A new research centre aiming to improve cancer treatment could be built in Manchester.
Proposals for a £20m development have been unveiled by the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) with bosses hoping to deliver breakthroughs in cancer care.
The centre, which would have space for at least 150 cancer researchers, would be built on land owned by The Christie in Withington, and would be funded by the University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK. It would focus entirely on early cancer research.
Researchers would develop new diagnostic tests, more advanced treatments and better ways to predict how the illness could progress.
Professor Nic Jones, director of the MCRC and chief scientist of Cancer Research UK, said: “The rapid expansion of high-quality research at the MCRC has reached a point where future growth will be compromised by lack of physical space.
“We undertake vital research to develop and improve cancer treatments and urgently need a new purpose-built building to expand and enhance this life-saving research.
“The MCRC’s vision is the development of personalised cancer treatments, selected based on improved knowledge of each individual patient’s disease characteristics, leading to better patient outcomes.”
The centre’s work is currently spread over a number of sites at the university and at The Christie. Chiefs hope that a new building – directly opposite the main outpatients’ entrance of The Christie on Wilmslow Road – would give them more opportunities to work together.
They also believe it would appeal to international researchers and would help to use resources more effectively.
Prof Jones added: “The proposed building will ensure that the MCRC provides outstanding opportunities and a vibrant environment for researchers, clinicians and external partners to work collaboratively towards this vision through a single-site ‘bench to bedside’ approach.”
A spokeswoman for The Christie said that the project was still in the pre-planning stages and a timetable for its development was still to be decided. She said the plans would also include a low-rise multi-storey car park.
But Neil Richards, of Chatterton Close, Withington, said he was concerned it could lead to the ‘possible destruction of a historic area of south Manchester’.
He said: “I understand there are detailed plans of the proposal which include a metal type structure and multi-storey car park. These structures are not only not in keeping with Withington’s character but put at risk an important open space.”
Bosses said that building would not encroach on the historic Withington Green.
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m,r roberts I hope you never get canser.
I am writing regarding the planning application for the Christie Research centre and multi storey car park..
I am totally against this plan for the following reasons:
1. Residential Area:
The Christie does fantastic work. I know, as like a great percentage of people I too have had relatives and friends who have been taken from us or suffering with cancer. I applaud all the work they do.
However I think there are better places to build a research centre than right in the centre of a residential area. There are several industrial sites on the outskirts of Manchester which would be better suited for plans of this size.
2. Car park:
The proposed car park is to be twice the size of the car park already built on Tatton Grove which DOES NOT get used to it’s full capacity. I know this as I can see the car park. I have lived on Arnfield Road for the last 7 years which has been used as a car park by the Christie staff for this entire time. Even after the new Tatton Grove car park was built the staff continued to park on Arnfield Road and surrounding roads. This can be annoying for residents as for example: I park my car outside our house and my husband parks his car on our drive. I’ll go out in my car and when I return 9 times out of 10 my space outside my own house has been taken by a member of the Christies staff. I have to park on our drive which then means when my husband returns home from work he cannot find a space to park his car. We need 2 cars for our work.
3. Cotton Lane:
The proposed plan is to use Cotton Lane as the entrance and exit for ALL traffic. At the moment cars cause a traffic jam at this point when entering into Cotton Lane. I know this as a fact as I often get caught in it myself. I cannot see how adding more traffic at this point is going to ease this situation.
There is a primary school at the top corner of Cotton Lane and Wilmslow road and a second primary school, St.Cuthberts at the bottom end of Cotton Lane. Children will be using Cotton Lane to get to and from school. If the plans go ahead and the building work starts I hope the fact that the 32 tonne trucks and all the noise pollution will not disturb the childrens education and most importantly, no accidents occur with the children as these trucks have to gain access via Cotton Lane.
Cotton Lane and Arnfield road are the only 2 roads which give access to the Hartley estate. If this proposal goes ahead I can clearly see that local traffic will be diverted to using Arnfield Road as access to Wilmslow Road and the Hartley estate. The fire station is positioned at the corner of Arnfield road and Wilmslow road. The firebrigade use Arnfield road to get access to other areas. Currently cars have
to wait at junctions and let others pass due to the fact that both sides of the road are taken up with all the parked cars. With more traffic pushed to Arnfield road it will on occasions cause problems for the fire brigade to gain quick passing.
4. Wall and trees:
The wall on Cotton Lane is an excellent security for people walking up and down the Lane.
All the beautiful establised trees align the road. It is a picture to see them in the middle of a city. The proposal is to tear these trees and wall down and plant some low bushes. Why? this will not compensate for all the beauty that is lost.
The wall is a security. The low line bushes will allow people to hide quite easily behind and jump out at unsuspecting victims.
5. Withington Green:
This beautiful green plot has been there for so many years. I can remember it as a child on my way to school. The plan is to rip this area up and again plant a few new smaller shrubs. A member of staff at the Christie said, the up keep of this plot is very hard and too much work. Funnily enough though it has been looked after fantastically as far back as I can remember, I mean how hard is it look after. I found this answer as quite insulting to my intelligence.
The new building has an overhanging floor over the green. Which means that Withington green will not be built ON but it will have a huge shadow over it.
6. Other buildings on the site:
At the moment other plots on this land are just illustrated in the plans as white blocks.
What are these to be and what future work and disruption for this area is planned?