Gorton has welcomed a number of major projects recently, including the Gorton Hub – a one-stop-shop for a wide range of community services – in 2024, before a new £1.4m public square was unveiled earlier this year.
Preferred bidder Clarion Housing Group could now invest over £60m, delivering more than 400 new homes over the next few years – the majority will be affordable social rent homes.
Plans also include an extension to the new public square building on the heart of the community and a major £1.1m investment to the existing Gorton Market.
Following the completion of the new town square earlier this year, the investment plan looks to extend the square using a £300k grant through the Governments Local Growth and Place fund that will introduce more child friendly play features.
Clarion’s first project will redevelop the former library site on Garrett Way where around 70 high quality homes will be built overlooking the new Gorton town centre square.
The project will offer a mix of sizes and tenures, including apartments and family homes, as well as wheelchair accessible properties. A planning application is due to come forward early 2026, starting on site later next year.
And 35 new affordable independent living homes that will provide housing support for Manchester care leavers aged 18 to 25 will be built on the site of a long-derelict basketball court on Chapman Street near the town centre.
The homes will be available to young people in work or training and supported by Centrepoint offering wrap around pastoral care and education advice.
A planning application for this scheme will be submitted later this year with a view to being onsite in autumn 2026.
Leader of the Council Bev Craig said: “Our high streets and districts centres are at the very heart of our communities. They are where we shop, meet friends, visit the doctors and spend time. We know how important these places are to our residents, and we are investing in our local neighbourhooods across the city.
“Gorton has been one of our focus areas for investment for some time, beginning with the Hub and public square, and we have already started work to the market hall roof – and this plan sets out not just the next phases of these projects but a home building plan for the next decade and more – with most capped at social rent, along with opportunities for our residents to get on the property ladder.
“This neighbourhood is a place full of potential, and we are already seeing the fruits of this potential come to life. Now it’s about a long-term investment plan that will see Gorton go from strength to strength.”
