Manchester and Salford City Councils approved a transformative regeneration framework last year, setting the stage for a fifteen-year evolution of the Strangeways and Cambridge areas. The so-called ‘Strange Quarter‘ gets its name from the eponymous prison that’s so recognisable across the UK, now simply known as HMP Manchester, which has more often than not come to be shorthand for a rough, crime-ridden area of the city.
In the past few years, though, the Strangeways and Cambridge area has come to be more than just a hotspot for police raids and drone drops, coming up as a DIY club and party spot – with promoters and DJs making use of its seemingly endless warehouses and industrial buildings. The likes of Hidden, The White Hotel, The DBA and The Yard all inhabit a small radius in this underused spot where the danger of crime can be overstated – a set of conditions that foster a ‘secret’, not-yet-discovered kind of atmosphere, which is rare these days.
Some of these locations are already iconic, and with crime on the descent the Strange Quarter is developing into the place many have always wanted it to be: relatively safe, and great for a night out. What happens, though, when formal redevelopment comes to town?
What is involved in the redevelopment of the Strange Quarter?
The joint initiative covers 130 hectares on the fringe of the city centre, aiming to reshape the district into a vibrant urban hub defined by a mix of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces. The scale of the ambition is significant, proposing the delivery of 7,000 new homes across seven distinct neighbourhoods alongside 1.75 million square feet of business space. Central to the environmental vision is a massive 60-hectare urban park, an addition that contributes to a project expected to support roughly 4,500 local jobs.
The nine week-long public consultation demonstrated strong support for improved walking and cycling routes, and highlighted a critical need for affordable housing, the protection of local heritage, and practical considerations for existing businesses, such as essential parking and loading access.
A key element of the long-term vision involves a request for the government to relocate HMP Manchester, a move that would unlock even greater development potential – but it is still unclear what will happen with Strangeways Prison.
How will this affect the existing culture of the Strange Quarter?
Built majorly on community spirit, the scene of the Strange Quarter is one that can’t easily be replicated. Of course, plans to build and redevelop in the area are going to weigh on the future of many of the existing businesses, with some understandably facing changes.
Investment and improvement are welcomed by the community as a whole, but The White Hotel, for example, is unavoidably located on a site where new neighbourhood Copper Park is planned – reintroducing a long-forgotten floodplain on the River Irwell. Similarly, the Bag Factory stands in the same area, raising concerns about the future of grassroots venues and DIY clubs that have become the organic product of a once-deprived area.
With this in mind, it is also important to ask: would this redevelopment make Manchester less… Manchester? The Strangeways and larger Cheetham Hill area are pretty synonymous with Manchester, and although it represents a certain characteristic grittiness we don’t necessarily relate to, it’s one of those not-yet-gentrified areas of the city that feels somewhat authentic.
With so much work and effort going into saving grassroots venues and local, upcoming talent in a city as musically rich as Manchester, this particular redevelopment in the Strange Quarter could mark a step backwards in its legacy. But then again, it could bolster its position more than ever.
Could redevelopment help the Strange Quarter to retain its grassroots scene?
The Strangeways and Cambridge Strategic Redevelopment Framework (SRF) cites the “Opportunity for new development and building re-use to accommodate commercial uses at ground floor and a combination of residential and employment uses above”, suggesting that new and reused developments will still provide space for commercial and social endeavours – but what that will entail is obviously at the mercy of planners.
The SRF also highlights the “Retention and celebration of key heritage assets across the area – ensuring they are in positive, active use enhancing community provision, attracting visitors and enabling community access wherever possible.” The intention to retain heritage and culture is encouraging for the Strange Quarter community, with music and the arts being a huge contributor to this, especially in Manchester.
This being said, the retention and support of these existing businesses and livelihoods isn’t explicitly mentioned in the SRF, so the hope for members of the community is that both Salford and Manchester City Council will ensure communication with local businesses and people to keep the unique and important culture of the Strange Quarter alive.
You can find the Strangeways and Cambridge Strategic Redevelopment Framework (SRF) here.