Broughton, Greater Manchester

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Broughton is a district of the city of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, to the north of Manchester city centre. It consists of Higher Broughton, Lower Broughton, Broughton Village and Broughton Park. Much of the area can be considered as deprived inner city with its attendant problems of crime and poverty, particularly in Higher Broughton. However, much redevelopment is now taking place in the area, and by contrast, is one of the most affluent areas of Greater Manchester.

The area is home to a large and long standing Jewish community, centred around Leicester Road and in Broughton Park (confusingly in Kersal). More recently, significant numbers of people from Africa and Eastern Europe have settled in the area.

[edit] Regeneration of Lower Broughton

In the summer months of 2000, new gardens had begun to be fitted in the area, starting near Mocha Parade eventually branching out over the whole of Lower Broughton which was completed in June 2006. The gardens were introduced because the area has a high number of council houses and the gardens make the area look neater and more consistent. The council, New Prospect, had been working closely with tenants to make sure that their houses were up to standard so that they were good quality council houses. The council houses in the area are some of the best in the UK. Crime levels have now reduced and the umemployment rate has decreased rapidly meaning a rapid turnaround in Lower Broughton.

In 2005, it was announced that all of the houses in Lower Broughton would be bulldozed to make way for brand new houses, shopping centres etc. It will not be done all at once, but in phases and is due to be completed by 2014. Work will commence in 2009.

Famous people from Broughton include :

Singer Elkie Brooks – born Elaine Bookbinder, from Cavendish Road.
Playwright/director Mike Leigh, from Higher Broughton.
Mark E Smith, singer with The Fall, originally from The Cliff.
Bernard Sumner, vocalist, guitarist and keyboaridst with Joy Division and New Order, from Lower Broughton.
Graham Gouldman, songwriter and bass player/singer with 10cc, from Broughton Park.