Changes have been made to New East Manchester's regeneration plans for the next decade following a major consultation exercise that involved 30,000 households in east Manchester.

Local people were asked to comment on a draft document that identified three core objectives and eight key priorities to guide the regeneration programme over the next ten years and to achieve the long term, sustainable regeneration of east Manchester.

The consultation process lasted for three months and included a range of different methods of involving residents from drop in sessions and leaflets to every household to a mobile information staff, web site and surveys aimed at young people. Over 800 residents attended drop-ins and well in excess of a thousand people took time to fill in surveys and record their views.

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Following the consultation, several changes have been made to the East Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework that maps out the regenerations plans for the area from now until 2018.

In the Abbey Hey area of Gorton, following discussions with residents, use of land has been changed to retain open space and allotments and to prioritise areas of housing for improvement. Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour was identified as a major concern amongst local people so this has now been made a higher priority.

The focus of the framework won't just be on families. A greater emphasis will also be placed on the positive aspects of old age. The area has an aging population and more inter-generation activities will be encouraged as older people provide important role models for young people.

Damien Bourke, Policy and Partnership Manager at the NWDA, said: "The ongoing regeneration of East Manchester continues to make an important contribution to the growth of the Greater Manchester and regional economy. This change of emphasis reflects not only the visible successes we have seen within the area, but also the renewed ambition and aspirations of the local residents.

"New East Manchester has settled on a series of targets which will help ensure that East Manchester will benefit from a stronger, more diverse local economy, with more of its people living and working in an environment which will attract more families and workers back to the area."

(JM)