Please note, this is an archived story. Please check the date above.

Projects across the city covering most of north Manchester have so far created 6,500 jobs and it is predicted this figure will double by the time the programmes are completed.

A report to Manchester City Council?s Finance Scrutiny Committee gave an up-date on the economic, social and environmental regeneration in the areas covered by the programme including north Manchester.

Organisers reported the performance was good and most schemes were on target to achieve the goals set but they admit the greatest challenge remained getting people back into work.

Performance in initiatives such as New Deal was on target but economic regeneration chiefs concede initial targets set for job generation on some projects had been too ambitious.

The scrutiny committee was told it was impossible to determine whether any of the new jobs would have been created without the Single Regeneration Budget.

But members were reminded the ?80m investment had also brought physical improvements and raised confidence in the areas for residents and employers.

Those heading the SRB projects say it would be unrealistic to look at the total investment only in terms of job creation.

On-going projects in the area include environmental improvements at St Luke?s Churchyard in Cheetham, work on the area surrounding Temple Primary School and improvements in Lightbowne and Moston.