Victoria North has been named by the government as a potential location for one of twelve new towns in England following publication of an independent report.

In its announcement, the government highlighted Victoria North's potential to support continued growth and attract high-skilled workers to service Manchester's diverse industries. The delivery of new towns will be backed by funding across the government’s landmark housing programmes, such as the £39 billion Social and Affordable Housing Programme, hundreds of millions of grant from the National Housing Delivery Fund, and additional capital funding managed by the National Housing Bank. 

A New Towns Unit will also be established by the government to progress development on new towns. The Unit will work with all departments and their agencies to ensure new towns are a test bed for innovation and to unblock barriers to delivery. 

The Victoria North regeneration programme, delivered in partnership with FEC, will see up to 15,000 new homes built between Victoria Train Station and Queen’s Park in Collyhurst over the next 15 years in seven new and existing neighbourhoods across 155 hectares on largely under-utilised and brownfield land. Each neighbourhood will be linked by high quality green spaces that will open up and celebrate the River Irk. This first phase of development in Collyhurst is an important step in delivering this vision.  

Already 430 homes have been completed across the Victoria North, as well as 550 currently on site and a further 4,801 with planning approval. This includes 258 affordable homes in the initial phases, with more planned to be delivered as part of Section 106 Agreements and additionality. The regeneration project is the largest in Manchester's history. 

Manchester City Council  Leader, Cllr Bev Craig welcomed the announcement: "Having Government's full backing to deliver the major Victoria North regeneration programme through the New Town Task Force is great news for Manchester – and a resounding endorsement for our vision for inclusive, sustainable growth, and a clear sign that this transformational project is a national priority. Victoria North is one of the largest and most ambitious programmes of regeneration in Europe, which is creating a new town in our city – 15,000 new homes across seven distinct neighbourhoods, each connected by excellent green spaces and a new 40hectare River City Park, all while creating jobs and opportunities for our residents. We are already welcoming residents into the first completed homes, including the first of 130 social rent properties in Collyhurst, and this announcement gives us the key backing to crack on – and a vote of confidence that Manchester, along with our partners, can deliver once-in-a-generation regeneration at this scale.” 

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be undertaken to understand the environmental implications of developing new towns. The government is determined to begin building in at least three new towns in this Parliament with sites at Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank looking most promising.