Greater Manchester town centre extension begins as major investment continues

This element of the project will further extend the town square with a range of accessible play features for young people, more seating and planting – along with more colour to create an attractive space for local people to enjoy.

The extended space will also be adaptable to host events through the year, helping to create a truly community focused area that will continue to attract visitors and boost footfall to support local businesses and help the local economy thrive – including the popular Gorton Market.

The works to the town square are expected to be completed in the spring this year, delivered by north west contractor Warden Construction.

The longer-term regeneration proposals for this part of Gorton include hundreds of new mixed tenure homes, including significant social rent and genuinely affordable housing, that will be built on Council-owned land overlooking the new square.

Gorton Market

Simultaneously, work is ongoing at the market hall where major repairs have been completed to the roof and new photovoltaic panels have been installed to improve the green credentials of the building.

Some businesses are being relocated elsewhere within the building to allow for further investment in the market, including creating a new food hall next to the raised terrace and improvements to existing units.

Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The ongoing investment in Gorton is a great example of what we are looking to do to support high streets across the city. What started with the Gorton Hub in 2022 has now expanded to a brand new town square – a new focal point for the neighbourhood – major investment in the market building to make sure it can continue to serve this community for years to come, and we’ll soon begin to see the first genuinely affordable and social housing start on site.

“This is about making sure our high streets and district centres can continue to thrive, attract visitors to support local economies and create spaces where our residents want to spend time.

“This next phase starting on site is great news for the area and we’ll soon welcome other similar investment projects starting on site soon in Moston and Newton Heath – alongside the Wythenshawe Town Centre project that is already well underway.”