Ryebank Fields Consultation
The first stage of our public consultation launches at midday! Come back then to find out more and have your say.
Step Places and Southway Housing Trust have been chosen as the preferred developer to bring forward a new sustainable community on Ryebank Fields.
Following Manchester Metropolitan University’s decision to sell the land they own at the end of Ryebank Road in Chorlton, known as Ryebank Fields, a comprehensive tender process was undertaken. After careful consideration of a number of proposals, the University has announced that Step Places, as lead developer, alongside Southway Housing Trust, will be the preferred developers to bring forward plans to redevelop the site.
The plans are at the very early stages, but the proposals for Ryebank Fields will deliver a green development and a sustainable community for existing and future generations. The scheme will include much-needed new homes, including high-quality, affordable properties that respond to local needs, as well as extensive public open space, community facilities and an overall net biodiversity gain for the site.
Once the plans have progressed further, Step Places and Southway Housing Trust will be undertaking extensive public consultation with the local community. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions provided below.
If you would like to be kept updated as the plans progress, please register here, contact us on 0333 358 0502 (Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm) or email ryebankfieldsconsultation@havingyoursay.co.uk. We will also be regularly updating the Newsfeed below with the latest announcements about the plans.
Welcome to our consultation website.
Step Places and Southway Housing Trust have been chosen as the preferred developers to deliver a new sustainable neighbourhood at Ryebank Fields, Chorlton.
Following Manchester Metropolitan University’s decision to sell the land they own at the end of Ryebank Road in Chorlton, known as Ryebank Fields, a comprehensive tender process was undertaken. After careful consideration of a number of proposals, the University has announced that Step Places, as lead developer, alongside Southway Housing Trust, will be the preferred developers to bring forward plans to redevelop the site.
The plans are at the very early stages, but the proposals for Ryebank Fields will deliver a green development and a sustainable community for existing and future generations. The scheme will include much-needed new homes, including high-quality, affordable properties that respond to local needs, as well as extensive public open space, community facilities and an overall net biodiversity gain for the site.
Once the plans have progressed further, Step Places and Southway Housing Trust will be undertaking extensive public consultation with the local community. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions provided below.
If you would like to be kept updated as the plans progress, please register here, contact us on 0333 358 0502 (Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm) or email ryebankfieldsconsultation@havingyoursay.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
The area of land known as Ryebank Fields is located at the end of Ryebank Road, Chorlton, bordering Longford Park at the end of Rye Bank Road, Firswood.
Manchester Metropolitan University has owned this piece of land since the 1970s.
In 2019, the University decided to sell the land to a suitable developer as part of its strategy to consolidate onto a single, sustainable, city campus. The University has now chosen a partnership between Step Places and Southway Housing Trust to develop the site. The preferred developers will now bring forward sustainable plans to redevelop Ryebank Fields.
Step Places is a privately owned residential developer that delivers design-led homes and creates sustainable neighbourhoods across the North West. Further details can be found at https://step-places.com/
Southway Housing Trust is a not-for-profit local housing company that provides affordable homes for around 6000 households around south Manchester. Most of these are in Burnage, Chorlton, Withington and Didsbury. Further details can be found at https://www.southwayhousing.co.uk/
The proposals put forward by Step Places and Southway Housing Trust closely follow the regeneration framework document for Ryebank Fields. The plans include:
- A maximum of 120 residential homes
- A minimum of 20% of the housing will be affordable housing
- Sustainable travel arrangements which aim to reduce car usage and promote the use of public transport and cycling
- Net zero carbon housing using the Passivhaus principle
- A third of the site will remain public open green space with pathways and additional community facilities
- An overall net biodiversity gain for the site which retains and enhances as much of the broad-leafed woodland and mature trees as possible
- Protection and retention of the Nico Ditch with effective stewardship of the surrounding land
- Remediation of the contaminants on site including asbestos
- Provision of improved drainage to the site
- A commitment to comprehensive engagement with the community to refine the scheme proposals prior to the submission of any planning application
The preferred developers are committed to bringing forward sustainable plans to redevelop Ryebank Fields.
Step Places and Southway Housing Trust are committed to engaging with the local community regarding the plans for Ryebank Fields. Ahead of a planning application being submitted to the Council, extensive community consultation will be undertaken to allow local people to contribute to the development of the plans. Further details of the consultation will be announced in due course and you can register below to be kept up to date once details are announced.
Public consultation will be undertaken to allow local people the opportunity to view the proposals, provide their feedback and help shape the final plans. Details of how to participate will be announced shortly. In the meantime, if you would like to be kept updated as the plans progress, please register below, contact us on 0333 358 0502 (Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm) or email ryebankfieldsconsultation@havingyoursay.co.uk
You can also view Frequently Asked Questions regarding the University’s position on its website at www.mmu.ac.uk/ryebank-fields
Newsfeed - keeping you informed
We will use this page to provide regular updates on the ongoing activity of the development team in progressing with the plans for Ryebank Fields.
[SEARCH FACILITY WILL BE FUNCTIONAL WHEN MORE THAN ONE STORY IS ON THE NEWSFEED]
W/c 8th August 2022
Following last month’s announcement that Step Places, as lead developer, alongside Southway Housing Trust, will be the preferred developers to bring forward plans for the site, we’ve started to progress with our proposals and have conversations with key local stakeholders to inform the development of the scheme.
We are at the very early stages of developing our plans, but remain committed to consulting with the local community throughout the process. The development team will be engaging with the wider community once we’re in a position to showcase our initial plans and we will ensure this Newsfeed is kept up to date with future announcements.