More change on the horizon

BUILDING PROJECTS EXPECTED TO FINISH - AND START - THIS YEAR

- ETHAN DAVIES

THIS year marks a quarter-of-a-century of change in Manchester.

Around the turn of the millennium, huge developments such as Printworks were built under the stewardship of the late Manchester council chief executive Howard Bernstein.

From that point onwards, landmark buildings and towering skyscrapers seemed to pop up everywhere you looked in Manchester, as the centre was rebuilt following the devastating 1996 IRA bombing.

But even as the city's development phenomenon ticks past the 25-earmark, it's showing no signs of slowing down. While it may sound like a well worn cliché used by property developers, it doesn't make it any less true.

That's because 2025 will see hundreds of new flats built in the city, massive science campuses opened, and thousands of new seats added to the Etihad Stadium.

Even though development is continuing, it doesn't mean it will take the same form as previous years. One noticeable change in the property landscape is how many developments are now located outside the city centre.

Big projects will either complete or start in suburbs like Wythenshawe, Withington, and Gorton in 2025. The city centre is also likely to expand, as new flats open near Strangeways and on the River Irwell border with Salford.

So how the city looks and feels will be very different this time next year.

Let's take a look at the big projects which will change the face of Manchester in 2025.

These projects are expected to be completed in 2025...

Ancoats

Central to Manchester's evolution over the last two decades has been Ancoats. What was once a mishmash of unloved textile mills, light industry, and unsightly canals has been transformed into the hyper-hip neighbourhood which is desirable for many.