Work has begun to demolish the former Pellowe House on Francis Road, Withington, Manchester to make way for 24 new one and two-bedroom apartments from Southway Housing Trust.
The site was an old commercial building unused for many years and providing no real benefit to the community.
It is making way for much-needed new homes and every one of these in the new three storey building will be available for social rent. This is significantly higher than the 20 per cent normally expected for such a site in Manchester City Council’s affordable housing policy, helping the city council with its annual target for new affordable homes.
Grant funding from development partners Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, through the Brownfield funding scheme, helped to ensure the development progressed.
The £4.2 million development will be built by developer Manchester-based J Greenwood Builders to comply with the latest energy efficiency requirements, with completion due in the summer of 2025.
Electric car charging points and measures including high quality insulation and heating systems will reduce the energy cost for the new tenants. This will help contribute to the city council’s target of 50 per cent of new housing to be either zero carbon or low carbon by 2025.
Karen Mitchell, chief executive of Southway Housing Trust, said: “We’re proud to be developing new affordable homes on a site that hasn’t been used for many years. Providing homes in Withington for people who can afford to pay social rent is a real challenge, and we’re really pleased to be able to help with this real need in our local communities.”
“Southway will continue to work with our partners to fulfil Manchester’s ambition to provide high quality homes that are affordable for our communities and contribute to making Manchester a vibrant and diverse city.”
Adrian Rooney, managing director of J Greenwood Builders, said: “Working again with our client Southway Housing, our design team and committed supply chain are all looking forward to transforming this redundant site into much needed affordable modern homes.”
Councillor Gavin White, executive member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council, said: “I’m really pleased to see works commencing on site for this latest affordable housing development by Southway Housing in Withington. These 24 new, social rent, low carbon homes on a former brownfield site are vital to help local people access much needed affordable housing in our city. These developments are key to the delivery of our housing strategy as a city council.”
