The one mile drive from Silk Street to Regent Road in Salford is a boulevard of high-rise apartments. They are part of a forest of towers which now straddle both sides of the River Irwell in central Manchester and its twin city. But in Ordsall, locals and three Labour councillors are saying enough is enough.
A total of 2,192 residents have signed a petition against plans to demolish Regent Retail Park at the heart of the district and replace it with 3,300 apartments - including what would be the tallest tower in the country outside London. Revealed: Government's Strangeways action plan after sickening conditions inside jail brutally exposed The shops which would go serve a community where 689 children under the age of 16 live in low-income families - 46 percent of all children in the area. The local child poverty rate is particularly high for older children, rising to 57 percent at age 11 to 15 years the highest rate in the city.
The stores are cheap and accessible - and include Home Bargains, Poundland, Argos, TK Max, Boots, and three large charity stores as well JD Sports and a gym. Nearby and also potentially at threat is Sainsbury's. So far, as well as the petition, 280 objections have been submitted to the council and the well organised Save Regent Retail Park Campaign Group has produced a 34-page report on why the development should be binned.
The developers for the scheme, Henley Investment Management (HIM), insist that there will be ample commercial space provided for.
