An exhibition of Beswick's transformation plans has opened this week, showcasing pictures and working drawings of the 16-acre community facility.

Opportunity to examine the project plans, which are a joint venture between Manchester City Council, Manchester City Football Club and urban regeneration company, New East Manchester, is now available to the public at The Beswick Library ahead of the planning application being submitted later this month.

The exhibition will remain open until a planning decision has been made, and will include information regarding the proposals and artist impressions and diagrams of how the transformation will fit into the existing framework of East Manchester.

This public display carries on from a wide public consultation completed in October last year where 93% of the residents who responded said they would use all or a combination of the leisure, education and retail facilities offered by the proposals.

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Beswick's transformation will include a new leisure centre with a public swimming pool, Connell Sixth Form College (a 600-place sixth form college for 16-19 years meeting growing demand for sixth form places in the area) and a sports research centre, offering a world-class research and diagnostic facility to advance the academic study of sport and health.

The plans will also include improved local shops and changes to the road layout, public realm and car parking infrastructure to improve road safety and create a pedestrian friendly environment.

Cllr Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "These are incredibly exciting plans that will transform Beswick and build on more than a decade of fantastic regeneration work that has changed to face and reputation of East Manchester forever.

"Beswick, along with plans for new pools in Levenshulme and Chorlton, represents the commitment the city council has to ensure world-class leisure facilities for Manchester people, despite deep budget cuts from central government and we would urge as many people as possible to visit the exhibition to see how the plans will transform East Manchester."

(CD/GK)