It’s been a few months since we last updated our members on our involvement in Ryebank Fields following Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) putting the land on the market in September last year.

We reported then that the CLT was expecting to engage more intensively in early spring 2021, when MMU had shortlisted a final cohort of prospective development partners. We can now confirm that while the timetable has shifted a little, we are now anticipating beginning detailed engagement with the shortlisted developers in May 2021.

At this point, we expect to have the opportunity to work closely with the shortlisted development partners, to review their plans and influence the final development proposals. We will continue to provide regular updates with our members as to our role in the final phases of developer selection.

Furthermore, we are refining and expanding our Expectations and Aspirations (November 2020) document with contributions from our Development sub-committee, and a working group on environmental matters – bringing together a number of our members with expertise in zero carbon, sustainable drainage, biodiversity and sustainable travel. We expect to publish our refreshed document at the end of April.