developed. The land ear-marked is square, flat, and approximately 0.7 acres in size.

Tom Bloxham, Chairman of Urban Splash said: "New Islington, or the Cardroom Estate, as it was once known, was an area filled with poor quality housing and disused public spaces; one of the most rundown areas in Manchester.

Now it is somewhere that is beginning to change. Urban Splash and our partners at the Homes and Communities Agency, New East Manchester and Great Places Housing Group have pioneered this change.

Together we've already delivered fantastically designed homes at Chips, Guest Street, Islington Square, workspaces at Waulk Mill, a new park, health centre and a soon to be completed Marina.

"The aim of the competition is to find somebody with a short term project that can complement these efforts. We want designs with vision, ambition and most of all somebody who can deliver something that is going to make an impact on the area as a whole."

Eddie Smith, chief executive of New East Manchester said: "New Islington is starting to take shape. Within the next few months, the final pieces of public realm will be constructed with £4.4m of NWDA funding, allowing the public into the park and canal boats into the newly created marina.

We recognise it's an ambitious long-term regeneration scheme which is clearly facing the challenges of the current economic climate. It's great that Urban Splash is providing this opportunity which will make the most of this prominent, cleared site while it awaits development."

Deborah McLaughlin, Director North West of the Homes and Communities Agency said: "The New Islington development has always had a special feel to it and has been innovative in many ways, not just in the provision of the housing.

"It's absolutely fitting that there is now this opportunity for people, including local community groups, to put forward their designs and make their own contribution to what makes the New Islington development such a vibrant place to be."

The judges are Property Week's editor, Giles Barrie; Tom Bloxham, Urban Splash's chairman; Deborah McLaughlin, the HCA's director north west; NEM's chief executive, Eddie Smith; Maria Balshaw from the Whitworth Art Gallery, architect Ian Simpson and Amanda Baillieu, editor of Building Design.

Entries must be submitted via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before 27 August 2010. Full details and terms and conditions can be found on http://www.propertyweek.com/comment/competition-new-land-of-opportunity/5002071.article

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