Plans for £1.2 million improvements to a shopping area in Newton Heath are being finalised by New East Manchester.

Improvements will centre on Old Church Street and All Saints' Street, and the aim is to create a safer and more pleasant environment for shoppers and traders.

Staff from New East Manchester have been working with local traders for months to develop the plans.

Proposals include high quality paving on footpaths, new road surfaces with traffic-calming measures, street lighting, street trees and cycle stands.

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There will be improvements to a landscaped area of open space off All Saints' Street, which is likely to include an improved pathway, benches and more trees.

Smallwood Street and part of May Street will be improved to create kerbside parking spaces and better access to the rear of business premises on Old Church Street.

There will be a new pedestrian crossing on Droylsden Road and access to the Netto and Iceland car park on Old Church Street will be improved.

Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council and spokesperson on east Manchester, said: "These improvements will breathe new life back into a much-loved shopping area. The landscaped area off All Saints' Street will also become a more attractive place for leisure."

Work on the improvements is expected to start in March and will take six months to complete.

(CD)