This project transforms 3,000 sq m of previously inaccessible greenspace into a community asset, maintained and developed with local residents. The FLoop (Fallowfield Loop greenway) offers a traffic-free space for leisure and commuting, serving as a welcoming starting point for less confident cyclists. It hosts year-round events and activities that promote physical activity, foster community connections and enhance the local environment, contributing to a healthier and more engaged community.

 

Who is on the project? 

 

Landscape Architects - Elaine CresswellreShaped 

Architects - Jonathan Davidson

Project Management - Chris McDermott, Cinns 

Engineering - Westlakes 

Interior Designer / Illustrator - Edward Brandon Mezziani 

Interiors - Agapanthus 

Landscapes -  Medlock and Groundwork

 

 What is the programme and use of the space? How does the project foster community, connect people and contribute to urban life?

 

Station South provides year round events and activities that get people moving, building connections and improving our environment. The tailored programme of biking activities enables people to overcome fear of cycling, lack of access to bicycles and cultural barriers to active travel. The programme includes our mixed ability community cycling club with regular led rides from complete beginner, to fast and far. Plus free bike and electric trike hire, learn-to-ride sessions and bike maintenance including Women in the Workshop. Facilities include a toddler’s learn to ride track, free balance bike loan, accessible toilet, secure bike parking, free lock loan, public bike tools, accessible path onto the greenway and a solar lighting landing strip.We host volunteering sessions developing the biodiversity of the site, introducing wildlife habitats. Learn to grow sessions focused on sustainable growing practices, demonstrating how people can apply learning to their own small spaces. Through Station Collective we connect local groups (e.g Bee Sanctuary), providing a platform to share achievements and inspire others with lightning talks. Through this network Levenshulme in Bloom formed this year and received level 4 thriving with 8 groups receiving individual awards. The grassed area that connects our site with the cycle path acts as a village green with children feeling safe playing ball games, picnics and pop-up events. While providing 24-7 access to the gardens we are tackling perceptions of safety and fear of crime through building a presence, taking people on rides and walks, providing lighting, tackling flytipping and creating a litter-free zone.

 

How does the community space make a positive social and environmental contribution? 

 

Together with our neighbours and cycling, active travel, railway, arts communities, we co-created a welcoming destination venue. Showcasing the building’s heritage, bringing it to life with a modern purpose as an active travel hub. Flipping negative perspectives of cycling by connecting people to everyday cycling, making it easy, fun and normal to bike. The facilities bring bustling use of the greenway with services, activities and events developed with different audiences. We held our ground, maintaining level access throughout. There is access to a unique urban garden, connecting people with the feeling of the countryside. An intimidating part of the highstreet now has an improved feeling of safety. Heritage lights and festoon lighting create nice vibes and visibility. Designs utilised sustainable materials including our repurposed sandstone terrace, porous recycled materials such as flexipave and rolled ground tarmac for our paths. We can’t plant trees due to the UU pipeline so we introduced a wildlife hedge (planted by pupils from 5 schools) around the perimeter acting as a visual barrier to the roads and slowing rainwater runoff. We used willow coppiced from other parts of the site to weave a deadhedge kneerail. We were gifted spare plants from the National Trust. We divide plants and save seed from wildflower areas, reseed and share with volunteers. The low-fence and unlocked community garden welcomes people in. So many people followed Station South’s journey from our earliest stalls, through fundraising, design and build and have a real sense of ownership over what has been achieved.

 

Please explain the governance of the project, such as its viability, purpose, motivation and any consultation, co-creation or community engagement undertaken in the development of the community space. 

 

3 local residents formed Station South CIC in 2017. Passionate in their commitment to bring Levenshulme South Station from the brink and to see this beautiful building become a hive of community activity. Restored and transformed. The local community shared this vision and shaped the plans through events and co-design workshops. They helped fund the restoration with £65,000 raised through Crowdfunder. The crowd followed the restoration journey to opening in 2022, becoming customers, curators and volunteers. This seed funding unlocked the mosaic of funding that brought the vision to life. Architectural Heritage, Railway Heritage Fund, Sport England and Key Fund, the main grant/social investment providers. We built our crowd through:-Unique events e.g. “Out of Ours” event with co-created poetry, highschool song &disco rides-Practical action e.g. Bricks and Brambles - clearing the site for the topographical survey -Co-design - initial co-design model making workshops with Landscape Architect Elaine Cresswell shaped the designs that unlocked funding. More recently we developed designs for the “Green Hub” with workshop mood boards revealing shared vision of space for wellbeing. Volunteer action brought those designs to life.Station South now has a Board of 8 Directors volunteering their time to support the organisation to deliver its vision as a “A people-powered place that sparks collaboration, innovation and celebration” and mission “From our heritage destination cafe, bar and urban garden we create welcoming and accessible spaces, events and activities. We support and inspire people to move and connect. We enable nature to thrive.”