Today I stumbled into a forgotten district of Manchester that’s very close to the city centre and yet completely deserted.
The former docklands district of Pomona lies around one and a half miles south west of the city centre between the Metrolink and railway lines to Old Trafford on one side, and the long straight stretch Ship Canal on the other. It was famous for being the only part of the Manchester Docks located within the boundaries of the City of Manchester. The main docks were in Salford.
After the docks closed in the 70s, regeneration began in the eighties, leading to Salford Quays, now marketed as The Quays, together with Trafford Park, along the south edge of the Ship Canal.
But whilst the main Quays area has seen remarkable development, Pomona lies empty and abandoned.
There must have been plans to develop this area, as the signature curved railings and globe lamps of Salford Quays run along the water’s edge almost as far as Castlefield. But the railings are bent and twisted in places, the lamps broken and neglected and the entire area is empty, apart from a remarkable variety of weeds and plants that would be of great interest to a natural history expert.
From an urban development point of view however, this area seems to EOM to be a wasted opportunity. It has many important things going for it:
It is in a superb waterside setting, overlooking the long straight stretch of the Manchester Ship Canal
On its eastern side there is Cornbrook Metrolink stop, providing easy access to the city centre and Salford Quays
The Pomona Docks area is the missing link between Castlefield and the Quays
The site is virtually empty, providing a clean sheet of paper on which to plan new construction
I could imagine a futuristic new city quarter, like something in Dubai or Tokyo, perhaps with new bridges spanning the Irwell. There could be regular water buses running between Salford Quays and the centre, stopping off at Pomona. Residents could commute by boat, like in Venice or London. The stretch of water itself could be a kind of northern Henley-on-Thames, with regular boating and sports events. It would extend the scope of The Quays, adding new attractions. Perhaps more leisure facilities could be built here, how about, as in Dubai, a large shopping mall? Or maybe a hotel or skyscraper?
The possibilities are endless, and yet even now, some 20 years since the present redevelopment began, the area lies unused.
Walking along the waterside footpath I had to fight my way through the weeds, many of which are growing thick and tall between the brickwork laid out in the 1980s.
Many prestigious apartment buildings have appeared at the northern end of the area, in Castlefield and on the Salford side of the Irwell. And yet residents who want to go for a stroll by the canal will find a post-industrial wasteland like something out of an 80s pop video.
I happen to like post-industrial wastelands as they make great material for moody black and white photographs, but in 2006, shouldn’t Pomona already be a shining new city district?
EOM will make enquiries to find out what is happening with this area and will post updates here. If you can provide any information, please contact.
Footnote: Though there are no barriers or warning signs, I would not recommend people walk in this deserted area, as its ownership and accessibility status is not clear. Also there are hazards like broken paving stones, and at some points, a sheer drop into polluted water.