Muse secures planning approval for Wythenshawe Culture Hub

Placemaker, Muse, has secured planning approval for its plans, working alongside Manchester City Council, for a new Culture Hub as part of the £500 million Wythenshawe regeneration programme.

The regeneration specialist, which is also Stockport Council’s partner on the development of the town centre’s flagship Stockport Exchange business hub, now expects to begin construction on the Wythenshawe Culture Hub in autumn 2025.

Sitting within Civic, the hub will include space for food and drink on the ground floor with the first floor home to a mix of artist studio spaces and flexible areas for workshops, exhibitions, classes or community events. Plans for the area follow in the footsteps of Stockport’s Merseyway Shopping Centre, which has been revitalised by diversifying its offer away from retail to also include cultural offers, office space and entertainment. The facility is expected to open in early 2027.

Works are being funded through £20 million provided by the UK Government and a further £11.9 million from Manchester City Council. Future plans also include a new, bustling food hall spilling out onto the public square and new workspaces for independent start-ups and growing local businesses.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:

“The Culture Hub planning approval is a really exciting milestone in the long-term regeneration of Civic. This is a statement of intent of how serious we are about investing in Wythenshawe’s town centre – and this is an early sign of what is to come. We want to build on the destination potential of Civic, create opportunities for local people and visitors to spend time in the area, and widen the offer for our residents to enjoy and participate in the arts right on their doorstep.  

Joe Stockton, senior development manager from Muse, said:

“Getting the green light for the new Culture Hub is a major milestone in our once in a generation plans to work with local people to transform Wythenshawe town centre. The feedback that we’ve received so far for the hub has been really positive with many seeing it as a creative space where people and groups of all ages can spend time, learn new skills and explore culture in a positive way.“

As part of a public consultation which launched earlier this year, local people are being urged to get involved and help shape the future of the town.

The next drop-in event is being held at the Maker’s Market on Saturday 5^th July, and at ‘Open Space’, a new meeting point in Civic, being launched by Muse and MCC at Unit 10, The Birtles, next to the former market.