Manchester development – a context

Some people may wonder why I rant on about New Labour failing Manchester and why I think the Conservatives have any right having an opinion on the topic. It also relates to what I was trying to say at the Castlefield meeting, and why the Labour councillor and his cronies present were so desperate to heckle and prevent it.

The simplest way is if I just quote from the minister at the time regarding the Central Manchester Development Corporation:

“The corporation was set up in 1988. Its remit was to revitalise, and to bring private investment back, to an area of 187 hectares–an area which is immediately south of the city centre. This area was once the powerhouse of Manchester. But it had become run-down and neglected, with many under-used buildings and derelict sites.

This was a depressing and sad state of affairs for the centre of what was, and is, a magnificent and proud city. There was, therefore, a pressing need to tackle environmental decay, to promote jobs and tourism and to bring housing back to the city centre.

Anyone who has visited this area, as I have been privileged to do recently, cannot fail to be enormously impressed by the way in which the corporation has tackled these problems. It has transformed a once neglected area into a thriving, vibrant part of the city centre where developers are now keen to invest. It is wonderful not only to see what has been done but also to sense the enthusiasm, determination and pride of all those who have been involved and of all those who have been affected by what has been done. An important part of the corporation’s work has been to bring people and vitality back to the city centre. In 1988 the population of the urban development area was just 250. Now, eight years later, nearly 4,000 people live there. That is an astonishing change. Those people live in lively new communities with decent services and popular bars, pubs and restaurants.

The corporation has spent some £17 million on environmental improvements. These include such things as clearing canals, restoring towpaths and putting in new landscaping. Much of this work has been done in the Castlefield area, which is now a major leisure and tourist attraction and which is based around the historic canal network. These environmental improvement works have been vital ingredients in inspiring the confidence of investors and in creating an overall image of which local people can be proud.

The corporation has also succeeded in attracting new jobs and new businesses. Many under-used and neglected buildings have been converted into quality offices and hotels of varying sizes. New offices have also been built. Since the corporation started its work, over 98,000 square metres of offices have opened or are under way. That is a significant contribution.

In all, the corporation has attracted into its area private sector investment of £376 million. For every £1 of public money which has been invested by the corporation, nearly £4 will have been invested by the private sector.

The Government will make further money available where needed. For example, there is the Hulme City Challenge for which the Government are making available £37.5 million over five years. There is Estate Action where £54 million is being spent over this year and the next three years. There is the Challenge Fund, Round 1, which will receive £14 million over the next six years. In the second round of the Challenge Fund £28 million is being made available over the next seven years. And of course the Government contributed no less a sum than £75 million towards the Olympic bids. That was done over five years, from 1991 to 1996. Unfortunately, Manchester was not successful in getting the Olympic bid but because of that it got the Commonwealth Games bid, and therefore that has been a success. “

This is the Conservative legacy to Castlefield, Manchester, and city life. As mentioned previously, £500 million was allocated for Metrolink, compared to £0 of new money from our current New Labour government, even holding back some of the original money, causing inflation and downgrading what we can buy with that money. Now, Labour’s vision is for us to have no investment without the blackmail of the congestion charge. The point is that after a great start, the heat and direction has been taken out of Manchester, and Castlefield in relative terms has declined. Bring on the change!