singing at all the family events you could imagine… lol then as I got older I started progress on the garage scene in Manchester as a Mc ,I was known throughout the clubs as MC JD alongside my BOY and good friend MC TEKKA (r.i.p) we was playing @ events such as – Love is The Message@ Planet K and Suga &Spice,@ Club Havannah in Manchester I was resident down there with my boi tekka rocking all kinds of partys clubs all over the northwest “CANT STOP WONT STOP” my boi used to say as we would bringing live vibes to many people week in week out, lighters, horns, whistles,would sound as we did our thang JD&TEKKA they cant erase what we were never forget them days 4real!! … now I’m working and writting with my 2 wordsmith my producer and co writters The White N3rd and M-Tina… then 2002 i crossed over to singing and working on my voice and style…. with my producer “the white n3rd” since then its been moving fast i have opened up for major signed act played all over the uk played the Cirque leicester square london to germany hannover amazing times …….. i found myself hitting number one spots on several german radio station charts and still getting alot of love from europe places like germany, holland, france, i had my first major release on Universal Records compilation album called The Sound Of The Pirates mixed by Dj Cameo my song “Take you home ” RELEASED JULY 31 2006 which was a blessing for me no doubt !! and my biggest accomplishment upto date is that….. “I HAVE CO WRITTEN A U.S BILLBOARD RNB SINGLE CHART NUMBER 1 M-Tina’s “SUBMERGE” IN NOVEMBER 2006 ….IT STAY AT THE TOP FOR 7 WEEKS IN A ROW AT THE TOP OF THE U.S BILLBOARD RNB SINGLE CHARTS AND IT ALSO WENT TO NUMBER 7 IN THE MAIN BILLBOARD CHART U.S.A …. YES YES INDEED MANCHESTER PLEASE STAND UP!!!!” ….. I have also got great collaborations with M-TINA and VALOR on the up and coming album big tracks like – SLOW ft VALOR and WHAT IF ft M-TINA…… so watch this space for any further info about any bookings ect … just hit me up on myspace and we can take it from there …… Much love to my friends family and r.i.p to my peeps that have passed away ….. stay blessed J….. !! !!

Links:
www.myspace.com/jermaine2006
ww.myspace.com/telema

A pioneering training scheme run by New East Manchester that recently scooped the top award in the training category at the first Regeneration and Renewal Awards 2007 has just recruited a new cohort of Regeneration Assistants. This year, 145 applications were received and five candidates were successful in obtaining places on the programme.
The five new recruits include:

• Cheryl Collinson (38), a mother of two from Openshaw, who had been a full time Mum and wanted to get back on the career ladder;
• Amy Ward (23) a graduate in International Fashion Marketing from Newton Heath
• Jacqueline Salmon (22), a mother of one from Clayton who was previously a shop assistant at the NEXT store at Sportcity and is a talented singer who spent six years singing with X Factor winner Shayne Ward at Music Stuff at Crossley House Youth Centre in Openshaw;
• Lenny Wright (25) who is a Geography graduate who lives in Levenshulme;
• Nadira Miah (24) a mother of one from Crumpsall who used to work at North Manchester General hospital and speaks three languages

All five Regeneration Assistants are currently undertaking the Level 2 NVQ ‘Working in the Community’ and will progress to Level 3 and then onto the Foundation Degree in ‘Neighbourhood Renewal’.

Since starting the scheme in 2005, New East Manchester has recruited 13 local people to this unique initiative that aims to help local people access jobs in the regeneration industry. The project provides a structured, accredited training programme combined with work experience to gain skills, practical knowledge and relevant qualifications that will provide a good grounding in regeneration and give young people a chance of getting on the first step on the career ladder.

Initial funding for the Regeneration Assistant Project came from New Deal for Communities and the North West Regional Development Agency. Due to the success of the project, the second intake received 50 per cent of project costs from partnership organisations including Sure Start and Eastlands Homes, enabling the assistants to undertake placements within their organisations.

For more information visit www.neweastmanchester.com.