First homes complete at FEC’s £4bn Victoria North regeneration 2026

Key Points

• Manchester City Council and FEC have completed Victoria Riverside, the first residential development in Red Bank, which is part of the £4bn Victoria North regeneration project.
• The development comprises 634 homes, including 341 homes in phase one (July 2025) and 293 open market homes in phase two, with residents moving in since August 2026.
• Crown View, which stands at 37-storeys, is the last building to be completed, with co-working space, residents’ lounge, gym, yoga room, private dining and landscaped podium gardens.
• The Victoria North will cover 155 hectares within seven neighbourhoods over a period of two decades, with Red Bank housing 5,500 homes for an estimated 8,000 residents.
• The project received support from the Housing Infrastructure Funding by Homes England, making possible over 10.5 hectares of brownfield sites available.
• St Catherine’s Wood, which spans two and half acres in size, has opened again as the first large-scale green space in the City River Parks Network, connecting all seven neighbourhoods.
• Hilary Brett (FEC) and Councillor Gavin White (Manchester City Council) have made statements welcoming the completion of the project as an indicator of the regeneration vision.

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How many homes are in the Victoria Riverside development?

Victoria Riverside comprises two phases of delivery, with the first phase completing in July 2025 and delivering 341 homes across Park View, City View and part of Bromley Street, including a significant shared ownership offering delivered in partnership with housing provider L&Q. The second and final phase added a further 293 open market homes, bringing the total development to 634 homes. As reported by Housing Digital, the completion of the final tower, Crown View, brings the scheme to full delivery, with the development now managed by Found, FEC’s in-house operator.

What amenities does Crown View tower offer residents?

Crown View, the landmark 37-storey building that forms the final part of Victoria Riverside, stands as a prominent addition to Manchester’s skyline and offers panoramic views across the city and the River Irk. Residents benefit from a range of on-site amenities including co-working space, a residents’ lounge and bar, a gym and yoga studio, private dining facilities and landscaped podium gardens. The development is managed by Found, FEC’s in-house management company, with a dedicated on-site team supporting residents and helping to foster a strong sense of community as Victoria Riverside continues to welcome new residents.

How does Victoria Riverside connect to green spaces in Red Bank?

Crown View is located close to Angel Meadow Park and the newly reopened St Catherine’s Wood, which forms the first phase of the 46-hectare City River Park that will eventually connect all seven neighbourhoods of the Victoria North masterplan. The reopening of the just under four-acre green space was marked by the Into the Wild community event, which brought together members of the local community to celebrate the transformation of the space. Open daily from dawn until dusk, St Catherine’s Wood is the first green space to be managed by Found, with a programme of community events set to launch, demonstrating how the park will be activated and enjoyed as part of the wider City River Park vision.

What is the wider vision for Red Bank neighbourhood?

Red Bank is set to deliver 5,500 homes for approximately 8,000 residents as part of a new mixed-use community in Manchester city centre, forming one of the initial phases of the wider 15,000-home Victoria North regeneration programme. Alongside new homes, Red Bank will deliver retail, leisure and community spaces connected by green routes and public realm, shaped by the Urban Life Strategy developed in collaboration with Danish placemaking specialists BRIQ. These spaces are designed to foster a strong sense of community, support local businesses and create a vibrant neighbourhood where people can live, work and socialise.

What did FEC and Manchester City Council say about the completion?

As reported by Housing Digital, Hilary Brett, Development Director at FEC, said: “Crown View is a striking addition to Manchester’s skyline, but what excites me most is what it represents on the ground. The completion of Victoria Riverside marks an important step in Red Bank’s transformation, with a growing community, new homes and the surrounding park and green spaces helping to create a vibrant new neighbourhood.”

Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council, said: “Victoria Riverside is a marker of the vision we have for the wider Red Bank neighbourhood – an area bringing together a visually striking new development, high-quality homes, affordable tenures and brilliant green spaces – not least the newly open St Catherine’s Wood park. Together these are the building blocks of successful and sustainable communities – and something we want to replicate throughout the Victoria North regeneration area in the coming years.”

How was the Victoria Riverside development funded?

The project was supported by Housing Infrastructure Funding from Homes England, which helped unlock more than 10.5 hectares of brownfield land within Red Bank, making it one of the first areas to come forward as part of the wider Victoria North regeneration programme. Victoria North will span 155 hectares across seven neighbourhoods over the next two decades, with the overall scheme expected to deliver more than 15,000 homes alongside new green spaces, workplaces and community infrastructure.

Background of the Victoria North development

Victoria North is a £4bn regeneration project being delivered through a joint venture between Manchester City Council and Far East Consortium (FEC), spanning 155 hectares across seven neighbourhoods north of Manchester city centre along the River Irk. The scheme is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in the UK, with plans to deliver 15,000 new homes over the next two decades, alongside 113 acres of connected parks, woodland and green space. Red Bank, the first neighbourhood to be delivered, is planned to provide 5,500 homes for approximately 8,000 residents, creating a new mixed-use community with retail, leisure and community spaces. The project has been supported by Housing Infrastructure Funding from Homes England, which helped unlock more than 10.5 hectares of brownfield land in the area. St Catherine’s Wood, a 2.7-acre park, opened in July 2026 as the first major green space in the City River Park network that will connect all seven neighbourhoods.

Prediction: How will Victoria North affect Manchester residents and the housing market?

The completion of Victoria Riverside and the ongoing delivery of Victoria North is likely to have significant implications for Manchester residents, particularly in terms of housing supply, affordability and community infrastructure. With 15,000 new homes planned across the scheme, including 20% affordable housing, the development could help address Manchester’s housing shortfall and provide opportunities for first-time buyers and shared ownership purchasers. However, some commentators have raised concerns about the risk of cultural displacement for older residents in North Manchester unless they are given a greater role in the regeneration process. The integration of extensive green spaces, including the 46-hectare City River Park, and community amenities such as co-working spaces and residents’ facilities, could help create sustainable neighbourhoods that attract a diverse range of residents. For the wider Manchester housing market, the steady delivery of 500 homes per year from Victoria North could help stabilise supply and support the city’s economic growth, particularly as the scheme is located close to Manchester Victoria station and the city centre.