In partnership with Manchester City Council, New East Manchester and Adactus Housing Association, local affordable housing developer Lovell is building 53 two- three- and four-bedroom houses at Sandal Street with the help of £1.03 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) through the Kickstart programme. They are the first of 1,000 new homes planned for the area.
The £7.3 million development will create 22 homes for open market sale by Lovell. The other properties will be managed by Adactus: 11 will be available for social rent and 20 for HomeBuy, part-buy, part-rent shared ownership. All homes will meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the system for assessing the environmental performance of new housing. The scheme will also create training opportunities. Lovell will join forces with Construction Industry Solutions, based at Manchester College in Openshaw, to find two local apprentices to join the award-winning Lovell apprenticeship programme. Local Lovell apprentice carpenter / joiner Ben Palfreyman, who lives within a mile of the Miles Platting site, will also be based on the development.
HCA investment and regeneration manager Delyse Bailey, Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, Lovell regional director Nigel Yates and Hilary Roberts, group director of development and deputy chief executive, at Adactus Housing Association were among those who visited the site to mark the start of work.
Deborah McLaughlin, executive director North West at the HCA, comments: “Working closely with Manchester Council and Lovell, I am pleased that we have been able to help bring these important new affordable homes forward, which I am sure will prove popular with local people.”
Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services for Manchester City Council, says: “This new development is a welcome demonstration of the continued commitment of the Council and its partners to the regeneration of East Manchester despite the difficult financial backdrop. It will be an important step towards improving the choice of high-quality, affordable housing in Miles Platting and builds on the investment already made in improving the quality of the 1,500 Council-owned houses through the housing Private Finance Initiative."
Hilary Roberts, group director of development and deputy chief executive at Adactus adds: "Working in partnership with Manchester City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and Lovell, we are delighted to be starting on the development of these affordable new homes which will benefit both the local community and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the area through training and employment initiatives.”
Lovell regional director Nigel Yates says: “It is very satisfying that despite the tough economic climate we have been able to start work on these new homes. Local people will benefit through the creation of high-quality energy-efficient houses for sale, rent and low-cost home ownership and from the opportunities we are creating for high-quality apprenticeship training through the scheme.”
Steve Thorncroft, deputy chief executive of New East Manchester, comments: “This is another major milestone in the regeneration of this important part of East Manchester. These new properties will not only offer existing residents better quality homes but will attract new families to move to the area, building a bigger and brighter community for everyone. Miles Platting remains a priority and we’re working hard to deliver other elements of the masterplan including a new Joint Service Centre with shops, a new library, housing office and local health services.”
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