Work under way on £500m town centre regeneration

An old shopping centre is being demolished as part of a £500m urban regeneration project in Greater Manchester.

Bulldozers are clearing part of Wythenshawe Civic Centre to create a culture hub featuring cafes, a space for live music, and a theatre.

Councillor Gavin White, executive member for housing at Manchester City Council, said: "We estimate that around five million people visit Wythenshawe Civic Centre each year but we know that could improve, particularly into the night-time economy, because the shopping centre closes at around six o'clock.

"There's plenty of opportunities for further improvement with places to eat, films and theatre going into the early evening."

Manchester City Council bought Wythenshawe Civic Centre in 2022 and was later awarded a £20m Levelling Up grant to kick-start the town centre's regeneration.

The local authority added a further £11.9m and will deliver a food hall, offices and a new public square with more green spaces.

"For the food hall, we're looking a licensed premises because we don't have that in Wythenshawe Civic Centre," said White.

The Culture Hub, which will be created within the former Co-op department store, will include studio spaces, an area for live performances and changing rooms.

Wyn Bailey, from Wythenshawe, said: "Everybody that lived in Wythenshawe used to come here - you could buy anything and there were nice market stalls."

The 75-year-old added: "The shops here need repairing and bringing up to date but money they're spending on the Civic Centre is astronomical.

Another local resident, Martin Byron, 67, said: "If they created a night-time economy here it would be nice and the Civic Centre needs more green spaces with a few trees."

A new transport interchange, including a Metrolink stop, opened outside Wythenshawe Forum in 2015 but the former bus station has been derelict for the last decade.

Other vacant sites include the former police station on Brownley Road, which shut in 2012.

A regeneration plan was launched by Manchester City Council in 2023 to bring empty spaces back into use and to deliver about 2,000 new homes.

Plans have now been submitted for the first 422 affordable homes on three brownfield sites in Wythenshawe town centre: Alpha House, Brotherton House and The Birtles.

In 2025, the government announced that the Benchill South and Wythenshawe Central area would benefit from 10 years of £20m investment through the Pride in Place programme.

In addition to that, £25.4m funding from the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund is expected to be announced in March to support the delivery of more affordable homes.

The wider regeneration of Wythenshawe is expected to take up to 15 years to complete.

Shirley Pelmear from Wythenshawe said: "The Civic Centre used to be great because there was loads of shops but its now all pound shops and charity shops".

The 65 year-old added: "People in Wythenshawe wont be able to afford all these posh bars because they're used to pound shops".

Vaughn Corrie, who helps to run The Carpet Man store at Wythenshawe Civic Centre, said: "There are lots of plans for better shops with leisure and live events, so it should bring a lot more footfall to the area".

"It should bring in more people from outside of Wythenshawe, so it could put the town on the map a bit more", added the 27 year-old.