themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-29--What the region's new development masterplan means for Rochdale

The latest version of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework - the region ’ s long-term plan for ‘ jobs homes and the environment ’ - is due to be signed off by local leaders .
Proposals for Rochdale include the creation of over 10,500 homes and 700,000 square metres of employment space , creating more than 11,000 new jobs .
Bosses say it has the potential to boost the borough ’ s economy by around £700m a year .
While much of it remains unchanged from the version that emerged in 2019 , there have been some significant alterations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ removal of plans for Kingsway South .
Proposals for 182 homes and 130,980m2 of employment space on land south of Junction 21 of the M62 have now been scrapped , saving 80 hectares of green belt .
The full run down of the plans for Rochdale under the new spatial framework - or GMSF - is below .
This joint allocation with Bury remains the ‘ game-changer ’ for Rochdale .
As well as 1,000 new homes in south Heywood it also boasts an ‘ advanced manufacturing park ’ between junctions 18 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ international level investment ’ .
Areas earmarked for potential development include land between junctions 18 and 19 of the M62 motorway , close to Heywood Distribution Park , with proposals to create 1,200 new homes and 350,000m2 of new employment space .
The new GMSF document states : “ This strategic allocation will enable the delivery of a large , nationally-significant employment opportunity to attract high quality business and investment , with a complementary housing offer on the M62 corridor , where there is strong evidence of market demand . ''
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this allocation will help to rebalance the Greater Manchester economy , ensure the GMSF plays its part in driving growth within the north of England and enable Greater Manchester to be competitive both nationally and internationally.
” But a massive expansion of Simister and Bowlee - also part of the Northern Gateway vision - has been significantly scaled back .
The number of new houses has been cut from 2,700 to 1,500 , with Rochdale reducing the 600 homes planned for its side of the border to 200 .
Plans to extend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Oldham - have changed considerably under the new spatial framework proposals .
The number of homes on the site has increased from 900 to 1680 and bosses now want to create a ‘ garden village ’ at the site , similar to the one at Woodford , in Stockport .
The industrial part of the proposal , however , has reduced from 250,000 sq m of floorspace to 155,000 sqm .
Efforts will be made to separate residential and employment traffic as much as possible , and the possibility of a lorry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be a wedge of green belt between the A627 ( M ) spur and Thornham Lane , which separates Rochdale and Middleton , while proposals for a new railway station at Slattocks are being worked up by transport planners .
The document states : “ This existing successful business park can provide a focus for a significantly expanded employment offer in this area which will complement the other opportunity areas within the Northern Gateway providing different types of premises and appeal to a wide range of uses and sectors.
” However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be significant public transport improvement to and within the site as a whole ’ .
Plans for these villages to the west of Rochdale town centre remain the same as the 2019 draft .
They include proposals for around 450 new homes which will be mainly ‘ larger higher value family housing ’ .
Bosses say these type of homes are needed to provide the homes for employees of the new business they hope to attract to the borough .
The document states : “ This development offers an excellent opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of housing which is in short supply across the borough and the conurbation as a whole .
`` The provision of such housing is important to ensure that a good range of housing is available across Greater Manchester to support economic growth.
” There are also plans to ‘ retain and significantly enhance the existing recreational facilities to ‘ create a high quality recreational and sports ‘ hub ’ serving the local area and the borough as a whole ’ .
A proposed high-speed bus route connecting Heywood and Manchester city centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The proposals again include plans for 125 new homes at Castleton Sidings - a brownfield site close to the railway station .
Development will be limited to the eastern half of the site to minimise encroachment into the green belt , while the western part of the site will be redeveloped as an area of open space or nature conservation area .
The north east of the plot will accommodate a temporary rail halt and associated parking to allow the extension of the East Lancashire Railway ( ELR ) from Heywood to Castleton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Any development would also include ‘ good quality pedestrian and cycling routes ’ to the centre of Castleton and the Castleton Bee Network scheme , as well as to the train station and employment sites in Heywood .
Plans for this site , next to Queen ’ s Park remain essentially unchanged from the 2019 iteration of the spatial framework .
Proposals include 250 new homes ‘ within an attractive riverside setting ’ - some of which will be within the the Grade II* listed mill itself .
As with Bamford and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher value family housing ’ .
The document says that any development will need to ‘ take into account the risk of flooding ’ and ensure that the mill building can be accessed from the north .
And there are also plans to enhance existing rights of way , including access to Queens Park and walking and cycling route to Heywood town centre .
The site is adjacent to All Souls C of E Primary School and any plans for the site will have to provide land for its future expansion , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school places in a location convenient for the residents of the new development .
This ‘ attractive site ’ next to Hollingworth Lake and the Rochdale Canal also remains unchanged from the 2019 version of the masterplan .
It would ‘ deliver around 300 new homes , including higher value family housing ‘ to meet needs within the local area and to attract and retain higher income households ’ .
Any development would be required to provide ‘ high quality ’ walking and cycling routes through the site , linking to key local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake .
The area is also said to ‘ provides an excellent location ’ for a new primary school between Littleborough and Smithy Bridge , while the car park at the southern end of the site would need to be replaced .
Another proposal unchanged from the version of the spatial framework that went out to consultation last year .
This would deliver around 250 new homes on a brownfield site , albeit one that sits within the greenbelt .
The document indicates there could be denser housing close to the village centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern and eastern parts of the site would feature larger , more expensive homes .
Any development would also have to provide car parking for the Metrolink stop and residents of Huddersfield Road , as well as enhancing pedestrian and cycling routes .
The number of homes proposed for this site in Littleborough has been scaled back slightly from 210 to 200 in the latest version of the GMSF .
It had been earmarked for 300 properties in the original 2016 draft .
According to the new GMSF , the scheme should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a proposed residential relief road between Smithy Bridge Road and Albert Royds Street .
Improvements to walking and cycling in the area - including links to public transport connections - are also included in these proposals .
The new document adds : “ This area has good access to the A58 bus corridor and there are local services and facilities along this route .
The development will need to provide good walking and cycling routes to the Calder Valley Railway line station at Smithy Bridge which offers good access to the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The number of homes earmarked for this greenfield site has gone back up from the 360 proposed in 2019 to 550 - the same as the original 2016 plan .
Last year ’ s plans included space for a new primary school , but bosses believe this can now be provided elsewhere in the area - potentially at the former Carcraft site on Nixon Street .
And further work undertaken by planning chiefs has indicated the greenfield site , near Crown Business Park , can support an extra 190 properties .
Proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cycling routes to the local centre of Castleton and the railway station ’ .
The GMSF document adds : “ The site is available and deliverable for residential development and provides an excellent opportunity to widen housing choice in a sustainable location.
” The new GMSF will go before the ten Greater Manchester leaders – and mayor Andy Burnham – at a meeting tomorrow , ( Friday , October 30 ) .
If endorsed it will then be thrown out to debates in town halls across the city-region throughout November as every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan be approved by all 10 districts it will then go out for an eight-week public consultation starting on Tuesday , December 1 .

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The latest version of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework - the region’s long-term plan for ‘jobs homes and the environment’ - is due to be signed off by local leaders.
Proposals for Rochdale include the creation of over 10,500 homes and 700,000 square metres of employment space, creating more than 11,000 new jobs.
Bosses say it has the potential to boost the borough’s economy by around £700m a year.
While much of it remains unchanged from the version that emerged in 2019, there have been some significant alterations.
The biggest change in Rochdale is the removal of plans for Kingsway South. Proposals for 182 homes and 130,980m2 of employment space on land south of Junction 21 of the M62 have now been scrapped, saving 80 hectares of green belt.
The full run down of the plans for Rochdale under the new spatial framework - or GMSF - is below.
The Northern Gateway
This joint allocation with Bury remains the ‘game-changer’ for Rochdale.
As well as 1,000 new homes in south Heywood it also boasts an ‘advanced manufacturing park’ between junctions 18 and 19 of the M62 expected to attract ‘international level investment’.
Areas earmarked for potential development include land between junctions 18 and 19 of the M62 motorway, close to Heywood Distribution Park, with proposals to create 1,200 new homes and 350,000m2 of new employment space.
The new GMSF document states: “This strategic allocation will enable the delivery of a large, nationally-significant employment opportunity to attract high quality business and investment, with a complementary housing offer on the M62 corridor, where there is strong evidence of market demand."
It adds: “The scale and location of this allocation will help to rebalance the Greater Manchester economy, ensure the GMSF plays its part in driving growth within the north of England and enable Greater Manchester to be competitive both nationally and internationally.”
But a massive expansion of Simister and Bowlee - also part of the Northern Gateway vision - has been significantly scaled back.
The number of new houses has been cut from 2,700 to 1,500, with Rochdale reducing the 600 homes planned for its side of the border to 200.
Stakehill
Plans to extend Stakehill Business Park - a joint allocation with Oldham - have changed considerably under the new spatial framework proposals.
The number of homes on the site has increased from 900 to 1680 and bosses now want to create a ‘garden village’ at the site, similar to the one at Woodford, in Stockport.
The industrial part of the proposal, however, has reduced from 250,000 sq m of floorspace to 155,000 sqm.
Efforts will be made to separate residential and employment traffic as much as possible, and the possibility of a lorry park is being explored.
There will also be a wedge of green belt between the A627(M) spur and Thornham Lane, which separates Rochdale and Middleton, while proposals for a new railway station at Slattocks are being worked up by transport planners.
The document states: “This existing successful business park can provide a focus for a significantly expanded employment offer in this area which will complement the other opportunity areas within the Northern Gateway providing different types of premises and appeal to a wide range of uses and sectors.”
However, it adds that ‘there will need to be significant public transport improvement to and within the site as a whole’.
Bamford and Norden
Plans for these villages to the west of Rochdale town centre remain the same as the 2019 draft.
They include proposals for around 450 new homes which will be mainly ‘larger higher value family housing’.
Bosses say these type of homes are needed to provide the homes for employees of the new business they hope to attract to the borough.
The document states: “This development offers an excellent opportunity to expand on this area to deliver a type of housing which is in short supply across the borough and the conurbation as a whole.
"The provision of such housing is important to ensure that a good range of housing is available across Greater Manchester to support economic growth.”
There are also plans to ‘retain and significantly enhance the existing recreational facilities to ‘create a high quality recreational and sports ‘hub’ serving the local area and the borough as a whole’.
A proposed high-speed bus route connecting Heywood and Manchester city centre could also be expanded to Norden.
Castleton Sidings
The proposals again include plans for 125 new homes at Castleton Sidings - a brownfield site close to the railway station.
Development will be limited to the eastern half of the site to minimise encroachment into the green belt, while the western part of the site will be redeveloped as an area of open space or nature conservation area.
The north east of the plot will accommodate a temporary rail halt and associated parking to allow the extension of the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) from Heywood to Castleton, and potentially a tram-train trial project.
Any development would also include ‘good quality pedestrian and cycling routes’ to the centre of Castleton and the Castleton Bee Network scheme, as well as to the train station and employment sites in Heywood.
Crimble Mill, Heywood
Plans for this site, next to Queen’s Park remain essentially unchanged from the 2019 iteration of the spatial framework.
Proposals include 250 new homes ‘within an attractive riverside setting’ - some of which will be within the the Grade II* listed mill itself.
As with Bamford and Norden many are expected to be ‘higher value family housing’.
The document says that any development will need to ‘take into account the risk of flooding’ and ensure that the mill building can be accessed from the north.
And there are also plans to enhance existing rights of way, including access to Queens Park and walking and cycling route to Heywood town centre.
The site is adjacent to All Souls C of E Primary School and any plans for the site will have to provide land for its future expansion, including outdoor playing space.
This would provide school places in a location convenient for the residents of the new development.
Land North of Smithy Bridge
This ‘attractive site’ next to Hollingworth Lake and the Rochdale Canal also remains unchanged from the 2019 version of the masterplan.
It would ‘deliver around 300 new homes, including higher value family housing ‘to meet needs within the local area and to attract and retain higher income households’.
Any development would be required to provide ‘high quality’ walking and cycling routes through the site, linking to key local destinations including Littleborough town centre and Hollingworth Lake.
The area is also said to ‘provides an excellent location’ for a new primary school between Littleborough and Smithy Bridge, while the car park at the southern end of the site would need to be replaced .
Newhey Quarry
Another proposal unchanged from the version of the spatial framework that went out to consultation last year.
This would deliver around 250 new homes on a brownfield site, albeit one that sits within the greenbelt.
The document indicates there could be denser housing close to the village centre and the Metrolink stop, while the northern and eastern parts of the site would feature larger, more expensive homes.
Any development would also have to provide car parking for the Metrolink stop and residents of Huddersfield Road, as well as enhancing pedestrian and cycling routes.
Roch Valley
The number of homes proposed for this site in Littleborough has been scaled back slightly from 210 to 200 in the latest version of the GMSF.
It had been earmarked for 300 properties in the original 2016 draft.
According to the new GMSF, the scheme should be designed to allow for the eastern section of a proposed residential relief road between Smithy Bridge Road and Albert Royds Street.
Improvements to walking and cycling in the area - including links to public transport connections - are also included in these proposals.
The new document adds: “This area has good access to the A58 bus corridor and there are local services and facilities along this route. The development will need to provide good walking and cycling routes to the Calder Valley Railway line station at Smithy Bridge which offers good access to the city centre and other areas of Greater Manchester.”
Trows Farm, Castleton
The number of homes earmarked for this greenfield site has gone back up from the 360 proposed in 2019 to 550 - the same as the original 2016 plan.
Last year’s plans included space for a new primary school, but bosses believe this can now be provided elsewhere in the area - potentially at the former Carcraft site on Nixon Street.
And further work undertaken by planning chiefs has indicated the greenfield site, near Crown Business Park, can support an extra 190 properties.
Proposals also include ‘safe and attractive walking and cycling routes to the local centre of Castleton and the railway station’.
The GMSF document adds: “The site is available and deliverable for residential development and provides an excellent opportunity to widen housing choice in a sustainable location.”
What next?
The new GMSF will go before the ten Greater Manchester leaders – and mayor Andy Burnham – at a meeting tomorrow, (Friday, October 30).
If endorsed it will then be thrown out to debates in town halls across the city-region throughout November as every councillor gets their say.
Should the plan be approved by all 10 districts it will then go out for an eight-week public consultation starting on Tuesday, December 1.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-29--Flash cars and pretending to have 'made it' - this cocaine dealer's double life

A cocaine addict who got dragged into the drugs trade in order to pay off debts has avoided jail .
Joshua James Burtonwood was initially pulled over by police on suspicion of drink driving , as he headed from Wigan to Leigh on April 4 , 2018 .
When officers searched the white Mercedes-Benz C-Class that the then-23-year-old had been driving , they found snap bags of cocaine , a large amount of cash in the glove box , and a blue wash bag containing steroids and other body building products .
After Burtonwood was arrested , police then searched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Leigh and found a large box of cash , snap bags containing cocaine and other 'cutting agents ' , empty plastic bags , spoons , pieces of card , and digital scales .
Officers also found a debtors list , also known as a 'tick list ' , underneath Burtonwood 's bed Between the car and the house , prosecution barrister Craig MacGregor told Bolton Crown Court that £3,560 worth of drugs were seized , along with £8,475 in cash .
Mr MacGregor also told the court that Burtonwood 's car was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Burtonwood , now 26 , has no previous convictions and was described as a `` man of good character '' by defence barrister Robert Smith .
`` The defendant 's vulnerability was exploited , '' Mr Smith said .
`` This defendant has had clear psychiatric issues and his mental health has been in a perilous state . ''
Burtonwood has previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine , with intent to supply .
Following a trial of issue hearing , Judge Graeme Smith ruled that Burtonwood was not involved in `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asserted originally by Mr MacGregror , but had still been heavily involved in other drug activity .
Judge Smith said : `` Anyone who is in any doubt to the appalling effect of drugs on society need only spend this morning in this court to see it .
`` It has had an appalling effect on your mental health and a harsh effect on your family who felt very threatened as a result of what you got yourself into and no doubt by the burning of the car that followed your arrest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you take drugs yourself , you get to the stage where you ca n't pay for them , you accrue a debt , you are put under pressure to do something to repay the debt and as a result you get deeper into the drugs trade .
`` You were heavily involved because you were passing packages backwards and forwards , you were dealing with debtors lists and various equipment found at your address means that you were involved in bagging up drugs .
`` You have no previous convictions and had clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into trouble and made you more vulnerable .
`` For a time you were enjoying the lifestyle .
You were buying , albeit counterfeit , luxury goods , you were driving a nice car , you were going out socialising and trying to fit in .
`` You were leading a double life ; on one hand you were giving every impression of having made it , while meanwhile facing threats , pressure and extreme psychiatric stress because of the position you found yourself in .
Judge Smith admitted that the case was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentencing guidelines and said that Burtonwood was on a 'knife edge ' between going to custody or having his sentence suspended .
He said : `` An offence this type almost always leads to immediate custody due to the effect of drugs on the community .
`` I have to look at other factors , you are classed as low risk , probation believe that you are a person for who rehabilitation would work and you have strong personal mitigation .
I balance up all those factors and you are literally on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith sentenced Burtonwood to two years imprisonment , suspended for two years .
Burtonwood , who had spent most of the hearing with his head in his hands , cried and looked visibly relieved when Judge Smith passed sentence .
Judge Smith , who believed that sending Burtonwood to custody could sent him 'back down the wrong path ' , added : `` There 's a real possibility that if you do n't go to custody , this is the last time we will see you before this court and you will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around , therefore I do suspend the sentence . ''
Burtonwood will also have to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days .

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A cocaine addict who got dragged into the drugs trade in order to pay off debts has avoided jail.
Joshua James Burtonwood was initially pulled over by police on suspicion of drink driving, as he headed from Wigan to Leigh on April 4, 2018.
When officers searched the white Mercedes-Benz C-Class that the then-23-year-old had been driving, they found snap bags of cocaine, a large amount of cash in the glove box, and a blue wash bag containing steroids and other body building products.
After Burtonwood was arrested, police then searched his bedroom at his home in Queensway, Leigh and found a large box of cash, snap bags containing cocaine and other 'cutting agents', empty plastic bags, spoons, pieces of card, and digital scales.
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Officers also found a debtors list, also known as a 'tick list', underneath Burtonwood's bed
Between the car and the house, prosecution barrister Craig MacGregor told Bolton Crown Court that £3,560 worth of drugs were seized, along with £8,475 in cash.
Mr MacGregor also told the court that Burtonwood's car was 'burnt out', following his arrest.
Burtonwood, now 26, has no previous convictions and was described as a "man of good character" by defence barrister Robert Smith.
"The defendant's vulnerability was exploited," Mr Smith said.
"This defendant has had clear psychiatric issues and his mental health has been in a perilous state."
(Image: Google Maps)
Burtonwood has previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, with intent to supply.
Following a trial of issue hearing, Judge Graeme Smith ruled that Burtonwood was not involved in "street dealing", as had been asserted originally by Mr MacGregror, but had still been heavily involved in other drug activity.
Judge Smith said: "Anyone who is in any doubt to the appalling effect of drugs on society need only spend this morning in this court to see it.
"It has had an appalling effect on your mental health and a harsh effect on your family who felt very threatened as a result of what you got yourself into and no doubt by the burning of the car that followed your arrest.
"You follow a typical pattern; you take drugs yourself, you get to the stage where you can't pay for them, you accrue a debt, you are put under pressure to do something to repay the debt and as a result you get deeper into the drugs trade.
"You were heavily involved because you were passing packages backwards and forwards, you were dealing with debtors lists and various equipment found at your address means that you were involved in bagging up drugs.
"You have no previous convictions and had clear psychiatric issues that led to you getting into trouble and made you more vulnerable.
"For a time you were enjoying the lifestyle. You were buying, albeit counterfeit, luxury goods, you were driving a nice car, you were going out socialising and trying to fit in.
"You were leading a double life; on one hand you were giving every impression of having made it, while meanwhile facing threats, pressure and extreme psychiatric stress because of the position you found yourself in.
Judge Smith admitted that the case was in a 'grey area' between different sentencing guidelines and said that Burtonwood was on a 'knife edge' between going to custody or having his sentence suspended.
He said: "An offence this type almost always leads to immediate custody due to the effect of drugs on the community.
"I have to look at other factors, you are classed as low risk, probation believe that you are a person for who rehabilitation would work and you have strong personal mitigation. I balance up all those factors and you are literally on the knife edge of custody."
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Judge Smith sentenced Burtonwood to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Burtonwood, who had spent most of the hearing with his head in his hands, cried and looked visibly relieved when Judge Smith passed sentence.
Judge Smith, who believed that sending Burtonwood to custody could sent him 'back down the wrong path', added: "There's a real possibility that if you don't go to custody, this is the last time we will see you before this court and you will be able to continue to turn your life around, therefore I do suspend the sentence."
Burtonwood will also have to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-29--The latest coronavirus infection rates across Greater Manchester

Several boroughs in Greater Manchester have hit record-breaking rates of infection .
The infection rate in Oldham has been spiking over 600 for the last few days , and stands at 693.34 per 100,000 people as of October 25 .
That number is expected to rise above 700 by October 26 - the first time any borough has reached that figure since the start of the pandemic .
These figures come with the caveat that community testing was not widely available at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis .
In Oldham , 1,644 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 .
That is the highest weekly number of positive tests confirmed in the borough .
Wigan is also fast approaching an infection rate of 700 , with 683.4 cases per 100,000 of the population in the week ending October 25 .
Early figures suggest that this rate may drop by October 26 , before it reaches the landmark number .
It comes as Wigan council 's director of public health , Kate Ardern , said the spread of the virus within the borough was different to the rest of the region .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the borough over the last seven day period , an increase of 733 from the week before .
This is also the largest weekly number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic .
Both Wigan and Bolton have now had over 10,000 people test positive for coronavirus since March .
Stockport has reached another concerning milestone , as it reaches an infection rate of over 400 for the first time since records began .
There were 409.0 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending October 25 , but the borough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greater Manchester .
The national average infection rate is 227.6 , and has been creeping up steadily for the last few days .
Infection rates in Salford and Rochdale appear to have plateaued at around the 600 mark , for the last couple of days .
In the week ending October 25 , the rate was 610.8 in Salford and 600.2 per 100,000 people in Rochdale .
Both boroughs are consistently recording over a thousand new weekly cases of Covid-19 .
Tameside is continuing to see a significant spike in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 528.47 in the seven days to October 25 .
That is a jump of nearly 100 in the last five days , when on October 20 the infection rate was 429.13 .
Does Greater Manchester need tougher local lockdown restrictions - have your say in the comments' There were 1,197 new confirmed cases of the virus in the last seven days to October 25 , an increase of 42 per cent week-on-week .
That is also the highest number of weekly positive tests recorded in the borough since the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast approaching 20,000 total cases , with 19,620 cases confirmed in the city since March .
The infection rate there appears to have remained around the 500 mark for the last week .
Cases are also rising in Trafford and Bolton , with infection rates continuing to increase in every borough across the conurbation .
The latest infection figures come as a further sixteen people died from coronavirus in Greater Manchester 's hospitals .
Across the North West , 73 more Covid-19 deaths were recorded .

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Several boroughs in Greater Manchester have hit record-breaking rates of infection.
The infection rate in Oldham has been spiking over 600 for the last few days, and stands at 693.34 per 100,000 people as of October 25.
That number is expected to rise above 700 by October 26 - the first time any borough has reached that figure since the start of the pandemic.
These figures come with the caveat that community testing was not widely available at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis.
In Oldham, 1,644 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the seven days leading up to October 25.
That is the highest weekly number of positive tests confirmed in the borough.
(Image: MEN Media)
Wigan is also fast approaching an infection rate of 700, with 683.4 cases per 100,000 of the population in the week ending October 25.
Early figures suggest that this rate may drop by October 26, before it reaches the landmark number.
It comes as Wigan council's director of public health, Kate Ardern, said the spread of the virus within the borough was different to the rest of the region.
There were 2,246 new cases recorded in the borough over the last seven day period, an increase of 733 from the week before.
This is also the largest weekly number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic.
Both Wigan and Bolton have now had over 10,000 people test positive for coronavirus since March.
Stockport has reached another concerning milestone, as it reaches an infection rate of over 400 for the first time since records began.
There were 409.0 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending October 25, but the borough still has the lowest infection rate in Greater Manchester.
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The national average infection rate is 227.6, and has been creeping up steadily for the last few days.
Infection rates in Salford and Rochdale appear to have plateaued at around the 600 mark, for the last couple of days.
In the week ending October 25, the rate was 610.8 in Salford and 600.2 per 100,000 people in Rochdale.
Both boroughs are consistently recording over a thousand new weekly cases of Covid-19.
Tameside is continuing to see a significant spike in the number of weekly cases, with an infection rate of 528.47 in the seven days to October 25.
That is a jump of nearly 100 in the last five days, when on October 20 the infection rate was 429.13.
Does Greater Manchester need tougher local lockdown restrictions - have your say in the comments'
There were 1,197 new confirmed cases of the virus in the last seven days to October 25, an increase of 42 per cent week-on-week.
That is also the highest number of weekly positive tests recorded in the borough since the start of the start of the pandemic.
Manchester is fast approaching 20,000 total cases, with 19,620 cases confirmed in the city since March.
The infection rate there appears to have remained around the 500 mark for the last week.
Cases are also rising in Trafford and Bolton, with infection rates continuing to increase in every borough across the conurbation.
The latest infection figures come as a further sixteen people died from coronavirus in Greater Manchester's hospitals.
Across the North West, 73 more Covid-19 deaths were recorded.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--Greater Manchester's master plan wins supports of all regional leaders

Greater Manchester ’ s Spatial Framework , the long-awaited master plan for boosting jobs and house building , has won the support of regional leaders .
The latest version of the plan , published last week , outlines what land in the city-region can be used for housing , industrial and employment uses up to 2037 .
Land for up to 180,000 new homes would be freed up across Greater Manchester , of which 50,000 would be affordable .
This is lower than the 227,000 proposed in the original document published in 2016 .
Green belt development , by far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been reduced by 60pc .
This means the size of the green belt will drop from 46.7pc to 45.1pc .
The amount of employment land has also shrunk by half from the level proposed in the original masterplan .
A greater emphasis will be placed on breathing new life into brownfield sites , with the combined authority planning to use £80m of government funding to fulfil their ambitions .
Council leaders expressed their approval of the latest iteration of the GMSF at an executive meeting on Friday .
Andy Burnham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the framework had been as hotly debated in recent years as the Brexit referendum .
“ I hope everybody in the city-region would be able to agree that [ the GMSF ] is substantially different from the plan in 2016 which had a very different approach , ” he said .
What do you make of the GMSF master plan ?
Have your say in our comments below “ Over those intervening years we have been listening very closely to what communities have said , and I hope people see that consultation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to bring this matter to a conclusion and agree the GMSF.
” By throwing their support behind the GMSF , council leaders have agreed to table the masterplan at town hall debates in November .
If the GMSF manages to gain the consent of all councils it will then go out for a public consultation in December , though further opposition is expected from councillors and green belt campaigners .
But Mr Burnham said : “ We are at a point now where we have to move forward , and there also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say now that the green belt is better protected by proceeding , rather than continuing to debate these issues .
“ I hope today that we can turn some of the negative debate about the GMSF into a much more positive and confident plan for the future of Greater Manchester .
”

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Greater Manchester’s Spatial Framework, the long-awaited master plan for boosting jobs and house building, has won the support of regional leaders.
The latest version of the plan, published last week, outlines what land in the city-region can be used for housing, industrial and employment uses up to 2037.
Land for up to 180,000 new homes would be freed up across Greater Manchester, of which 50,000 would be affordable.
This is lower than the 227,000 proposed in the original document published in 2016.
Green belt development, by far the most controversial aspect of the GMSF, has been reduced by 60pc. This means the size of the green belt will drop from 46.7pc to 45.1pc.
The amount of employment land has also shrunk by half from the level proposed in the original masterplan.
A greater emphasis will be placed on breathing new life into brownfield sites, with the combined authority planning to use £80m of government funding to fulfil their ambitions.
Council leaders expressed their approval of the latest iteration of the GMSF at an executive meeting on Friday.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, admitted that the framework had been as hotly debated in recent years as the Brexit referendum.
“I hope everybody in the city-region would be able to agree that [the GMSF] is substantially different from the plan in 2016 which had a very different approach,” he said.
What do you make of the GMSF master plan? Have your say in our comments below
“Over those intervening years we have been listening very closely to what communities have said, and I hope people see that consultation is real.
“But we do now want to bring this matter to a conclusion and agree the GMSF.”
By throwing their support behind the GMSF, council leaders have agreed to table the masterplan at town hall debates in November.
If the GMSF manages to gain the consent of all councils it will then go out for a public consultation in December, though further opposition is expected from councillors and green belt campaigners.
But Mr Burnham said: “We are at a point now where we have to move forward, and there also comes a point where you have to say now that the green belt is better protected by proceeding, rather than continuing to debate these issues.
“I hope today that we can turn some of the negative debate about the GMSF into a much more positive and confident plan for the future of Greater Manchester.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--Asda pulls face mask from sale as report finds 'huge difference in quality'

The consumer organisation , Which ?
, has found huge variations in the effectiveness of reusable face coverings in the first consumer test of its kind , which has led to Asda pulling an inefficient mask from its shelves .
It found that the best performing coverings blocked more than 99 per cent of potentially harmful bacterial particles from penetrating the mask material – similar to the standard of single-use surgical masks .
But the worst only managed to filter out a paltry seven per cent – allowing up to 93 per cent to escape .
Scientists tested for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are , and how they fare after multiple washes .
Three out of the 15 face coverings Which ?
tested performed so poorly that they were deemed a ‘ Don ’ t Buy ’ .
At the bottom of the table and earning the lowest scores overall were a face covering from Termini8 sold at Lloyds Pharmacy ( £2 ) , one from Asda ( £3 ) and one from Etiquette ( £3 ) , which is sold at Superdrug .
All were lightweight and breathable as they were made with only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to filter potentially harmful particles , earning each mask only one star out of five in this category .
As a result , Asda has removed its single-layered White Patterned Face Mask from its shelves .
Which ?
awarded Best Buy status to he NEQI reusable face mask ( £15 for 3 ) , sold at Boots and Ocado as well as Bags of Ethics Great British Designer face coverings ( £15 for 3 ) , soldat Asos and John Lewis .
Both were rated comfortably breathable , earning the full five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filtration ( four stars out of five ) .
The lab tests revealed that masks with multiple layers are much more effective than single layer masks at filtering particles .
However , Which ?
found that there was a clear trade off between breathability and how effective the mask was at filtering potentially harmful particles .
Fabric masks that scored five out of five for filtration were also those that scored the lowest for breathability .
These included the Firebox reusable mask ( £15 ) , made with double-layered polyester and using a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reusable Face Mask ( £6 ) , made of three layers , and the Smart Mask ( £14 ) , which is three layers .
They all got one star for breathability .
The AB Mask ( £10 ) , which is available at Boots , also received full marks for filtration but got two stars for breathability .
If a face covering isn ’ t breathable , it can get damp more quickly with condensation from trapped breath and might encourage people to adjust or remove their mask , especially if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and AB Mask were the only two that prevented glasses steaming up and were rated highest for glasses-wearers ’ comfort , with both scoring five stars in this category .
The Which ?
tests also revealed that almost all of the face coverings got better at filtering particles after being washed .
Face coverings were re-tested after five hot wash cycles , and most improved , due to the fibres compressing .
While reusable fabric face coverings are not designed to block ultra-fine particles such as Covid-19 like a higher-grade medical respirator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help block larger droplets and aerosols breathed out by the wearer , who may be infected but asymptomatic .
Natalie Hitchins , Which ?
Head of Home Products and Services , said : “ With face coverings now such an important part of daily life , they not only need to be durable and comfortable , but also provide effective filtration from harmful particles in order to keep us and others safe .
“ Our results prove that there is a huge difference in quality between reusable masks sold in stores around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge manufacturers to use our findings to up their game and improve their products – until then it is worth taking time to research the best option for yourself and your loved ones .
Termin8 and Superdrug disputed its findings and said their masks conform to government guidelines for fabric face coverings which do n't require them to have bacterial filtration .
Asda said their face coverings `` comply with British Retail Consortium guidance and the Office for Product Safety and Standards '' .
The company added : `` The covering that featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CWA17533 guidelines were published and is no longer on sale . ''
How to choose an effective face covering : • Try to go for three layers , but at least two – Which ?
researchers ' tests showed a clear difference between single-layer face coverings and those with a double or triple layer .
• Choose your material wisely .
Tightly woven cotton is a good option as the homemade mask Which ?
tested did well on filtration – and the worst-performing masks were a single layer of mostly polyester .
Ideally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as cotton , polypropylene and different types of polyester is good .
• Make sure it ’ s adjustable or comes in different sizes – Which ?
testers rated face coverings higher for fit and comfort when they were adjustable , either by the ear loops and nose wire or because the mask came in different sizes .
When compared to single-use surgical masks , the researchers said they are non-recyclable so `` not really a practical solution for sustained daily use and could have a grave impact on the environment . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost of using one a day for a year could add up to £164 .

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The consumer organisation, Which?, has found huge variations in the effectiveness of reusable face coverings in the first consumer test of its kind, which has led to Asda pulling an inefficient mask from its shelves.
It found that the best performing coverings blocked more than 99 per cent of potentially harmful bacterial particles from penetrating the mask material – similar to the standard of single-use surgical masks.
But the worst only managed to filter out a paltry seven per cent – allowing up to 93 per cent to escape.
Scientists tested for how well they filter bacteria, how breathable they are, and how they fare after multiple washes.
Three out of the 15 face coverings Which? tested performed so poorly that they were deemed a ‘Don’t Buy’.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
At the bottom of the table and earning the lowest scores overall were a face covering from Termini8 sold at Lloyds Pharmacy (£2), one from Asda (£3) and one from Etiquette (£3), which is sold at Superdrug.
(Image: PA)
All were lightweight and breathable as they were made with only one layer, but this affected their ability to filter potentially harmful particles, earning each mask only one star out of five in this category.
As a result, Asda has removed its single-layered White Patterned Face Mask from its shelves.
Which? awarded Best Buy status to he NEQI reusable face mask (£15 for 3), sold at Boots and Ocado as well as Bags of Ethics Great British Designer face coverings (£15 for 3), soldat Asos and John Lewis.
Both were rated comfortably breathable, earning the full five stars in this category without compromising on filtration (four stars out of five).
The lab tests revealed that masks with multiple layers are much more effective than single layer masks at filtering particles.
However, Which? found that there was a clear trade off between breathability and how effective the mask was at filtering potentially harmful particles.
Fabric masks that scored five out of five for filtration were also those that scored the lowest for breathability.
These included the Firebox reusable mask (£15), made with double-layered polyester and using a double filter, Maskie Loop UV Sanitized reusable Face Mask (£6), made of three layers, and the Smart Mask (£14), which is three layers.
They all got one star for breathability. The AB Mask (£10), which is available at Boots, also received full marks for filtration but got two stars for breathability.
If a face covering isn’t breathable, it can get damp more quickly with condensation from trapped breath and might encourage people to adjust or remove their mask, especially if they wear glasses.
The Asos (£12) and AB Mask were the only two that prevented glasses steaming up and were rated highest for glasses-wearers’ comfort, with both scoring five stars in this category.
The Which? tests also revealed that almost all of the face coverings got better at filtering particles after being washed. Face coverings were re-tested after five hot wash cycles, and most improved, due to the fibres compressing.
(Image: PA)
While reusable fabric face coverings are not designed to block ultra-fine particles such as Covid-19 like a higher-grade medical respirator mask would, they are intended to help block larger droplets and aerosols breathed out by the wearer, who may be infected but asymptomatic.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: “With face coverings now such an important part of daily life, they not only need to be durable and comfortable, but also provide effective filtration from harmful particles in order to keep us and others safe.
“Our results prove that there is a huge difference in quality between reusable masks sold in stores around the country and online.
"We would urge manufacturers to use our findings to up their game and improve their products – until then it is worth taking time to research the best option for yourself and your loved ones.
Termin8 and Superdrug disputed its findings and said their masks conform to government guidelines for fabric face coverings which don't require them to have bacterial filtration.
Asda said their face coverings "comply with British Retail Consortium guidance and the Office for Product Safety and Standards".
The company added: "The covering that featured in this review was produced before the CWA17533 guidelines were published and is no longer on sale."
How to choose an effective face covering:
Try to go for three layers, but at least two – Which? researchers' tests showed a clear difference between single-layer face coverings and those with a double or triple layer.
Choose your material wisely. Tightly woven cotton is a good option as the homemade mask Which? tested did well on filtration – and the worst-performing masks were a single layer of mostly polyester. Ideally, a mix of different fabrics such as cotton, polypropylene and different types of polyester is good.
Make sure it’s adjustable or comes in different sizes – Which? testers rated face coverings higher for fit and comfort when they were adjustable, either by the ear loops and nose wire or because the mask came in different sizes.
When compared to single-use surgical masks, the researchers said they are non-recyclable so "not really a practical solution for sustained daily use and could have a grave impact on the environment."
At around 45 pence per mask, the cost of using one a day for a year could add up to £164.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--Man United manager Solskjaer might be about to change his big game blueprint

Manchester United have made an excellent start to their Champions League campaign after back-to-back wins against Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig .
They will now be keen to bring some of their fine European form into their domestic campaign as they aim to start climbing the Premier League table .
So far , United have managed just two wins from their opening five league matches , leaving them languishing down in an unfamiliar 15th place .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's men are set to do battle with Arsenal at Old Trafford this weekend , and it ’ s a fixture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of view .
Under Mikel Arteta Arsenal have implemented a philosophy shaped in many ways by the Spaniard 's time at Manchester City .
There , Arteta worked with Pep Guardiola , who is renowned for his domineering and possession-based principles .
From what we ’ ve seen during his short tenure , Arteta has looked to replicate that philosophy at the Emirates , with Arsenal tending to look to cut through opponents with short and intricate passing combinations , as opposed to relying on long and direct forward passes .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Solskjaer has gone about attempting to deploy a similar philosophy , certainly in the sense of instructing his side to get the ball down on the floor and build attacks through short passing .
A good indicator of this is to look at a goalkeeper 's distribution - given that goalkeepers tend to instigate most attacking moves .
In a direct team , you ’ ll often see a high proportion of kicks from the goalkeeper going long in order to get as high up the pitch as quickly as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for teams who like to deploy a possession-based game .
The below graphic highlights that so far this season , United rank second for having the shortest average goalkeeper pass length in the league ( this does not include goal kicks ) .
Additionally , the below visualisation illustrates how David de Gea has adjusted his passing behaviours across the previous three seasons .
However , while Solskjaer ’ s philosophy is beginning to take shape , United ’ s default tactic for victory in big games , has been reverting away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
They lost just two league games against members of the traditional ‘ top six ’ last season , despite their opponents recording a higher possession average in all but two of those ten encounters .
Additionally , in their two most notable victories against PSG and RB Leipzig this season , they saw less of the ball than their opponents .
Sign up to our free Analytic5 newsletter for your daily hit of the best tactical and analytical content around Analytic5 is a five-step weekly breakdown of a variety of different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players and emerging tactical trends from across the world of football .
By signing up , you will receive the once-daily email straight into your inbox , both for free and advertisement free .
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While these results have been impressive , it does seem counterintuitive to drastically alter an approach for these big games when Solskaer is trying to refine a philosophy centred around passing and retaining the ball .
Therefore , although we have become accustomed to Solskjaer 's counter-attacking blueprint to secure wins in big games , we can probably expect to see those sort of performances less and less in the coming seasons as Solskjaer becomes more confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matches against the bigger teams .
If Solskjaer has aspirations for United to become a side that dominates in most areas of the pitch , then the natural next stage of the squad 's evolution is to impose themselves in a similar manner when facing not only inferior opponents but also the top teams too .

newsdesk@men-news.co.uk (David Alexander Hughes)

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Manchester United have made an excellent start to their Champions League campaign after back-to-back wins against Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig. They will now be keen to bring some of their fine European form into their domestic campaign as they aim to start climbing the Premier League table.
So far, United have managed just two wins from their opening five league matches, leaving them languishing down in an unfamiliar 15th place.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are set to do battle with Arsenal at Old Trafford this weekend, and it’s a fixture surrounded by intrigue from a tactical point of view.
Under Mikel Arteta Arsenal have implemented a philosophy shaped in many ways by the Spaniard's time at Manchester City. There, Arteta worked with Pep Guardiola, who is renowned for his domineering and possession-based principles.
Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now
From what we’ve seen during his short tenure, Arteta has looked to replicate that philosophy at the Emirates, with Arsenal tending to look to cut through opponents with short and intricate passing combinations, as opposed to relying on long and direct forward passes.
This is interesting to note given that at United, Solskjaer has gone about attempting to deploy a similar philosophy, certainly in the sense of instructing his side to get the ball down on the floor and build attacks through short passing.
A good indicator of this is to look at a goalkeeper's distribution - given that goalkeepers tend to instigate most attacking moves. In a direct team, you’ll often see a high proportion of kicks from the goalkeeper going long in order to get as high up the pitch as quickly as possible. However, it’s the opposite for teams who like to deploy a possession-based game.
The below graphic highlights that so far this season, United rank second for having the shortest average goalkeeper pass length in the league (this does not include goal kicks).
Additionally, the below visualisation illustrates how David de Gea has adjusted his passing behaviours across the previous three seasons.
However, while Solskjaer’s philosophy is beginning to take shape, United’s default tactic for victory in big games, has been reverting away from a ball-dominating game, to a counter-attacking one.
They lost just two league games against members of the traditional ‘top six’ last season, despite their opponents recording a higher possession average in all but two of those ten encounters.
Additionally, in their two most notable victories against PSG and RB Leipzig this season, they saw less of the ball than their opponents.
Sign up to our free Analytic5 newsletter for your daily hit of the best tactical and analytical content around What is it? Analytic5 is a five-step weekly breakdown of a variety of different subjects ranging from exciting teams, outstanding players and emerging tactical trends from across the world of football. By signing up, you will receive the once-daily email straight into your inbox, both for free and advertisement free. How do you sign up? It's really easy and only takes a few seconds. Simply click this link, we don't need your name or any contact details, just pop your email in the white field and hit submit, that's it. If you wish to unsubscribe at any point, you can just by using one of the links in the newsletter - however we don't think you will want too. For more details, click here.
While these results have been impressive, it does seem counterintuitive to drastically alter an approach for these big games when Solskaer is trying to refine a philosophy centred around passing and retaining the ball.
Therefore, although we have become accustomed to Solskjaer's counter-attacking blueprint to secure wins in big games, we can probably expect to see those sort of performances less and less in the coming seasons as Solskjaer becomes more confident in his players' ability to control matches against the bigger teams.
If Solskjaer has aspirations for United to become a side that dominates in most areas of the pitch, then the natural next stage of the squad's evolution is to impose themselves in a similar manner when facing not only inferior opponents but also the top teams too.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--Bury school renames dining hall in honour of Marcus Rashford

A primary school in Bury has renamed its dining hall in honour of Marcus Rashford .
The news comes after relentless work by the Manchester United and England striker to make sure children do not go hungry during school holidays .
The campaign began earlier this year , when 22-year-old Rashford began pushing for vouchers to see 200,000 struggling families through the summer holidays , forcing the Prime Minister to u-turn on plans to end support for those who would receive free school meals .
But last week , his attempts to extend the voucher scheme until Easter 2021 failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 322 Conservative MPs .
The footballer has pledged to continue his fight for hungry children across the UK .
His efforts have been met with a rapturous response by hundreds of cafes , restaurants and local councils which have promised food for free , and Rashford , already an MBE recipent , has just been awarded by a Pride of Britain trophy .
Now , St Lukes CofE Primary School in Fishpool has announced it is changing the name of its dining hall to The Marcus Rashford Dining Hall in honour of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors .
Bury councillor Tamoor Tariq said : `` In Black History Month and the half-term holidays where we ’ ve seen Marcus Rashford change lives with # ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY campaign , as chair of governors of St Luke 's CofE Primary School '' I ’ m delighted to announce we will be naming our dining hall , ‘ The Marcus Rashford Dining Hall.
’ '' Bury Council is currently still offering the voucher system for children and families over the October half-term .
The England international has also used his Twitter account as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteered to help provide meals .
Those in need can go to his account and find places in their areas which are offering food .
Rashford told his 3.6 million Twitter followers : `` Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term .
Selflessness , kindness , togetherness , this is the England I know . ''

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A primary school in Bury has renamed its dining hall in honour of Marcus Rashford.
The news comes after relentless work by the Manchester United and England striker to make sure children do not go hungry during school holidays.
The campaign began earlier this year, when 22-year-old Rashford began pushing for vouchers to see 200,000 struggling families through the summer holidays, forcing the Prime Minister to u-turn on plans to end support for those who would receive free school meals.
But last week, his attempts to extend the voucher scheme until Easter 2021 failed in Parliament after being voted down by 322 Conservative MPs.
The footballer has pledged to continue his fight for hungry children across the UK.
His efforts have been met with a rapturous response by hundreds of cafes, restaurants and local councils which have promised food for free, and Rashford, already an MBE recipent, has just been awarded by a Pride of Britain trophy.
Now, St Lukes CofE Primary School in Fishpool has announced it is changing the name of its dining hall to The Marcus Rashford Dining Hall in honour of the Wythenshawe-born player, says its chair of governors.
Bury councillor Tamoor Tariq said: "In Black History Month and the half-term holidays where we’ve seen Marcus Rashford change lives with #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY campaign, as chair of governors of St Luke's CofE Primary School
"I’m delighted to announce we will be naming our dining hall, ‘The Marcus Rashford Dining Hall.’"
Bury Council is currently still offering the voucher system for children and families over the October half-term.
The England international has also used his Twitter account as a platform for those businesses who have volunteered to help provide meals. Those in need can go to his account and find places in their areas which are offering food.
Rashford told his 3.6 million Twitter followers: "Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--LIVE Andy Burnham press conference on region's latest Covid-19 situation

This afternoon Andy Burnham will hold his regular press conference about the Covid situation in Greater Manchester .
The second half of today ’ s update will also cover the region ’ s long-running spatial framework - which was finally signed off by leaders this morning ahead of a public consultation .
It will still have to go through each individual town hall for a vote , however , meaning the framework is not over the line yet .
The press conference replaces the mayor ’ s usual Wednesday briefing , which provides an update on the Covid situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wider community .
New data is expected this afternoon reflecting the current picture across the system in terms of cases , NHS pressures and deaths .
It comes as pressure within hospitals here has grown rapidly , with hospitals in both Wigan and Stockport beginning to cancel non-urgent procedures in order to free up beds .
Infection rates in every borough are also continuing to rise .
It comes after a press conference earlier this week in which the mayor launched ‘ oneGM ’ - a fundraising effort , backed by celebrities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for those affected by the government ’ s ‘ tier three ’ restrictions .
Today ’ s update will cover the health situation in more detail - while also discussing the idea behind the GMSF , the region ’ s 17-year planning blueprint for where new homes and businesses will be built .
That has been through a tricky time politically in recent weeks , that saw a huge row break out over one site in Bredbury , that had the potential to derail the entire plan .
Stockport council has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that site , however , and leaders agreed the framework in at their meeting this morning .
It will now need to go through each individual town hall for a vote , with Stockport - which is in no overall control - the council most likely to vote it down .
Were that to happen , it is unclear whether the other nine councils would move forward without the borough .
The first half of today ’ s press conference will see the mayor and his deputy Bev Hughes discuss Covid-19 , followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s leader Elise Wilson addressing the spatial framework .

This afternoon Andy Burnham will hold his regular press conference about the Covid situation in Greater Manchester.
The second half of today’s update will also cover the region’s long-running spatial framework - which was finally signed off by leaders this morning ahead of a public consultation.
It will still have to go through each individual town hall for a vote, however, meaning the framework is not over the line yet.
The press conference replaces the mayor’s usual Wednesday briefing, which provides an update on the Covid situation, including in hospitals, care homes and the wider community.
New data is expected this afternoon reflecting the current picture across the system in terms of cases, NHS pressures and deaths.
It comes as pressure within hospitals here has grown rapidly, with hospitals in both Wigan and Stockport beginning to cancel non-urgent procedures in order to free up beds.
Infection rates in every borough are also continuing to rise.
It comes after a press conference earlier this week in which the mayor launched ‘oneGM’ - a fundraising effort, backed by celebrities including Gary Neville, to provide financial support for those affected by the government’s ‘tier three’ restrictions.
Today’s update will cover the health situation in more detail - while also discussing the idea behind the GMSF, the region’s 17-year planning blueprint for where new homes and businesses will be built.
That has been through a tricky time politically in recent weeks, that saw a huge row break out over one site in Bredbury, that had the potential to derail the entire plan.
Stockport council has now reduced the scale of its plans for that site, however, and leaders agreed the framework in at their meeting this morning.
It will now need to go through each individual town hall for a vote, with Stockport - which is in no overall control - the council most likely to vote it down.
Were that to happen, it is unclear whether the other nine councils would move forward without the borough.
The first half of today’s press conference will see the mayor and his deputy Bev Hughes discuss Covid-19, followed by Salford mayor Paul Dennett and Stockport’s leader Elise Wilson addressing the spatial framework.
Follow our live updates from 1pm.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--Pep Guardiola Man City press conference LIVE

Pep Guardiola will address the media later today to preview Manchester City 's Premier League away match at Sheffield United @ @ @ @ @ Lane tomorrow lunchtime , and Guardiola will speak to the press today with the latest @ @ @ @ @ After the morale-boosting Champions League win at Marseille this week , City welcomed back Aymeric @ @ @ @ @ and Aleks Zinchenko .
Nathan Ake , Fernandinho Gabriel Jesus and Benjamin Mendy remain out @ @ @ @ @ a new update on when they could return .
City are looking to bounce back @ @ @ @ @ draw at West Ham against the winless Blades .
Meanwhile , City 's under-18s are @ @ @ @ @ this evening , with Blackburn the opponents in the semi-finals of the postponed 2019/20 competition @ @ @ @ @ 's team are also preparing for a big game , as Gareth Taylor 's side @ @ @ @ @ FA Cup Final at Wembley tomorrow against Everton .
Follow the latest City news and @ @ @

Pep Guardiola addressed the media earlier today as he previewed Manchester City's Premier League away match against Sheffield United.
City travel to Bramall Lane on Saturday looking to get their Premier League campaign back on track after last weekend's 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero and Benjamin Mendy remain out, but Nathan Ake and Gabriel Jesus are in contention. Ake has not played since the win over Arsenal a fortnight ago, while Jesus' last appearance came in City's opening-day win over Wolves.
Meanwhile, City's under-18s are in FA Youth Cup action this evening, with Blackburn the opponents in the last four of the postponed 2019/20 competition. The women's team are also preparing for a big game, as Gareth Taylor's side are in the FA Cup final at Wembley against Everton on Sunday.
See what Guardiola had to say during his press conference in our live blog below.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--Wildlife hospital boss banned after birds found with 'severe' injuries

The manager of a wildlife hospital has been banned for life after admitting to causing 'unnecessary suffering ' to birds .
A total of 145 birds had to be put to sleep due to the severity of the injuries after police and RSPCA inspectors raided Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital .
Broken wings , blindness and open wounds were just some of the injuries found during the visit , say the charity .
One pigeon had such a severely damaged beak that it was unable to feed itself and had become emaciated .
Inspectors say they also came across aviaries covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left without food and water .
Natalie Kerr , who ran the Bury -based facility , pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two birds and failing to ensure others received adequate care at Manchester Magistrates ’ Court .
According to the hospital 's website , its aim is 'to care for and release sick and injured wild birds or to house those incapacitated for release ' .
However , the RSPCA and Greater Manchester Police swooped on the hospital , in Garside Hey Road , after a member of the public raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the visit on July 5 , 2019 , 211 birds were found at the site .
Of these , 145 were deemed to be in a 'suffering state ' and had to be put to sleep .
The court heard how a team of RSPCA animal rescuers and vets found various birds including pigeons , corvids , blackbirds , an eagle owl , swans and geese in aviaries around the grounds .
Many could not fly and were visibly injured or in poor condition .
A wooden building - which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained more birds in what a vet described as in a “ very poor state.
” In a court statement , RSPCA Chief Inspector Ben Strangwood said : “ The aviaries were all looking tired and contained a lot of bird faeces and cobwebs .
`` Some of the birds appeared unable to fly and were largely ground-dwelling , resulting in their feathers being a mess .
“ The officers started to remove birds from the hospital unit which the vet and wildlife assistant examined and triaged in the mobile clinic van .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds had notes/records on their cages and some did not .
`` Some birds had food and water and some didn ’ t .
Some cages were very dirty with faeces .
There were lots of flies and the smell was unpleasant .
“ There were birds in there with head tilts , bandages/tape on wings , open wounds , glassy eyes indicating blindness , drooping wings , feathers in very poor condition.
” Inspector Emma Dingley , the RSPCA officer who lead the investigation , added : “ Many birds had chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not be treated without further compromising their welfare , or were unsuitable for release into the wild , or for permanent captivity .
“ One pigeon had a deformed beak which meant it was unable to feed himself and he was emaciated - the notes indicated he had been named Beaky by the hospital .
“ Another duck was found with two broken wings which the hospital had named Wingie .
There was also a pigeon with an open wound .
You could see his heart .
“ It was so sad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be put to sleep to end their suffering .
“ But we managed to save some of the birds and one - a European Eagle which was blind and emaciated is now thriving with a specialist keeper and has a mate .
“ The RSPCA would always advise anyone who finds an injured bird to take them to a vets who will treat wildlife for free.
” As well as the life-time ban on keeping animals , Ms Kerr , 54 , of Barlow Close , Bury , was handed a four-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 7am .
She was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £90 victim surcharge .
A post on Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital 's Facebook states that the facility is 'temporarily closed for refurbishment ' .
The hospital has been approached for comment .

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The manager of a wildlife hospital has been banned for life after admitting to causing 'unnecessary suffering' to birds.
A total of 145 birds had to be put to sleep due to the severity of the injuries after police and RSPCA inspectors raided Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital.
Broken wings, blindness and open wounds were just some of the injuries found during the visit, say the charity.
One pigeon had such a severely damaged beak that it was unable to feed itself and had become emaciated.
Inspectors say they also came across aviaries covered in faeces, while some animals were left without food and water.
Natalie Kerr, who ran the Bury -based facility, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two birds and failing to ensure others received adequate care at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
According to the hospital's website, its aim is 'to care for and release sick and injured wild birds or to house those incapacitated for release'.
However, the RSPCA and Greater Manchester Police swooped on the hospital, in Garside Hey Road, after a member of the public raised concerns about the welfare of the birds.
During the visit on July 5, 2019, 211 birds were found at the site.
Of these, 145 were deemed to be in a 'suffering state' and had to be put to sleep.
(Image: RSPCA)
The court heard how a team of RSPCA animal rescuers and vets found various birds including pigeons, corvids, blackbirds, an eagle owl, swans and geese in aviaries around the grounds.
Many could not fly and were visibly injured or in poor condition.
A wooden building - which was used as the hospital unit - also contained more birds in what a vet described as in a “very poor state.”
In a court statement, RSPCA Chief Inspector Ben Strangwood said: “The aviaries were all looking tired and contained a lot of bird faeces and cobwebs.
Sign up to the free MyBury email newsletter Get news updates from Bury direct to your email inbox with the free MyBury newsletter. Simply click on this link, enter your email address, and select 'MyBury News'
"Some of the birds appeared unable to fly and were largely ground-dwelling, resulting in their feathers being a mess.
“The officers started to remove birds from the hospital unit which the vet and wildlife assistant examined and triaged in the mobile clinic van.
“In the hospital unit, some birds had notes/records on their cages and some did not.
"Some birds had food and water and some didn’t. Some cages were very dirty with faeces. There were lots of flies and the smell was unpleasant.
(Image: RSPCA)
“There were birds in there with head tilts, bandages/tape on wings, open wounds, glassy eyes indicating blindness, drooping wings, feathers in very poor condition.”
Inspector Emma Dingley, the RSPCA officer who lead the investigation, added: “Many birds had chronic or severe injuries or disease, which could not be treated without further compromising their welfare, or were unsuitable for release into the wild, or for permanent captivity.
“One pigeon had a deformed beak which meant it was unable to feed himself and he was emaciated - the notes indicated he had been named Beaky by the hospital.
“Another duck was found with two broken wings which the hospital had named Wingie. There was also a pigeon with an open wound. You could see his heart.
“It was so sad and a vet decided that many had to be put to sleep to end their suffering.
“But we managed to save some of the birds and one - a European Eagle which was blind and emaciated is now thriving with a specialist keeper and has a mate.
(Image: RSPCA)
“The RSPCA would always advise anyone who finds an injured bird to take them to a vets who will treat wildlife for free.”
As well as the life-time ban on keeping animals, Ms Kerr, 54, of Barlow Close, Bury, was handed a four-month community order with a curfew between 7pm and 7am.
She was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.
A post on Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital's Facebook states that the facility is 'temporarily closed for refurbishment'.
The hospital has been approached for comment.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-30--ADVERTORIAL: Games, grub and gifts galore - our afternoon at the Arndale

Manchester Arndale is a place that most Mancunians have visited , but many of us have never sought to discover its full potential .
As the biggest inner-city shopping centre in the country , it is home to more than 200 stores and hosts some of the most popular , big-name retailers as well as quirky independent stores .
But much more than just a shopping destination , the Arndale brings the best of retail , food , drink and entertainment together under one roof .
Whether it 's a date night , friendly get-together or a big family day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special gift , treat or just a good time , Manchester Arndale is the place to be .
So rather than popping in for your essentials next time , why not make a day of it .
Our commercial journalist Phoebe Jobling spent an afternoon at the Arndale to experience all it has to offer .
From entertainment and dining , to a spot of retail therapy , here 's what she got up to ... Our day began with a visit to the Arndale 's new immersive gaming experience , Electric Playbox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two to six people , a visor , a playbox , select a game from a choice of five and you 're ready to play .
Inside each playbox is an interactive digital room featuring projection mapping , touch screens , motion tracking and surround sound , allowing you to feel fully immersed in the gaming world .
The light-weight visors , which are provided outside the box , must be kept on at all times as this allows your motions to be tracked as you move around to play the games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : London ' adventure , a 60-minute experience with a series of four mini games testing abilities such as problem solving , speed , memory , agility and most importantly teamwork .
Each level makes the game that little bit harder , and groups of more than two can take it in turns to work their way through the levels .
At the end of the game you get a grading from A+ to E- , and I am appalled to say that we were graded the latter .
However as far as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited to at the moment , this is definitely as good as it gets .
For someone who has been working from home since March , getting out and doing something fun like this was a real breath of fresh air .
I 'd recommend this experience for couples on a date night , families young and old and friends alike .
All in all , it 's completely Covid-19 safe and provides plenty of fun whilst in your own little bubble .
Christalla Karikos , interim general manager at Electric Playbox , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the playbox is a great way for households to escape and do something fun in a safe environment .
`` We 've had a really positive response so far .
The experiences are an hour long but you lose track of time because you 're fully immersed in it .
It 's a social challenge which requires you to work together as a team to complete and it 's totally different to anything else that 's out there . ''
Electric Playbox is located on the lower ground in Halle Place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed to the pink paradise that is Archies .
Back in 2010 , four Mancunian brothers brought their dream of a cool , fast-food hangout to life in the their hometown , with the first chain established on Oxford Road .
Last year saw the opening of the third American-style diner in the city , inside Manchester Arndale ’ s revamped Halle Square .
Archies has become an Instagram phenomenon and celeb hotspot , with people travelling from far and wide to get a taste of smashed burgers , wacky waffles and star-studded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Archies ( can you believe it ) , I had to try one of the crazy burger combinations that was Chicken Cheetos .
Pairing chicken and cheesy crisps would n't be my first choice , but surprisingly it worked very well .
I had a peri fries and a fresh pink lemonade to accompany my meal , which definitely hit the spot .
Archies is conveniently located right next to Electric Playbox in Halle Place .
To fill the little room we had left for dessert , we visited My Cookie Dough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ My Cookie Dough is an entire store dedicated to freshly baked , warm and gooey , topped cookie dough .
You can choose from an extensive selection of classic cookie dough , shakes or stacks , served with an array of delicious toppings .
Of course I had to try one , or two , or the famous stacks , which after their release went viral on Instagram .
My personal favourite was the cookies and cream , a triple chocolate brownie topped with oreo cookie dough , wipped cream , milk chocolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was absolutely mouthwatering .
My Cookie Dough can be found on the upper level outside Currys PC World .
Now time for some well deserved retail therapy , and to do this we visited three family-friendly stores .
First up was Build-A-Bear , where after stepping foot inside for the first time in more than a decade , I had déjà vu of the excitement I felt when I was a kid .
If you have never been to Build-A-Bear , it truly is an unique , unmissable experience .
Customers choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide if they would like it to have a certain scent , sound or heart inside , before it is stuffed and moved to the 'hug station ' , where the customer can give it a squeeze to test if it is built to their liking .
After the bear is built it is then taken to the dressing area where customers choose the bear 's clothes .
The cuddly toy is then named and a 'birth certificate ' is presented at the till .
The latest and most popular range is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of outfits to choose from depending on whether you 're Gryffindor , Ravenclaw , Slytherin or Hufflepuff .
Although some elements have been adapted due to Covid , customers are still fully involved in the experience of bringing their beloved bear to life .
Build-A-Bears make the best , personal gifts for children and can also make a thoughtful gesture to a loved one .
Next we visited Lush , home to the inventors of the bath bomb and famous for being vegetarian , vegan and cruelty free .
When you step inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scents hits you and instantly helps you to feel relaxed .
Whether you 're looking to pamper yourself or purchase gifts for friends or family , there are a vast range of handmade products to compliment your bath , shower , skincare , haircare or bodycare routine .
Bethan Watts , store manager at Lush said : “ Our bath treats are ideal for Christmas , especially if you ’ re looking for a great value gift , and we ’ ve got over 50 bubbles and bath bombs to choose from in-store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arndale is our snow fairy wonderball which you can use multiple times .
If you ’ re bringing the kids shopping , our festive friends range is a great one to introduce them too .
We ’ ve also got bath bomb holders to go with your chosen treat , which are perfect as stocking fillers.
” Finally we finished our day with a visit to Hotel Chocolat .
Although we could n't quite manage any more sweet treats , their huge variety of chocolately goods stood out to make great gifts for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ box to their brand new hot-chocolate making machine , there 's plenty of products that families can share and enjoy together .
Kay Banda , supervisor at Hotel Chocolat , said : `` Families are definitely our key focus when it comes to Christmas .
It 's all about enjoying quality time whilst sharing our chocolately treats .
`` Our best selling products at this time of year is our advent calendars .
No matter if you 're young or old everybody wants that little taste of Christmas first thing in a morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we treat all customers like our best friends because we want them to have the best experience when they come here . ''
Build-A-Bear , Lush and Hotel Chocolat are each located on the lower mall .
Manchester Arndale is welcoming people of all ages to shop , dine and enjoy their entertainment this winter .
The shopping centre has the safety of its customers and staff at its core , and has implemented Covid-19 guidelines such as social distancing , marked routes , hand sanitising stations and enhanced cleaning regimes across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear face coverings upon entry to the centre , and in all stores and communal areas , but can remove once they are seated for eating and drinking .
In line with Greater Manchester ’ s Tier 3 restrictions , you can only visit Manchester Arndale with people from your household or social bubble .
Manchester Arndale is located in the city centre , M4 3AQ .
Opening times are Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm , Saturday 9am to 7pm and Sunday 11:30am to 5:30pm .
For more information visit the website @ @ @ @ @ @

Manchester Arndale is a place that most Mancunians have visited, but many of us have never sought to discover its full potential.
As the biggest inner-city shopping centre in the country, it is home to more than 200 stores and hosts some of the most popular, big-name retailers as well as quirky independent stores.
But much more than just a shopping destination, the Arndale brings the best of retail, food, drink and entertainment together under one roof.
Whether it's a date night, friendly get-together or a family day out; you're shopping for a special gift, treat or just a good time, Manchester Arndale is the place to be.
So rather than popping in for your essentials next time, why not make a day of it.
Our commercial journalist Phoebe Jobling spent an afternoon at the Arndale to experience all it has to offer. From entertainment and dining to a spot of retail therapy, here's what she got up to during her visit...
(Image: Manchester Arndale)
Entertainment
Our day began with a visit to the Arndale's immersive gaming experience, Electric Gamebox.
All you need is a group of two to six people, a visor, a gamebox, select a game from a choice of five and you're all set to play.
Inside each gamebox is an interactive digital room featuring projection mapping, touch screens, motion tracking and surround sound, allowing you to feel fully immersed in the gaming world.
The light-weight visors, which are provided outside the box, must be kept on at all times as this allows your motions to be tracked as you move around to play the games.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
We chose the 'Alien aptitude test: London' adventure, a 60-minute experience with a series of four mini games testing abilities such as problem solving, speed, memory, agility and most importantly teamwork.
Each level makes the game that little bit harder, and groups of more than two can take it in turns to work their way through the levels.
At the end of the game all players get a grading from A+ to E-, which is sent to you via a GIF, and I am appalled to say that we were graded the latter. However as far as entertainment goes, which we've been very limited to during the last year, this is definitely as good as it gets.
For someone who has been working from home since March 2020, getting out and doing something fun like this was a real breath of fresh air. I'd recommend this experience for couples on a date night, families young and old and friends alike.
All in all, it's completely Covid-19 safe and provides plenty of fun whilst in your own little bubble.
(Image: Electric Gamebox)
Rhiannon Moss, general manager at Electric Gamebox, added: "At Electric Gamebox we are challenging the ever increasing issue of social isolation by bringing friends and families together to immerse themselves in fun through shared play.
"We have had fantastic feedback so far. There really is something for everyone within our hour long digital experience, you'll find time flies when your having fun testing your teamwork, coordination, memory and agility.
"We love being able to create those memorable experiences and provide endless possibilities.”
Electric Gamebox is located on the lower ground in Halle Place.
(Image: Archies)
Dining
After working up an appetite, we headed over to the pink paradise that is Archies.
Back in 2010, four Mancunian brothers brought their dream of a cool, fast-food hangout to life in the their hometown, with the first chain established on Oxford Road.
2019 saw the opening of the third American-style diner in the city, inside Manchester Arndale’s revamped Halle Square.
(Image: Archies)
Archies has become an Instagram phenomenon and celeb hotspot, with people travelling from far and wide to get a taste of smashed burgers, wacky waffles and star-studded shakes.
For my first time at Archies (can you believe it), I had to try one of the crazy burger combinations that was Chicken Cheetos. Pairing chicken and cheesy crisps wouldn't be my first choice, but surprisingly it worked very well.
I had a peri fries and a fresh pink lemonade to accompany my meal, which definitely hit the spot.
Archies is conveniently located right next to Electric Gamebox in Halle Place.
To fill the little room we had left for dessert, we visited My Cookie Dough.
For those with a sweet tooth, My Cookie Dough is an entire store dedicated to freshly baked, warm and gooey, topped cookie dough.
You can choose from an extensive selection of classic cookie dough, shakes or stacks, served with an array of delicious toppings.
Of course I had to try one, or two, or the famous stacks, which after their release went viral on Instagram.
My personal favourite was the cookies and cream, a triple chocolate brownie topped with oreo cookie dough, wipped cream, milk chocolate sauce and oreos on top - and it was absolutely mouthwatering.
My Cookie Dough can be found on the upper level outside Currys PC World.
Shopping
Now time for some well deserved retail therapy, and to do this we visited three family-friendly stores.
First up was Build-A-Bear, where after stepping foot inside for the first time in more than a decade, I had déjà vu of the excitement I felt when I was a kid.
If you have never been to Build-A-Bear, it truly is an unique, unmissable experience.
Customers choose their bear from a wide selection, decide if they would like it to have a certain scent, sound or heart inside, before it is stuffed and moved to the 'hug station', where the customer can give it a squeeze to test if it is built to their liking.
After the bear is built it is then taken to the dressing area where customers choose the bear's clothes. The cuddly toy is then named and a 'birth certificate' is presented at the till.
The latest and most popular range is the Harry Potter bears, with a variety of outfits to choose from depending on whether you're Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff.
Although some elements have been adapted due to Covid, customers are still fully involved in the experience of bringing their beloved bear to life. Build-A-Bears make the best, personal gifts for children and can also make a thoughtful gesture to a loved one.
(Image: Manchester Arndale)
Next we visited Lush, home to the inventors of the bath bomb and famous for being vegetarian, vegan and cruelty free.
When you step inside this store, the abundance of fresh scents hits you and instantly helps you to feel relaxed.
Whether you're looking to pamper yourself or purchase gifts for friends or family, there are a vast range of handmade products to compliment your bath, shower, skincare, haircare or bodycare routine.
Bethan Watts, store manager at Lush said: “Our bath treats are ideal if you’re looking for a great value gift, and we’ve got over 50 bubbles and bath bombs to choose from in-store.
"One of our best sellers is The Comforter bubble bar which creates blankets of pink berry bubbles. We’ve also got a range of bath bomb holders to go with your chosen treat."
(Image: Manchester Arndale)
Finally we finished our day with a visit to Hotel Chocolat.
Although we couldn't quite manage any more sweet treats, their huge variety of chocolately goods stood out to make great gifts for all ages.
They’ve got a tasty range of ice cream and dessert-inspired treats that are perfect for summer, or you can even grab an ice-cream to go in-store.
There's also plenty of gifts you can buy for families to share and enjoy together.
And if you're not feeling hungry, you can check out their cacao inspired beauty gifts and treats.
Build-A-Bear, Lush andHotel Chocolat are each located on the lower mall.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Experience Manchester Arndale for yourself
Manchester Arndale is welcoming people of all ages to shop, dine and enjoy their entertainment this summer.
The shopping centre has the safety of its customers and staff at its core, and has implemented Covid-19 guidelines such as social distancing, marked routes, hand sanitising stations and enhanced cleaning regimes across all areas.
Visitors are required to wear face coverings upon entry to the centre, and in all stores and communal areas, but can remove once they are seated for eating and drinking.
Manchester Arndale is located in the city centre, M4 3AQ.
Opening times areMonday to Saturday 8am to 8pm andSunday 11:30am to 5:30pm.The Centre is open 10am-6pm on Bank Holiday Monday.
For more information visit the website or call 0161 833 9851.