During Pride Month, Great Places has hosted partners at an event to mark the official start on site at its £37 million flagship majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester.
Plans for the scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation.
Once completed, the new development, built on the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, will deliver 80 one and two-bedroom apartments for older people for social rent – over the age of 55 – and 40 affordable shared ownership apartments.
Delivered in partnership with contractors Rowlinson, the high-quality sustainable building will offer a safe and welcome feel and inviting presence whilst designed to respect the surrounding conservation area.
Acquired from Manchester City Council and funded through Great Places, complemented by its latest Homes England Strategic Partnership, GMCA Brownfield Housing Fund and grant from Manchester City Council, the low carbon scheme will also feature shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped gardens and will deliver an overall net gain of trees on the site.
Cllr. Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, Paul Martin, Chief Executive of LGBT Foundation and Ruth Ryan, Assistant Director of Affordable Housing Delivery at Homes England were joined by Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places and members of the project team on a tour to view progress on the new development at Russell Road which will be home to the UK’s ‘first of a kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme.
The project is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2027.
