Pomona Island Masterplan
Beginning from a desire to make a positive change to my local Manchester built environment, I embarked on a design journey which went against the grain of current profit-driven developments to offer a contrasting masterplan on the Pomona Island site.
This project proposes a visionary, community-led masterplan rooted in principles of connection, care, and spatial justice. Emerging from a critical assessment of existing inequalities in the surrounding area, it seeks to bridge demographic divides and cultivate a resilient, inclusive neighbourhood. It challenges the prevailing trend of high-cost, profit-driven developments in Manchester by offering a radically different model: a neighbourhood shaped by the needs of people, not profit.
Designed at a human scale, the architecture prioritises low-to-mid-rise, approachable forms that foster friendly, walkable streets and a strong sense of belonging. The scheme embraces local context, connecting to existing public infrastructure while creating inclusive, intergenerational spaces where ties can be built across diverse communities.
From insights into the islands rich historical past, the scheme has a strong emphasis on public life, the masterplan weaves in parks, gardens, and civic infrastructure that are open, beautiful, and welcoming to all, supporting not only new residents but also enriching the wider urban fabric. At its heart-centre, a new 'Pomona Palace' which acts as a cultural and community anchor, providing infrastructure and tourism to the centre of the new masterplan. It is a proposal for a new kind of neighbourhood, one that grows through care, connection, and community.
