The final developments in the first phase of an innovative programme to increase the number of affordable homes using Council-owned land are working through the planning process
The last planning application of this phase has been been submitted by One Manchester for a site in Moston, while Mosscare St Vincent’s (MSV) has now received planning approval for a site in Cheetham Hill.
MSV – Cheetham Hill (Planning Ref 140867)
Mosscare St Vincents have now received planning approval for 70 new homes – including 26 apartments – on Alderford Parade and Dinnington Avenue in north Manchester.
Every property in this development will be available at social rent – the cheapest level of rent available – and will offer a range of one- and two-bedroom apartments, alongside two, three and four-bedroom houses.
The homes will be built to low carbon standards with each of the properties achieving an EPC A rating – and each of the homes will have an electric vehicle charging point.
All of the homes have Secure By Design accreditation and the ground floor apartments will be available to people who require an accessible property.
There are also dedicated parking bays for each of the properties, along with private gardens.
MSV are also on site with two further Project 500 developments in Harpurhey (Parkmount Road and Jonas Street), which will deliver a further 46 affordable homes – 12 for social rent, 16 at the Manchester Living Rent, and 18 homes available for Rent to Buy.
One Manchester – Moston (Planning ref 141682)
The proposed scheme by One Manchester off Moston Lane in north Manchester would deliver 29 Manchester Living Rent* homes and represents the last tranche of 357 homes for initial Project 500 programme sites, if approved through the planning process.
The scheme will develop a mix of 18 one-bed cottage flats across three separate buildings, along with seven, two-bedroom houses and four, four-bedroom houses.
Each of the houses will have private gardens and the flats will share a landscaped rear garden. And each property will have access to a private car parking space.
One Manchester also has two other Project 500 sites currently in development.
A site on Blackwin Street in Gorton will deliver seven new homes – a range of two to four bedrooms properties – and a further site on Brigham Street in Openshaw will deliver 24 houses and flats, across a mix of two to four bed houses, and two-bedroom flats.
Access the Council’s planning portal to find out more (using the planning reference numbers above)
Project 500
Project 500 is a Council initiative that looks to build affordable homes in partnership with the city’s registered housing providers using harder to develop brownfield “infill” sites, using Government funding that housing partners can access, which is unavailable to the Council.
Every project of the first phase – 357 homes – is now either on site or in the planning process and 92% of these homes will be made available at either social rent or the Manchester Living Rent.
A second phase of Project 500 is already underway and the first planning application for the next group of affordable homes will be submitted in the coming weeks. The next phase will exceed the target of 500 new affordable homes delivered through the scheme.
Project 500 is supporting the Council’s ambitious housing strategy that looks to help build at least 36,000 homes through to 2032 – of which at least 10,000 will be social, Council and genuinely affordable homes.
Find out more about the council’s housing strategy
* The Manchester Living Rent is a level of rent that is capped at the Local Housing Allowance rate (LHA), which makes sure that new affordable homes are genuinely affordable to residents claiming benefits.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
“Project 500 is one of the innovative ways that we are working with housing partners in the city to meet our ambitious housing strategy target to make sure at least 10,000 social, Council and genuinely affordable homes are built up to 2032 to meet demand for quality housing in Manchester.
“This is the final planning application for the first phase of the initiative, which means we’ve seen 357 social rent and affordable homes go through the planning process across 22 different sites – and the next phase is well underway, which will help us exceed our 500-home target.
“We are able make sure these homes are being built because of the working relationship the Council has with housing providers in Manchester – and we thank them for their efforts to support the delivery of high-quality social and affordable housing across our city.”
Charlie Norman, Group Chief Executive of Mosscare St Vincent’s, said:
“Project 500 has been an incredibly innovative project lead by the City Council to bring new homes to the people of Manchester. We are pleased that all 70 homes at our Cheetham Hill scheme will be social rent, which is the most affordable option available, and will not only help to tackle poverty and living standards head on but will bring a wide range of property types to the area.
“The new homes will be suitable for single people and families in need of a home in the city, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them move in. Being able to deliver such a significant number of homes purely for social rent is a game changer, so thanks to Manchester City Council, Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for partnering with MSV on this important scheme.”
One Manchester’s spokesperson stated:
“We’re excited to submit the final planning application for the first phase of our scheme in Moston, which will deliver 29 homes. This project is a significant step towards achieving the Council’s ambitious housing strategy, and we’re proud to contribute to creating more affordable homes for the community.”
