Age-friendly communities in the Northern Gateway

This research brings together an interdisciplinary team of social scientists and architects to explore the potential for developing age-friendly communities in the forthcoming Northern Gateway urban regeneration project in Manchester.

In July 2018, Manchester announced the largest and most ambitious residential-led development opportunity that the city has ever taken, delivering up to 15,000 more homes over a 15-20 year period called the Northern Gateway. It will form the most significant individual contribution to the City Council and the Strategic Development Team’s strategy for residential growth.

The aim of the research is to learn more about the Northern Gateway from a variety of perspective including local people, policymakers and regeneration officers.

The overall aim is to make recommendations for how the forthcoming regeneration could support a new sense of community, which caters for the diverse needs of different age groups.

Project objectives

Using a co-research approach, we will develop a new collaborative network of practitioners and stakeholders including Age Friendly Manchester, Manchester City Council (Strategic Development Team), property developers (Far East Consortium) and older residents. The intended outcome is to write a policy briefing, paper and develop a funding application, to carry out a three-year study.

Principle investigator

Dr Camilla Lewis

Manchester co-investigator

Professor Chris Phillipson

Additional universities/external partners

• Dr Mark Hammond, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Professor Stefan White, Manchester Metropolitan University

Funder

MICRA Seedcorn funding (funded by MICRA, Centre for Ageing Better and Age Friendly Manchester).

Funding period

January 2019 – July 2019

Disciplines involved

• Sociology
• Architecture

Contact 

Dr Camilla Lewis - camilla.lewis@manchester.ac.uk