On Thursday 10th October, Hilson Moran hosted the latest in their series of ‘Hackathons’, where attendees from across the industry, including architects, planners, developers and engineers, are asked to work in teams solve some of the country’s biggest challenges. Blue sky thinking is encouraged, with no solution is off the table and fabulous prizes on offer for the winning team.
Welcoming attendees to Hilson Moran’s Manchester office, Director Chris Birch set this year’s challenge – to look at ideas to transform the ‘Grey Belt’ around Manchester. The Grey Belt is poor-quality, underutilised sections within the Green Belt, including previously developed land that now makes a limited contribution to the Green Belt’s original purposes.
Teams had to follow the golden rules in coming up with their proposal:
- Brownfield first
- Grey belt second
- 50% affordable homes
- Boost public services & infrastructure
- Improve genuine green space
Teams were also facing a strong panel of industry judges: Jonathan Miley from Reform Landscape Architecture, Max King from Muse Places and Ed Britton from Deloitte, who didn’t hold back when it came to challenging the teams on their ideas and the realities of finding funding.
First up were the Red team, presenting ‘grey to great’; looking at things that make us feel positive in the places we want to live. They proposed restoring petrol stations and brownfield sites to create new capitals for the community, as well as new wetlands to increase biodiversity.
The Blue team presented a bold new masterplan for south Manchester ‘without compromise’, including a hydroelectric power plant, wind turbines, waterfront living, new allotments and affordable housing.
The Yellow team’s proposal was ‘welcome to a blue field’, proposing a development around (and on top of!) Audenshaw reservoir, funded by the water companies. This new community would sit on top of the reservoir, creating a series of new routes across the reservoir to connect communities around Manchester and boost social mobility. Bluefield energy storage would be available come rain or shine, with umbrella structures funnelling rainfall into a water turbine blade.
Finally the Green team presented a rethink of Trafford Park, incorporating 20 minute neighbourhoods, connection to tram stops and public parks. Different zones for the site included an energy centre, and residential development of everything from high rise buildings descending down to house boats on the river.
After some careful deliberation the judges declared Yellow team the winner, commending their bold, blue thinking, even if there will be some serious challenges getting such a complex development off the ground.
