An £800m regeneration scheme, which will transform Manchester's Northern Gateway, has been unveiled by The Co-operative Group.

The NOMA development will transform a 20-acre (8.1-hectare) city centre site and create 4 million sq ft (371,612sq m) of leisure, office, retail and residential space. Centred around the Co-operative Group's proposed new head office, it is expected around a quarter of the project will be accessible to the public.

City authorities have already approved the masterplan for the development and talks are now underway with a view to securing joint venture partners for the 10-15-year programme. Co-operative Estates managing director Martyn Hulme said: "The Co-operative Group has the strength and capability to deliver NOMA and confirm Manchester's position as the UK's original modern city, and confirm its position in the European premier league of cities. Its retail and leisure offer will add to the variety already available in Manchester and be focused on independent, high quality businesses."

It is also planned that the NOMA development will generate its own power with a renewable energy centre to cater for all its power requirements.