Wythenshawe is a district in the City of Manchester, situated eight miles south of the city centre and around a mile north of Manchester Airport. It is arguably the largest council estate in Europe (outside London). Historically a part of Cheshire, it transferred into Manchester (and therefore Lancashire) in 1931 prior to the construction of the estate to deal with Manchester's overspill and to relieve pressure on the inner city slums. Building was interrupted by the Second World War but resumed thereafter. Development continued until the 1970s with the completion of the Civic Centre shops and Forum leisure facility.