Strangeways redevelopment plan moves forward
Leaders hope the prison can be moved from its city centre location
Last updated 26th Mar 2025
Strangeways’ redevelopment has moved a step forward after council chiefs approved regeneration plans.
Manchester and Salford councils released a blueprint to redevelop the area around HMP Manchester earlier this month, outlining their hopes the prison can be moved from its city centre location.
Leaders believe the presence of the 20-acre compound ‘presents a key barrier to the regeneration of the area’.
“We know this area has challenges,” added council leader Bev Craig. “But we also know that there is energy and a community brimming with potential.”
Strangeways’ ventilation tower has been a fixture on Bury New Road for 157 years, providing a regular reminder of the area’s status as the home of some of Britain’s worst offenders.
The jail’s notoriety was supercharged by the 1990 riots, when hundreds of offenders took control of the jail — eventually being brought down from the roof after a 25 days.
It remains the country’s longest and bloodiest prison riot, claiming the lives of a prison officer and inmate.
After the prison was rebuilt in 1994, its roof gained significance again with multiple lone rooftop protesters climbing on the Victorian structures, including Stuart Horner in 2015 and Joe Outlaw in 2023.
While talks between the councils and Ministry of Justice over a potential move are ongoing, it’s understood building work will press on regardless of whether or not the jail moves out, as bosses are keen to exploit the relative calm Operation Vulcan brought to the area.
Coun Craig added: “We have an opportunity to create a platform for development and investment, enabled by the successful work carried out by Operation Vulcan, to support businesses to grow and prosper in these neighbourhoods — creating thousands of new jobs and support the ongoing growth of our city — alongside a major new public park and new homes, including council, social and genuinely affordable housing.”
Criminal enterprises dominated the area for decades, with numerous dodgy shops on the neighbourhood’s Bury New Road thoroughfare giving it its ‘Counterfeit Street’ nickname. That changed in 2022, however.
The police-led Operation Vulcan eliminated 200 of the counterfeit shops, and seized more than half-a-million-pounds in cash.
New plans hope to replace the backstreet behind-closed-doors stores with 7,000 flats, 4,500 jobs, and a new public park which will also act as a flood defence in the area.
And after both councils’ cabinets approved the ‘strategic regeneration framework’ in the last fortnight, the public is being asked for its views on the proposals.
Salford mayor Paul Dennett added: “The proposals in the framework seek to identify the best possible options for this area. These include the exciting opportunity to create a new city park for all, with an option for appropriate levels of mixed-use development, to continue to drive sustainable growth.
“I’d urge everyone with a vested interest in this area, whether you’re a resident or business to engage with the consultation process and work with us help shape the future of this part of the city.”
Feedback can be given online until May 26, and a series of drop-in events are planned for Broughton and Cheetham Hill before then.