People / Community
With a vibrant sense of community, Irwell River Park is key to connecting neighbourhoods and visitors with a variety of destinations. The powerful ambition to improve public realm and bring communities closer together not only instills a sense of pride in local people, but creates a greater allure for tourism and economic investment to the Regional Centre.
People
People are at the heart of Irwell River Park, from local anglers, rowers and residents to tourists, business executives and investors.
As a choice residential location, the region will continue to attract high quality, new housing developments to complement the ongoing commercial development.
The investment into creating a greener community and opening up the iconic River Irwell will enhance the area and make Irwell River Park an internationally competitive place to live, work and relax.
Irwell River Park represents an incredible opportunity and connectivity. It is a gateway to many nationally recognised tourism landmarks, showcasing the region’s assets, stimulating tourism and making residents feel a sense of pride.
Heritage
Since the Middle Ages, the River Irwell has been an important part of the history of Manchester and its surrounding areas.
Records dating back to the 16th century mention the river being used as a trading route, and residents of the growing city of Manchester used the River Irwell’s waters for drinking and domestic purposes.
During the Industrial Revolution, the Irwell became part of the Manchester Ship Canal which helped Manchester and Salford to develop into a major seaport, spurring the growth of Trafford Park which later became the largest industrial estate in Europe.
Hundreds of mills, factories and terraced houses sprung up along the banks of the river and the Irwell was described during the 19th century as the ‘most hard-working river in the world’ due to the number of mills, factories and barges using its waters.
In Victorian times, tourist trips began on the river. This carried on through to the 1990s. These started out as day trips for local families and through the years developed into river tours for tourists showing off the historic buildings close to the rivers’ banks, such as Manchester Cathedral, and modern landmarks like Granada Studios.
The heavy industrial use of the river meant that, by the 20th century, the river was highly polluted and much of the fish and wildlife had been diminished. Since then a number of initiatives have been implemented to remove the pollution, restock the river with fish and create a diverse environment for wildlife.
The River Irwell is now an important haven for wildlife and the waters of the river are fully stocked with roach, bream, chub and brown trout. More than 30 types of invertebrate species have been found including fresh water shrimp.
Since its conception in 2007, Irwell River Park has been designed to carefully consider the history and character of the river. The scheme will help those who live and work there to celebrate and enjoy the rich history which flows through the area.
