The Brief

Britain is currently experiencing a perceived crisis in terms of the sustainability of high streets and town centres. Whereas major city centres appear to be thriving, smaller towns and places are losing their retail functionality and footfall is declining. What can be done to restore British centres therefore has become a concern for local communities and subject to national government policy intervention.

A neglected space in the debates about the future high streets are district centres. These are often neighbourhood centres comprising a group of shops, separate from the town centre, usually containing at least one food supermarket or superstore and non-retail service uses such as banks, building societies and restaurants.

These are important places as they help shape the liveability of neighbourhoods, providing everyday services and necessities, together with sites for leisure and social interaction and exchange. A key challenge, however, is that retail, banking, estate agents and travel agents have been disrupted by technological change, which has led to the withdrawal of these functions from many places. This has left voids and vacancies.

It is timely therefore to reimagine what these places might be, how they might better serve local communities, both now and in the near future. This may mean a return to the traditional function of local centres, as meeting places for the local communities, as spaces of leisure, comprising good public realm and meeting places.

Students from Manchester School of Architecture worked in collaboration with the Institute of Place Management to reimagine five district centres in Manchester, to create proposals for vibrant, liveable and sustainable High Streets. Work exhibited in the ESRC Festival 04-07 November 2019 in the Benzie Vertical Gallery.

Group Presentations

Chorlton Workshops

Our initial analysis revealed that Chorlton faces an unemployment crisis alongside an absence of identity within the community, the high street can address these issues. Through the introduction of community allotments, the diverse population of Chorlton can grow together, inclusive of all demographics, with harvests used to supply markets in the district centre, run by local residents. Thus creating a sustainable cycle producing job opportunities, improvements to the local environment and increasing interaction with the high street. Introduction of craftsmanship workshops provides an opportunity to display skills and pass expertise to younger generations, reviving disused shops with products created.

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Flooding Chorlton

The existing high street priorities vehicular movement over pedestrian activity, green space and a pleasant environment. By diverting vehicular traffic and connecting Wilbraham road to Manchester’s existing canal network, the scheme intends to revitalise Chorlton high street, making it the destination as well as the route. The intervention will encourage more people to use the street, offering local businesses the opportunity to thrive. The canal facilitates a healthier lifestyle, by promoting more active transport methods into the city centre, as well as increasing local biodiversity.

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Re[organising] the Highstreet

The Chorlton Plaza project aims to revive the buzzing yet disordered high street area by condensing, redesigning and re-landscaping Chorlton Cross shopping centre and the surrounding area. This project will create a lively and buzzing communal space for all the people living in the area through the new leisure centre and the multipurpose adaptable box park installation and market place that will make the space more aesthetic and appealing. The idea of this intervention is to remove the singular directional flow and the create a hub of activity in the Chorlton high street.

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C.H.I.C [Chorlton High street Inclusive Carpet]

In the past people went to the high street for shopping and work, just like today, but they also went for entertainment and leisure. To put the heart back into the High Street we reimagine it as a destination for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning. A place to hold events that attract crowds. The redesign creates a single surface for pedestrians and road users with no road markings, signs or other unnecessary furniture. The paving pattern ties in with new planting that defines the centre of the High Street. This creates a transitional zone without forming a permanent barrier where there are parking bays, cycle racks, planters and other items of street furniture.

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#SKYMART

By extending upwards from the site and developing overarching networks of ‘Sky-Bridges’ and ‘Pods’ which create a utopian experience that makes shopping easier and more efficient. The pods allow for easy transportation of goods which overall refreshes the typical systems of high street stores. The user simply orders the goods which will be transported onto the sky bridge to be easily collected then consumed in the open space, with specially designed stalls and seating areas. This service will nurture existing independent businesses whilst bringing technology and modernity to the streets of Chorlton.

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Wilbraham Avenue

This proposal opposes the unnecessary construction of new structures as a method of rejuvenating the High Street, instead focusing on the prime component, the public realm in-between. We suggest making use of existing undervalued commodities by reoccupying empty properties with both commercial and residential activity to remove the unnecessary boundaries between High Street and housing. Our initial move would be the pedestrianisation of Chorlton High Street which will allow the public realm between shops to be inhabited in new and exciting ways. We suggest the development of interactive furniture, bicycle stands and temporary pavilions that react to the local demographic’s needs.

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Chorlton Gateway Project

Chorlton market offers development potential of becoming a community hub. We aim to transform the terraces of the shops into multi-use pop up stalls and food outlets providing users a community experience. Ground level alleyway and public square are meta-morphed into a vibrant shopping and retail experience providing people a chance to interact with independent business owners. The market acts as an Anchor that can be established as a permanent community celebration space. The Appearance of the market, how vertical linkage of the landscape can be used as a buffer, will give a social character to the market space.

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Unfolding the High Street

Through highlighting the idea of a market as the life of a town we look to transform Chorlton to keep up with changing times and advances in technology without eradicating the community feel. The concept promotes buying and selling of Chorlton’s products via market stalls which spill out onto the high-street, transported via robots between areas. The scheme supports Chorlton’s independent high-street shops whilst still encouraging other Manchester producers to promote the town as a place of local talent and creativity. We envision Chorlton Precinct to become a newly extended high-street resulting in a more flourishing, more connected community.

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Chorlton Agrimmunity

Our strategy is to improve attractiveness and adaptability focusing on anchor points and public accessibility, which will increase people flow on the high street. Each junction proposes multi-functional recreational spaces on the edge of the neighbourhood which entice a mixed demographic to explore Chorlton. The redesigned tram station car park allows for a range of activities including Chorlton’s Farmers Markets and exhibition spaces for the Arts Festival. The other anchor offers landscaping, integrating people from the bus stop through local agricultural facilities such as guerrilla gardens and a playscape. This offers a sequence of spaces through the high street.

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Chorlton Corner

Much of Chorlton’s history was documented in the writings of Thomas Ellwood who wrote of the centre of the village around the village green. The suburban districts of Manchester now face challenges as they work towards developing age-friendly neighbourhoods that are inclusive and eco friendly. By incorporating a square that connects both high streets via a corner, it acts as an anchor bringing the neighbourhood together. The square will be a development of the existing market that will allow local businesses to grow and community events to create a more vibrant space for trade and tourism to materialise.

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Defunct_Refunk

An elevated structure which references the roller-coasters of the past will bring the town back to life by providing not only an exciting path to reconnect people, but also a recycling rail system passing through a green corridor. Gorton is currently a neglected and fragmented neighbourhood. Its high street provides a relentless access route to Manchester, while also disconnecting the urban environment and obstructing the social life of the people. Although the strong environmental identity can still be found in its local reservoir and historical background with the proximity to one of the best amusement parks of the 20th century.

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The Gorton Wrinkle

This project aims to create a central-hub in Gorton - resolving the connectivity issues regarding Hyde Road, which dissects the town in two. The road and main car-park have been pushed underground, replaced by a new public realm. The new hub provides the infrastructure required to facilitate larger events. The market has been extended to target an international food/goods market. Our proposal celebrates the multiculturalism which in Gorton and aims to draw visitors from further afield. The international events/market will tie into the yearly Manchester International Festival, reinforcing a sense of community while increasing footfall for the surrounding shops/markets.

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The Greatest Showroom [Gorton]

This project envisions a multi-use venue to enhance Gorton’s community spaces and current market. Identifying the negative space and taking inspiration from a circus tent, the proposal is for a three storey building; the two bottom floors are for retail and markets, and the top tent-like area is for performances and sports. It creates a focal point for the community and provides a range of activities for young and old people alike. It also accommodates for greenery, enhancing biodiversity and drawing wildlife towards the area. The new creative hub will also boost the economy of local businesses and draw people to Gorton.

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The Hyde Line

The local businesses of Gorton, dispersed along Hyde Road, are secondary to the primary vehicular link between Manchester city centre to the M60. This has created an uninviting streetscape in which these sellers would thrive. To revive the high street, a lower level vehicular link connects Whitwell Way & Wellington Street, creating an opportunity to pedestrianize Hyde Road. At street level the high street comprises of modular units with a sheltered cycle and footpath above. The change in levels in conjunction with green landscaping reinvented the local high street, offering a sense of place to Gorton, driving high street interaction.

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GortoWn

Gorton’s High Street has been killed off by Hyde Road, a major artery into the city centre. Our proposal takes this road and all its traffic underground, to open up the space above for free pedestrian movement between the high street and two major supermarkets. The area enclosed by these shops will feature cycle paths, allotments, recreational facilities and pop up hubs for regular events and food markets. The high street facades will be unified by one colour scheme and new shops tailored to the locals of Gorton will be introduced such as a mini market, recyclable furniture and clothing.

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G[or]ton or what ?!?

To address the issue of the dying district centre in Gorton, this proposal involves redesigning the road and shops along the High Street and adding an open air market using shipping containers. The road and pavement have been unified by using modern paving on both to encourage pedestrians to engage with the High Street. This is further enhanced with the addition of trees along the street to create a more welcoming feeling. The market occupies a section of the car park and its modern aesthetics further help in encouraging people to interact with the high street.

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EBB+FLOW

Interchangeable space; the core of our regeneration within Gorton. The fluidity and flexibility within our design allows the natural ebb and flow of commercialism to continually fill our spaces. Our spilling of Gorton market into a larger area brings new activity to the area, creating a vibrant, interesting and communal space. The space will contain green areas and paved areas allowing for adaptability within different events and suppliers to the market. This new communal hub not only brings activity to the area but also draws different crowds to the area, some of which may only just be discovering Gorton.

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Basket Street

‘The Basket Street’ aims to eradicate the title of ‘the consumer’ and identify the residents of Gorton as ‘citizens’ with the ability to choose and vote on how their High Street is shaped and experienced. Physical shopping has become a chore that most people in our society refuse to engage in when they have the practicality of technology by their side. Therefore, ‘The Basket Street’ aims to adopt the perks of online shopping into the social fabric of the nostalgic high street, creating a simpler shopping experience for the sake of an enhanced social community.

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Gorton High Street

The project aims to re-create the spirit of 20th century Gorton that once attracted people from all over the UK. The car-park that currently dominates the area is replaced by a new district centre that favours local shops within a landscaped plaza. Pedestrianizing Hyde road across the length of the Tesco site, breaks the existing divide on either side of the Highstreet, creating an accessible, pleasant experience. Using a combination of ramps and stairs, the proposed landscape climbs over the existing market leading to an observation tower, forming a new landmark in Gorton which can be seen from across Manchester.

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The Gorton Post-mortem

High street retail is dead. The only way the high street can survive is if retail is extracted from its core, figuratively and physically. A new inviting high street is achieved by gutting the shop interiors to create a new promenade inside. This re-use provides a screening, moving focus away from the loud uninviting traffic. Community becomes the new driver in this space with outdoor cinemas, relaxation areas and performance spaces. The new high street is linked to its retail successor (Tesco’s and Gorton Market) via raised walkways connecting to a green square where events can take place encouraging footfall.

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The 'High' Street - Barter Tower

A re-imagining of the activities and markets whereby the residents barter and negotiate trades in the absence of a stable centralised economy following a hypothetical post-Brexit economic crash in one of the UK’s most deprived areas. The Barter Tower provides the residents of Harpurhey with a platform to exchange their skills and support without the use of a centralised currency in an attempt to re-establish a local sense of community and prosperity. A modular approach based on the high street activities was adopted to propose an efficient and flexible operation for the town of Harpurhey that can be duplicated nationwide.

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Connecting Harpurhey

Overall Harpurhey performs well as a district centre as it meets the basic needs of the local community, however the area struggles with problems such as crime, inadequate connections between areas and has a dated appearance. By engaging in low-cost and quick to enact actions within this district centre we are able to use Harpurhey’s strengths to enhance the area for the local community and encourage tourism. These interventions within Harpurhey will ensure each of the busiest areas are connected together and will generally update the area, allowing Harpurhey re-brand and to move on from its negative perceptions.

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Harpurhey Redevelopment

Harpurhey’s community is focused towards an older demographic. The proposal focuses on adaptive re-use, introducing additive design creating potential for recreation whilst keeping the town centre recognisable. Lightweight and versatile mobile lanterns line walkways, creating spaces within the communal square. When raised it encourages social interaction. Whilst down, creates intimate gathering event spaces. Elevated above the town centre, a large platform spans across the existing buildings reserved for pop up stores, food stalls and recreational spaces to attract a younger demographic. A playful slide with bright cladding around the tower acts as a beacon to entice people to the area.

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Harpurhey : All Day

Harpurhey lies in the North-East of Manchester and features a small town centre with a market to it’s South. This proposal aims to create an urban parkway through the town, improving accessibility, visibility and security of the site at all hours. It will enhance the existing facilities by introducing restaurants and bars to create a varied and lively night-life, increasing evening footfall figures and improving the economy of the town. The proposal will integrate a bus depot into the town centre to consolidate transport links to the retail district and direct people straight to the heart of Harpurhey.

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The Market Place

This project aims to redefine the meaning of town centres, whilst embracing the existing culture of the area. The main issues affecting the high street are; the lack of visual intrigue, disconnection of the town’s amenities and lack of diversity/coherent vision between retailers and services. This project suggests redesigning the area as a market hub, encouraging new businesses to start out, and expanding the range of goods on offer, encouraging people to stay longer. Investing in the visual attractiveness of the high street by adding nature-focused, recreational spaces and creative outlets would deter vandalism and encourage positive social engagement.

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Harpurhay Exchange

Harpurhey Exchange is an urban regeneration scheme that aims to attract more visitors to the high street. By rearranging and renovating the shop stalls and market canopy, it intends to improve the experience of place and reference the local character by taking inspiration from the nearby historic baths. The proposal involves creating new experiences by offering a variety of activities, such as new events, cafés, sitting spaces and parks. It revives the community hub and is a catalyst to further enhancements of the area.

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The Assembly

This proposal aims to provide a sustainable solution to the homelessness issue, enhance the appearance of the site and create a new anchor point within Harpurhey. The proposal is for a modular construction system that can adapt as the town develops. A new permanent anchor point is created as a landmark for the town. This circulates visitors through the high street and into the new market space. The modular units can provide: studio spaces, cafe extensions, market stalls and accommodate the homeless.

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The Network of Culture

Moston, a underutilised high street within the larger district of Harpurhey, is a multi-faceted community with varied cultural backgrounds. In order to highlight and emphasise this, we decided to replicate the common idea of cultural districts (e.g. Chinatown, Little Italy etc), but instead paying homage to the African community in the area. A large canopy form engulfs the highstreet, inspired by African market places and iconic Manchester weather patterns. Protection from the elements provides a large pedestrianised space where the community can thrive, throwing street parties and markets. Highly visible in the monogenous cityscape, this new highstreet will attract visitors from afar.

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Harpur-Haven

While our cities are expanding, the modern-day outer-city high street is in a state of demise. Only a short distance from Manchester city centre, Rochdale Road of Harpurhey consists of mostly residential units, derelict buildings and low-cost retail. We believe a ten-year development plan will reinvigorate the sense of community and resolve negative identity issues for the high street. This starts with activation of vacant plots using temporary pop-ups, then reusing existing structures for local stores. The long term goals include the expansion of the high street above Rochdale Road and implementation of sustainable infrastructure to better connect the area.

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Harpurhey Community Forest

This reimagined district centre has created a fully pedestrianised and sheltered urban realm that encourages a communal interaction across the High Street. The existing street has a high usage but very little interaction between the groups of users on the street. By opening all of the shop fronts and creating shelter the inhabitants are encouraged to stop and talk to shopkeepers, maintaining personal connection, whilst still being able to shop on the high street as before. The shopkeepers are then encouraged to take ownership of the street and create a lively, vibrant and constantly developing scene environment that boosts the overall place assurance.

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Northern Exclosure

Northern EXCLOSURE breathes life back into Northenden by rethinking the high street as a highly public space, dedicated to providing human interaction and well-being that the convenience and low prices of online shopping can’t provide. The project provides three key areas of different activity, [EAT-PLAY-LIVE], one at each end to encourage movement through the town and one at a key junction between. These spaces use contemporary alternatives to the traditional activities high streets once provided to encourage citizens back out onto the streets together. A pop up outdoor cinema, micro food stalls with multicultural choices and flexible spaces promoting health and relaxation have been developed to convert this once ‘Northern Enclosure’ into an open public environment.

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The Urban Corridor

This proposal aims to re-design the traffic layout and de-clutter the public realm design to regenerate footfall and activity to enable the town to thrive. The existing High Street in Northenden remains dominated by cars and the centre therefore lacks a sense of ownership. This design proposal pays close attention to the parks and green space, which surround the High Street. Therefore attempting to create wider interest through close links between public realm, place marketing and accessibility.

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Smart Street

This proposal for the regeneration of Northenden High Street is to transform the outdated notion of a street into a series of squares, with vehicular travel underground to completely pedestrianize the area. A European style square will provide a public space to inspire a sense of community and will encourage locals to spend more time on the high street by improving the general aesthetic through landscaping, lighting and public seating. Throughout the site there will be depo points and touch screen kiosks to provide a click and collect online service to compete with the online market such as Amazon.

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Nothendsun

Our concept imagines Northenden as a Utopian holiday destination, in a Post-Brexit world. The High Street and its surroundings have been encapsulated by an adaptable climate controlled biosphere. The urban environment has been reinterpreted to create the perfect paradise for holiday goers to enjoy an all encompassing British holiday. The High Street has therefore been divided into districts to reflect different seasonal attractions and events. These districts include a beach resort, ski slopes, halloween corn mazes and theme park.

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The Regeneration of Northenden Highstreet

The aim of the scheme is to bring back a sense of community within the Northenden Highstreet. We aim to create four new quarters; food, leisure, community and shopping. In order to improve the quality of the existing High Street, we have focused on attractiveness, accessibility, recreational space and place marketing from the top 25 priorities listed in the 'Identifying Factors that Influence Vitality and Viability' IPM 2018. By retaining the existing High Street buildings we hope the scheme represents a sustainable yet vibrant approach to regeneration.

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Round the Twist

Using Northenden as a canvas, this design proposes a niche of art and cycling that would reinvigorate the High Street. Adding to pre-existing structures, a cycle tunnel circles the High Street above ground level, and continues to Manchester City Centre via a ‘gyro-coaster’. Redirecting traffic to pedestrianize the main road creates a public space where artists are given the resources and space to transform Northenden into a unique art district. Empty lots are re-purposed as interactive art museums and indoor gardens, and circular pods provide amenities: seating, bike parking, and shelter, as well as spaces to perform and create.

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Sub-Urban

To revitalise Northenden as a market square, this design has taken the approach of expanding the community vertically instead of the horizontally. The River Mersey is directed to fall vertically downwards for a few storeys to generate electricity for the whole self-sustainable system as well as acting as a lightwell to the other layers. Farming layers provide produce for the residents to be traded in the market square. Accessibility to the High Street is greatly improved by cycling tracks above the market square, an underground highway and proposed station for the HS2 track. The concept allows future development with the construction layer.

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Northenden Revival

Northenden Revival represents a journey through death, rebirth and life. Users experience this concept as they move through spaces commemorating the soldiers highlighted with the present of cobblestone hard landscaping towards a market square marked by the introduction of soft landscaping and extension of the river canal. This responds to the need of the demographic as empty derelict shops become vibrant social spaces and local organic stores replace franchise names like Tesco. Pedestrian movement is encouraged as an alternative vehicular route is proposed and bike lanes are introduced to encourage a healthier lifestyle, resulting in a more attractive, vibrant street.

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Northendome (Reclaiming Public Realm)

Northenden has limited sources of ‘inclusive activity’ for all, due to its outdated infrastructure and heavy traffic flow. This proposal is for an intervention at the centre of Northenden’s High Street with a large, covered flexible space; accompanied by a hub of entertainment, indoor market and community space which will draw people back into Northenden. The public space creates a place that the whole community can integrate and interact with each other through a varied range of possible activities. To increase public realm, this design introduces a new tramline to bring people and minimise car use.

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Enhancing Northenden

By enhancing the existing appearance of Northenden high street through the injection of colour and pattern, what was once an unappealing street immediately becomes enticing. Playing on the 1930's expansion, patterns and geometry are painted across facades to attract and entice local shoppers. Along with this simple intervention, the street itself is zoned into pedestrian and vehicular access. Pavements are widened to enhance footfall with overhead pagodas and planters introduced to encourage community participation and increase the greenery. Throughout the cycle of the day, the street is closed off strategically to allow for market activity as well as community projects.

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We are Withington

A limbo town is found between Fallowfield and West Didsbury. We pose a question to the identity, ‘What does it mean to ensure a vital and viable district centre that welcomes different communities? Four spots were rejuvenated to breathe life back to the retail and High Street’s state of repair. Located next to anchor-point buildings, our scheme sustains and energises local businesses, supports local artistry and cultivates community by introducing categorised multi-programmatic spaces. Imbuing Mancunian qualities of innovation, hard work, enterprise and originality. We hope to encourage community ownership from students, young professionals and residents while regenerating Withington.

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Withing-Tunnel Markets

In Withington, residents are either students or full-time employed. Our goal is to break the cycle of residents leaving Manchester after graduating by providing spaces for entrepreneurship and assistance programmes. By this, Crescent Bazaar will host member’s start-ups, who then progress to Barbican Market (the programme’s more-established market space) then advance to Copson St and the wider town centre. Our intervention manifests itself by pedestrianising the centre, landscaping the Bazaar and Market and creating uniformity to Copson Street’s frontage. Reclamation of car parks, pedestrianising the centre and decreasing the residents’ commute creates an environmentally and socially sustainable model for Withington.

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Neon Jungle

This proposal re-imagines the dying high-street as a fluid LED digital road surface that adapts to any time, situation or activity. This semi-pedestrianised high-tech high-street will uphold the identity of Withington at street level, whilst also providing a flexible contemporary anchor. Road markings are subject to change to fit around peak hours during the day. At night, it may display digital street art for the MIF; an interactive game for local festivals; rainbows for Pride/ advertisements for local outlets or stall plots for the local markets. In a world immersed in technology, this digital road revitalises the dated high-street.

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State of Flux

With the decline of the High Street we must look to alternate ways to retain and maintain a presence. This proposal aims to solve this by creating an ever-expanding, adaptable, modular system that is always in a ‘State of Flux’. The initial response looks at the seasonality of the residents of Withington and take the approach to reflect the ever changing locality within the proposal. The overaching business plan works to bridge the divide between the temporary student population and local residents through flexible, short rental spaces which provide the opportunity for small and start-up businesses within the local catchment area to thrive.

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Well-Being in Withington

This proposal utilised a group approach to improve Withington High Street, focusing on improving the well being of its residents and visitors. The presence of the Maggie’s Centre and the Christies Hospital act as anchors to the centre. To the accessibility of the High Street, traffic is diverted away which helps to reduce pollution on the street as well as allowing for entertainment spaces, seating, and green spaces for the public to enjoy.

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Withington Connect

‘Withington Connect’ aims to conserve and improve the High Street of Wilmslow Road by proposing a connectivity of local businesses. The proposal aims to empower and unify retail and communities to create spaces of social integration, interaction and diversity. The design preserves the initial conception of an open marketplace, as well as pedestrianisation of the High Street. The addition of a new metrolink line will not only attract people from different locations in Manchester but also create separate access routes to the residents. ‘Withington Connect’ introduces a vibrant, liveable and sustainable community that prioritises human interaction.

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Above-ington

Above-ington aims to regenerate Withington High Street by bringing life to five under-used buildings. Withington sits between two towns with distinct identities, Didsbury and Fallowfield. This proposal aims to provide Withington a new identity as a meeting point for both communities. These five pods are created using proportion and sectional form of the five buildings below and provide new spaces for study and recreational use for both students and working locals. This vision is to encourage more footfall from the neighbouring areas as well as reducing the daily migration of local workers which should improve social and commercial performance of the high street.

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Withington High Street

Located between the vibrant student area of Fallowfield and Didsbury, Manchester’s most expensive suburb, Withington is comprised mostly of low-income housing and notably a lack of comparative identity. This vision is to establish Withington High Street as both a cultural destination and a thoroughfare between the south Manchester suburbs coming in the form of an elevated cycle-highway, inspiring the community to take action to reclaim the High Street below with street art and various installations. Gabled roofing is stripped back to create rooftop allotments to allow residents to practice permaculture, a method of self sufficiency through sustainable farming.

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The Higher Street

The lack of energy on Withington high street has triggered the need to ‘pour’ life into it. This proposal created a street above the current buildings, adding an additional layer to the existing community. The design proposes a flexible tetris-like complex that will combine residential units, work spaces, independent shops and leisure spots. It’s accessed by a pedestrian garden bridge that promotes vibrant energy, a healthy lifestyle and a sense of community. Leaving the existing road below, it continues to connect Withington to nearby towns however the buildings are preserved and utilised as funky bars and trendy food shops.

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The Withington Arcade

This proposal aims to connect Withington with convenient city transport links. The new Withington High Street Metrolink stop will create an important anchor point and generate footfall by bringing in occupants from various parts of Greater Manchester. To encourage leisure and retail activity during all seasons, the proposal encompasses the pedestrianisation of the main High Street and semi-sheltering of the new route. As the road traffic decreases, the car parks adjacent to the High Street can be transformed into spaces for pop-up stalls for local retailers and artists. This engaging and comfortable environment, would mark Withington as a desirable destination.

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