A brand new social housing development in Salford is taking shape.
The first phase of the Poets development in Swinton is now complete with 22 families now settled into their new, modern homes.
Phase two of the project is well underway, which will see a further 48 homes built on Shakespeare Road.
The 160-home development is the first new-build project by housing association Salix Homes, working alongside contractor Galliford Try Partnerships.
A mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes are being built on the estate, also known as Beechfarm, replacing 146 properties that are being demolished, due to historical structural issues.
Of the new properties, 120 will be social housing, while the remainder will be homes for sale or shared ownership – the first of which will go on sale later this year.
Salix Homes is also carrying out a major environmental improvement project to its properties across the rest of the Beechfarm estate to upgrade and replace fencing and gates to around 300 properties.
Terry McBride, development manager at Salix Homes, said: “This is the first new-build project for Salix Homes, and we’re very proud to see our aspirations for more affordable homes in Salford brought to life, particularly at a time when housing is in such short supply.
“It’s fantastic to see the first residents now settled in and making memories at the Poets and we look forward to welcoming even more families into their brand new homes in the coming months.
“Later this year, we’ll also begin work on a series of environmental improvements to our properties on the wider Beechfarm estate, which will complement the development and help create a community that people can be proud to call home.”
The housing development is being carried out in four phases in order to minimise disruption to residents and the whole scheme is expected to be completed by summer 2020.
Brendan Blythe, regional managing director at Galliford Try Partnerships, one of the fastest growing regeneration businesses in the UK, said: “We are delighted with the progress being made at the Poets development in Swinton, which is seeing the provision of much needed affordable housing within the Salford area.
“Delivery of the scheme is very much underway with 22 families already settled into their new homes and we now look forward to the completion of Phase Two.”
Residents have been involved in the development process from start to finish with the original tenants affected by the demolition proposals temporarily re-housed close by and given priority for moving back into the new properties.
Salix Homes tenant Christine McMullan was one of the first to move into the new homes.
She said: “I’ve lived on this street for 36 years in the same house, so I’m so grateful to move back into a new house at a place I’ve known as home for such a long time.”
Phase three and four of the project is expected to get underway later this year and includes the demolition and development of some properties on Stevenson Road, Tennyson Road, Kingsley Road, Wordsworth Road and Blantyre Street.
