Corridor Manchester  - Development Plans

• Employment

• Cross City Bus package

• Next Generation Fibre Broadband

• The Former Manchester Royal Eye Hospital

• Birley Fields, new Manchester Metropolitan University campus in Hulme

• Birley Fields, new Manchester Metropolitan University campus in Hulme

Corridor Manchester is a partnership between:

• The University of Manchester
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Manchester City Council
• Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Its purpose is drive economic growth and investment on the Corridor, the Oxford Road area of the city.

• Today the Corridor generates £2.8 billion which is 22.5% of city`s GVA.
• 55,000 people work in the Corridor which is 18% of the city`s workforce
• 43% of this activity is in knowledge-intensive sectors, which is much higher than the national (22%) and regional (21%) averages.
• By 2020, the Corridor will generate £4.7 billion GVA and have a workforce of 77,000

The long term vision (to 2020) is that globally and locally people will recognise the Corridor as a place that is original creative and smart. It will also be recognised as connected, open and green. People will connect easily with stimulating ideas and opportunities through well designed spaces and advanced technological links.

Our vision is articulated across five themes:

• Sense of Place
• Transport
• Environment and Infrastructure
• Research and Innovation
• Employment, Business and Skills.

We will deliver our vision through many projects which all link into the five themes. These projects are a combination of:

• Our individual partners development plans that are aligned with the vision, creating additional value for Corridor Manchester
• Projects that Corridor Manchester will facilitate and co-ordinate including securing funding to provide the infrastructure, connectivity and additional business space to enable the growth of jobs.
• Action plans for local employment, culture and sector growth where Corridor Manchester will facilitate relationships to achieve outcomes for our partners.
• Marketing of Corridor Manchester the partnership and the Corridor, the place as an opportunity for growth and investment.

Planned Developments

Employment

There are several projects targeting people living in the areas closest to the Corridor: Hulme, Moss Side, Longsight and Ardwick.

One project works with not-for-profit consultants Aspire that offer vacancies available at the Universities covering administration, hospitality and catering, and grounds and buildings maintenance. So far over 150 people have found work.
 

Pathfinder launched in Summer 2009 in partnership with private sector company A4e. Pathfinder provides one-to-one advice for people (regardless of their Job Seeker/benefit status) to help them into work, or point them to relevant training or education. So far 100 people are taking part in Pathfinder.

Cross City Bus package

GMPTE is proposing a link across the city centre allowing cross-city bus services to run without passengers having to change services as well as infrastructure that will help cutting journey times and improving reliability.
 

They will also provide better links between areas in the north, west and south of Greater Manchester and the education and health facilities on the Oxford Road corridor.
 

It provides Corridor Manchester with a unique opportunity to improve the public realm on Oxford Road. At the minimum we will have wider pavements and improved cycle routes but the ambition is to create a new, greener environment. 

Next Generation Fibre Broadband

The installation of new fibre optic cables that will allow 1500 residents and businesses on the Corridor to directly connect to next generation fibre broadband, creating a true open access network and providing broadband speeds of a minimum of 100 megabits per second. It will revolutionise ways of working and using digital communications.

The Former Manchester Royal Eye Hospital

Turning the former Royal Eye Hospital building, Oxford Road, Manchester into 10 000 square metres of modern business space for science, research and innovation, bio and medical technology companies. Approximately 30% of the space is already pre-let

Birley Fields, new Manchester Metropolitan University campus in Hulme

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is creating a £120 million new community campus at Birley Fields in Hulme. A single campus for 6,000 staff and students in Education, Health and Social Care, is central to the University`s mission to train 'world class professionals'. Among the university`s proposals is a commitment to make the campus the most sustainable in the UK with significant open space and an aspiration to produce zero waste, water and carbon dioxide.

Birley Fields, new Manchester Metropolitan University campus in Hulme

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is creating a £120 million new community campus at Birley Fields in Hulme. A single campus for 6,000 staff and students in Education, Health and Social Care, is central to the University`s mission to train `world class professionals`. Among the university`s proposals is a commitment to make the campus the most sustainable in the UK with significant open space and an aspiration to produce zero waste, water and carbon dioxide.