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Forty words have loomed over Wythenshawe’s civic centre for more than a year.

They’re on a council banner promoting its impending redevelopment. In three short sentences, copywriters highlight it’s the ‘original garden city’, upsell the regeneration, and make a promise to Wythenshawe ’s 100,000 residents: “This is just the start and we’re gonna do you proud.”

It’s a big promise for a town that needs a big lift.

Most of Wythenshawe town centre is in the worst 20pc for deprivation in England. The area covering the civic is in the bottom 2pc.

But Wythenshawe’s also got a lot in its favour. It’s close to the Airport, a huge employer. It’s well-connected by bus and tram, and only a short hop to the motorway. Its park would be envied by countless Greater Manchester suburbs.

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