Work has begun on the next phase of the Gorton town square programme, set to complete the high street improvements that began in 2025.

This stage will further enlarge the square, adding accessible play equipment for children, extra seating and planting, and more colour to create a welcoming space for local residents.

The expanded square will be adaptable for events throughout the year, helping to foster a community-focused destination that draws visitors and increases footfall for nearby traders, including Gorton Market.

New play features will cater for children aged two to eleven, with balance beams, bumble bee springers, stepping pods and a variety of spinning equipment for different age groups. A colourful, accessible snakes and ladders game will round off the enhancements, alongside fresh planting and age-friendly benches.

Construction is expected to finish in spring 2026, with north west contractor Warden Construction delivering the works.

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The project forms part of a wider ambition to create a new heart for Gorton, as outlined in the neighbourhood’s Development Framework. It builds on other local investment, including the opening of the Gorton Hub community space in 2022.

Longer-term regeneration plans for the area include hundreds of mixed-tenure homes, with a significant proportion for social rent and genuinely affordable housing, to be developed on Council-owned land overlooking the new square.

At Gorton Market, major roof repairs have been completed and new photovoltaic panels installed to improve the building's environmental performance. Some businesses are being moved within the hall to enable further upgrades, including a new food hall next to the raised terrace and improvements to existing units. Further updates will follow in the coming weeks.

Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "The ongoing investment in Gorton is a great example of what we are looking to do to support high streets across the city. What started with the Gorton Hub in 2022 has now expanded to a brand new town square – a new focal point for the neighbourhood – major investment in the market building to make sure it can continue to serve this community for years to come, and we'll soon begin to see the first genuinely affordable and social housing start on site.

"This is about making sure our high streets and district centres can continue to thrive, attract visitors to support local economies and create spaces where our residents want to spend time.

"This next phase starting on site is great news for the area and we'll soon welcome other similar investment projects starting on site soon in Moston and Newton Heath – alongside the Wythenshawe Town Centre project that is already well underway."