£1m rejuvenation plans drawn up for disused site in Gorton

An unused site on Hyde Road in Gorton could become a car maintenance shop after a planning application was submitted. 

The site was previously home to Crawshaw’s butchers and United Carpets before both companies went into administration. 

Now it has been earmarked to be let to Quick Lane, an upmarket car maintenance, repair and MOT operator owned by Ford, which plans to invest more than £1m in the project. 

Mixed-use property development specialist Sheppard Developments, in partnership with Foundation Property, has submitted a change of use planning application to Manchester City Council. 

A decision is expected to be made in the spring, with the new Quick Lane branch potentially operational as early as summer 2020. 

Quick Lane’s premium service offers state-of-the-art facilities, highly-skilled staff, and excellent customer relations. The team will also be offering training and apprenticeships as part of the operation.

Ben Sheppard, managing director at Sheppard Developments, said: “This exciting proposal offers an opportunity to bring this disused site into a beneficial economic use, helping to create jobs and investment in this core area of Gorton.

“We have kept local ward councillors updated on this project and understand they are keen to see the building come back into use. We’re looking forward to progressing plans and continuing to work in partnership with Manchester City Council on the project.”

Sheppard Developments and Foundation operates nationally and has worked with clients including Tesco, Pizza Hut, The Cooperative, McDonald’s and more.

Joanna Gabrilatsou, a director in JLL’s North West planning team, which is advising on the planning submission, said: “Hyde Road is a key route in and out of the city, and as investment continues into this important corridor it’s great to see a company of this calibre commit to helping further rejuvenate it.

“The proposal has been carefully thought out. Quick Lane is a modern operator with state-of-the-art equipment, which is a lifetime away from traditional noisy tyre-changing and MOT garages of the past. More importantly, residents and businesses will no longer need to be concerned about a derelict building which is currently falling into disrepair.

“Quick Lane is also due to give the building a facelift, installing a smart new canopy feature and signage. Bringing the building back into active use is a step forward in bringing investment into Gorton, providing economic and environmental impacts which will benefit the community.”

Main image:

FRESH START: Empty units at the site could be replaced with an upmarket car maintenance, repair and MOT operation.