A new plan has been approved to refurbish 25 empty homes in Newton Heath that will be converted for use by armed forces veterans.

The project, that would look to bring together the city council, the BBC’s DIY SOS Big Build project, charities Walking With The Wounded charity and Haig Housing and Adactus Housing Group in a first of its kind development, will bring 25 homes back in to use on Canada Street and New Street.

The project would also include street landscaping to provide disabled access and improve the environment, along with a face-lift of all 62 properties on the streets.  As part of a second phase the remaining 17 empty properties would be refurbished by Haig housing. 

The aim is to create a veteran’s housing community within the existing Newton Heath community, taking advantage of the wide highways on Canada Street to allow disabled access to the homes and disabled parking. 

In 2009, Adactus Housing acquired properties across Manchester through a stock transfer, which included a cluster of empty homes on Canada Street and New Street in Newton Heath. As the recession hit, the government’s Housing Market Renewal funding came to an end, limiting the options available to deal with the properties. 

To ensure there is the provision of appropriate, high quality housing for veterans, the city council and Adactus Housing have agreed to gift Haig Housing – a long established veteran housing charity – 25 empty homes.

DIY SOS plans to show eight properties being refurbished that would happen in September, creating three larger adapted residential homes for veterans and their families, one standard size property and a veteran walk-in support and advice centre. 

The centre would have a private space for therapy and counselling, run by Walking With The Wounded, and provide a space for community use. 

The remaining 17 empty properties would be refurbished by Haig Housing following filming and provide on-site classrooms for veteran trainees from The Manchester College School of Construction.

The BBC’s DIY SOS programme aims to achieve the above refurbishments and works through donation of materials, equipment and on-site labour to veterans and their families. Skills will be donated by contractors and local businesses.

A number are already committed and the local Army Reserve (75th Engineer Regiment) has already committed workforce and equipment. 

Via standard housing routes, veterans often have difficulty finding suitable accommodation – especially if they require adapted housing – as well as access to support networks and training opportunities with a choice of schools and colleges in the local area. 

Cllr Jeff Smith, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “The city council has committed to an armed forces covenant to work with and support our armed forces returning to civilian life.  This project is a timely and practical demonstration of how we can provide this support and at the same time benefit the local residents and the city by bringing empty homes back in to use.
 “Veterans often have difficulty finding accommodation that is appropriate for their needs, but through this programme we hope to offer not only suitable housing but on-going advice and support.  This includes training and education, in partnership with local schools and colleges, to help veterans find employment and support themselves in the future.”

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