Manchester city council has approved a plan by urban regeneration specialist Dransfield Properties for a £40 mln (EUR 60 mln) redevelopment of the Openshaw district of the city. The project involves the development of a new town centre comprising a large food store, 13 retail units, office accommodation and a leisure and fitness centre.

Manchester city council has approved a plan by urban regeneration specialist Dransfield Properties for a £40 mln (EUR 60 mln) redevelopment of the Openshaw district of the city. The project involves the development of a new town centre comprising a large food store, 13 retail units, office accommodation and a leisure and fitness centre.

The UK firm will work in partnership with the city council, urban regeneration company New East Manchester and the local community, to transform a large mixed industrial, commercial and residential area into a new shopping, leisure and commercial complex. Construction for the scheme, to be developed in the east of Manchester, north-west England, is expected to start in 2008.

Last month's announcement that Manchester is to be home of a super casino could materialise into a £265 mln investment at Sportcity, a mile from the Openshaw site.