New Islington, Manchester

Urban Splash

New Islington was once one of Manchester’s most vulnerable and run-down areas – it was a notorious estate once used as a backdrop to TV’s Shameless.

This was an area that had fallen out of favour; in the early 20th century, it was the world’s first industrial suburb, with Victorian terraces filled with workers from the surrounding mills. During the 1960’s ‘slum clearance’ many beautiful Victorian homes were demolished, signalling an end to the working mills and making way for the Cardroom Estate – an estate which through ongoing anti-social behaviour, eventually lost its pubs, shops and school. Through a considered and strategic masterplan, House by Urban Splash has transformed New Islington into what is now one of the UK’s most desirable and accessible mixed-use, mixed-tenure communities with brilliantly designed homes, amenities and infrastructure to ensure long term economic sustainability. The developer’s ability to create a suburban place in the city is unique. Located in the centre of Manchester, where apartments and urban architecture dominate; New Islington is the antithesis and is a village in the city – giving customers an alternative option to the suburbs. The masterplan enabled this transformation; in the early days, the developer focused on two main strategies; first to deliver housing for existing residents, and secondly to curate amenities which would bring the place to life. In the past decade that has included the creation of the OFSTED-Outstanding New Islington Primary School, a park, Marina, cafes, bars, restaurants, a Metrolink stop and a health centre.