Saqib Hayat, a local business owner, reflects on the improvements in Bury New Road, recalling a time marred by rubbish, violence, and drug dealing. "It's much better," said Saqib, 25, owner of AS Mobiles since 2017. He noted the absence of criminals harassing women and a cleaner environment.

For 35 years, the area was infamous for crime, leaving many residents afraid to use their phones. Two years ago, police and the council initiated a major campaign against Manchester's notorious 'Counterfeit Street', known as Operation Vulcan. This operation led to the closure of over 200 counterfeit shops, 238 arrests, and the confiscation of more than 1,000 tonnes of counterfeit clothing.

Additionally, hundreds of thousands of illegal vapes and over 2 million class C drugs were seized, significantly impacting the supply of illicit medication in the area.

The ongoing development in Bury New Road is attracting the attention of large developers, raising questions about the future of local businesses such as vape shops and takeaways. One unnamed long-standing wholesaler mentioned that trade has remained steady despite the changes, while food businesses face challenges as many former employees of the counterfeit shops used to frequent them.

At AS Mobiles, Saqib noted a slight decline in trade due to the quieter environment, but he believes the benefits of the crackdown outweigh the downsides. "We've lost a bit of footfall because less people are coming for the knock-off shops, but it's much better for the community," he stated, expressing hope that the new college and upcoming developments will attract more positive visitors.

Local shop workers also feel a sense of safety returning to the area. One anonymous female worker commented, "Every three steps used to involve someone trying to drag you into counterfeit shops." She mentioned that parking has improved significantly, allowing easier access to the area.

Currently, large-scale construction is in progress, with plans for 500 new flats on the old Boddingtons Brewery site and 550 more on the adjoining Waterhouse Gardens. Manchester College is also expanding its campus, and the council intends to relocate Strangeways prison out of the city center. Despite the Chief Constable of GMP retracting previous statements about bulldozing Counterfeit Street, significant changes are anticipated.

Salar Hemati, who opened a supplement shop two months ago, expressed optimism about the future of Bury New Road in light of the crackdown. He remarked, "I thought this place is only going to have a good future," highlighting the college and ongoing construction as positive indicators.

In April, a new dance school, JD Dance, opened in a space formerly occupied by a counterfeit shop, funded by £8,000 seized from the raids. While the changes are generally welcomed, there remains trepidation about the loss of longstanding businesses and the pace of the clean-up, with some questioning why it didn't occur sooner.

"The city is expanding," noted a veteran shopkeeper. "But we need to ensure it doesn't negatively affect existing businesses." He stressed the importance of the fashion wholesalers, which attract customers from across the country.

Now, after two years of dedicated efforts, police indicate that Operation Vulcan is winding down, with a shift in focus towards maintaining order in the area. Det Supt Neil Blackwood, leading the operation, emphasized that counterfeit crime is not victimless, as profits fund various criminal activities.

Manchester council leader Bev Craig highlighted the potential for transformation in the area, stating, "This would’ve been almost impossible only a couple of years ago," and expressed commitment to supporting legitimate businesses as they thrive.