Skip to content

'Beautiful' new park opens on former derelict site

Anna JamesonNorth West
BBC A winding path stone path leads through an area of new plants, trees and shrubs. In the background a number of tower blocks can bee seen behind more established trees. There is also stone steps with red metal railings.BBC
The park sits in Red Bank, one of Manchester's former industrial heartlands

For decades it was a derelict corner of Manchester but now a "beautiful green space" has been created as the city's newest park.

Called St Catherine's Wood, the Red Bank bank area in the north of the city has been transformed in the latest phase in the development of Victoria North, one of the largest urban regeneration projects in the region.

Landscape architect Georgina Baines from Planit, which designed the park, said: "It's about being able to take a step away from your busy life, to come into a beautiful green space like this, to really get back in touch with nature.

"There are lots of spaces for you to stop, to sit, to dwell, to take in nature, because this is nature on your doorstep."

A red metal gated entranced to a park area. There are three silver bollards and established trees and grass area in the distance.
The park is named after a church which once stood in the area

Red Bank was one of Manchester's industrial heartlands and was once home to dye works and mills which made use of the River Irk as a water supply.

It later became part the city's rail infrastructure and the site of the railway sidings and sheds.

Georgina Baines has short hair and is wearing a white top, dark framed glasses and a gold necklace. She is standing in a park area speaking to a TV reporter.
Landscape architect Georgina Baines described the park as "nature on your doorstep"

"There's a lot of history in this area. It's been cleaned up, it's been remediated, it's got planning permission bringing this area back into use," said councillor Gavin White, of Manchester City Council.

Named St Catherine's Wood after the church which once stood on Collyhurst Road, the park features metal and stonework designed to reflect its industrial past.

It forms part of plans to create Victoria North, a new town with seven connected green spaces and 15,000 new homes built on brownfield land.

Manchester Libraries A black and white photograph of an industrial scene in Manchester with a four storey brick building and river flowing next to a road.Manchester Libraries
The site previously became part of the city's rail infrastructure

Seven neighbourhoods in the north east of the city are set to be regenerated but the scheme has not been without some local resistance.

Some people have voiced fears that the regeneration could come at the cost of their community and they could be pushed out.

However, White said affordability and inclusiveness was "really important" to the council.

"We believe that what we're going to deliver with Victoria North is housing for everyone," he said.

"Having a range of tenures, particularly council housing and homes that people can afford, is going to be really, really important.

"We want to make sure that the housing that we develop is for local residents and has a real affordability."

Gavin White has short hair and is wearing a dark blue shirt and dark framed glasses. He is stood in front of a green metal fence with open area of brownfield and a railway was bridge in the background.
Gavin White said rejuvenating the area was "really important"

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story
Related internet links