Withington Baseline Analysis

As shown on the map, Withington is strategically located in terms of the wider city-region area and has a very important geographical position in the Manchester. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Withington (located approximately in the centre of the neighbourhood), is within the radius of 30 minutes driving distance from Bury, Oldham and Leigh, 25 minutes driving distance from Bolton, approximately 20 minutes driving distance from Hyde, 15 minutes driving distance from Stockport, 10 minutes driving distance from Sale and Cheadle. This offers the neighbourhood good accessibility to the surrounding towns.

In terms of general city location, the neighbourhood is located within the south of Great Manchester and lies approximately 5 kilometers south of Manchester City Centre. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Withington (located approximately in the centre of the neighbourhood), is within 9 km radius from the Manchester airport, less than 6 km radius from the city center, 5 km radius from the piccadilly station, approximately 3 km radius from the University of Manchester, 6 km radius from the Trafford Park, 11 km radius from the Heaton Park, 12 km radius from the Prestwich Forest Park, 5.5 km radius from the Reddish Vale Country Park, and 3 km radius from the Fletcher Moss Park, which provides Withington good accessibility to the main points of interest in the city.

Withington is a suburban, predominantly residential area. It is one of five District Centres in South Manchester and is within around 0.5 miles of Fallowfield, 1.5 miles of Didsbury and 2.5 miles of Chorlton. The internationally renowned Christie Hospital lies to the south of the centre on Wilmslow Road.

The story map focuses on the built environment of the Withington in 6 aspects, including figure ground and urban blocks, building age and heritage assets, building area size, building function, building heights and character area.

As it is shown above, the layout of dwellings in the ward have undergone a great change from 1900s. It is obvious that the buildings spread mainly along the B5093 Road in 1900s, and other lands within the Withington ward are cultivated lands. While great change has taken place in 1950s, buildings almost occupied the whole Withington ward, excepting several scattered green spaces. Compared with 1950s, there is little difference when we look at the map of 1980s.

From the reference pictures of the case with an introduction of various urban blocks structures throughout the neighbourhood, it is obvious that low-rise residential houses are situated in the most part of the residential area of Withington. And some relatively high-rise and large scale public amenities are in the center of the Withington ward.  

As the figure shows above, the main building function in Withington ward is residential only. Apart from the residential buildings, there also exist some other building functions, including retail with office and residential above, recreation and leisure, community educational, community institutional and communal accommodation, mainly located in the center of the Withington ward and northwest, northeast and southeast corners of the Withington ward.  

Since this site is a predominantly residential area and almost all around the center is residential area, this section summarises the character analysis work undertaken within the center of Withington. This identifies three principal character areas. These are:

• Commercial core – this area comprises the historic core of the centre along Wilmslow Road as well as Copson Street. This area is in predominantly retail and leisure use. Wilmslow Road high street is well-defined and generously proportioned with a strong consistency in the heritage of principal buildings and flow in building line. The Library and former White Lion and surrounding spaces at either end of Wilmslow Road help to define vistas. Copson Street also has a well-defined building line, but the more utilitarian architecture and mix of built forms and the narrow street width detract from the sense of Copson Street as a place to dwell. There is also a lack of definition to the vista towards Old Moat Lane. Whilst there are ‘gateway’ features to this area, the Library and the former White Lion, there is little sense of arrival into the centre. There is little in the way of green infrastructure and any space is limited to the areas to the front of the Library, albeit this is somewhat cluttered.

• Burton Road – Withington Baths provides a dominant gateway into the Village from Burton Road. Alongside the Baths an umber of significant public buildings are prominent along the road. This includes the former Methodist Chapel which is well used as the Adult Learning Centre and the Village Public Hall and Institute. There are opportunities for activities in these buildings to be developed and complement each other so this area plays an increased role in the functioning of the Village.

• Wilmslow Road- Between Christie Hospital and Burton/Wilmslow Road junction contains late 19th and early 20th century buildings of two and three storeys. The uses include a mixture of commerce, housing and retail. Key historic buildings including the Red Lion Public House, the three storey neo Georgian Withington Fire Station are dominant features on the street scene. There is little to draw people from the Christie Hospital along Wilmslow Road into the retail core. 

As it has mentioned in the historical evolution part above, the buildings along the B5093 Road were built before 1900, and other buildings were constructed between 1900s and 1950s. So the buildings along the B5093 Road are listed as historic buildings, and most of other buildings are interwar buildings. There are just a small number of modern buildings scattered within the Withington ward, which indicates this site is a ward with a very long history.

Withington has a vibrant and dynamic history upon which to draw, and one which has left a distinctive legacy in the built environment. Withington grew rapidly from the mid 19th century centred then as now around the Wilmslow Road corridor. This historical development has left as a legacy the clear urban form of the centre but also a number of listed and period buildings. Much of Withington’s original and historic built environment remains intact. The Centre was designated as a Conservation Area in 1983. Key heritage assets in the ward are shown in the figure, including: Grade II Listed Former National Westminster Bank, Grade II Listed Church of St Paul, Grade II Listed Former White Lion Public House, Grade II listed 456 Wilmslow Road (constructed in the early 19th century, the building and one of the oldest surviving buildings in Withington).

As Withington is a predominantly residential area, the building area size analysis shows the site has a small mass and scale in general, with a highly density. 

No high-rise buildings in Withington ward, the main building heights are focus between 6.8 meters to 9.64 meters. Due to the building function, the buildings along the B5093 Road are relatively higher than other buildings. The even building heights bring a tedious 3D scene of Withington. 

As the building height analysis in 2D and 3D scene map show above, low-rise residential areas and terraced houses are situated in the west and east of Withington, which are approximately between 3 to 10 meters. Due to the low-rise dwellings, the buildings are not blocked from sunlight, and enjoy a good quality of sense of space, which will be damaged by high-rise buildings. In addition,   the only high-rise buildings are the Christie NHS Foundation Trust Hospital near Oak Road, and the tallest building is the Proton Beam Therapy Centre, which is 47 meters.

In conclusion, Withington is one of the wards in the whole Manchester that enjoy the best strategical location and has a good access to the surrounding towns and the city center.

Furthermore, there are obvious differences in building functions, building heights and building area size between the center of Withington and other part of Withington. The main public spaces and amenities are located in the center of Withington, and in the other parts almost are located dwellings houses.

In addition, the listed buildings can be an advantage and opportunity to the development of Withington, which should be taken good advantages of and well conserved.

The buff of the character areas can not satisfy the people in the northwest, northeast and southeast of Withington. And it is difficult to find other public services like those in the center of Withington in the other part of Withington.