One hill of a change

AREA AROUND MAJOR ROAD INTO CITY IS SET FOR DEVELOPMENT

- ETHAN DAVIES

In a special report, ETHAN DAVIES looks at how Cheetham is set to evolve - and what the people who live and work there think the future holds

CHEETHAM Hill Road is its usual self. Traffic is queuing at the junction of Trinity Way, snooker matches are taking place in a dimly-lit hall, and the sound of light industry fills the air.

But soon, Cheetham is going to be home to a 25-storey block of flats.

And top council bosses say it will 'change significantly, with more modern buildings' to be unveiled as the authority seeks investment in the zones of the city which are between the urban core and the suburbs.

It's a prospect which some people are excited about, believing the area is in need of 'some love! But others are far from sure.

They worry that it's only a matter of time before their shop, office or takeaway is swallowed up by a developer to make way for another tower.

And that, in turn, will alter the character of Cheetham, which is already seeing change as the police and council clean up 'Counterfeit Street!

'This is an area which is going to change significantly'

This part of the city - sandwiched between the AO Arena, Manchester Fort shopping complex, and Cheetham Hill village - hasn't seen the arrival of skyscrapers or mill conversions that other post-industrial areas on the outskirts of the city centre have. To this day, the south end of Cheetham Hill Road is still characterised by light industry, its proximity to HMP Manchester, and the dodgy traders of 'Counterfeit Street! It may not be a residential area right now, but there are still the landmarks of a community here. Its church, St Chad's, dates back to the 18th century. Just over the road, on Empire Street, is the Joseph Holt Brewery, which was built in 1860.