A new community of “lifestyle-led” apartments in one of Manchester’s most up-and-coming neighbourhoods is launching this week.
The apartment images and CGIs of the vibrant development have also just been released too.
The Castings is a brand-new ‘Build To Rent’ community of 352 apartments in Piccadilly East, which is often touted as one of Manchester‘s next-generation neighbourhoods.
The development – which is owned by CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT), also known as the owners of the famous The Lowry hotel – is “bringing new life” to the up-and-coming neighbourhood near Manchester Piccadilly station with its range of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.
Viewings of the show apartments will be ready to book from this week, all before the development is then set to open its doors to residents in June.
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The Castings is a brand-new ‘Build To Rent’ community of 352 apartments / Credit: Supplied
Sitting at the heart of an area steeped in rich industrial history, the development’s name, The Castings, has been chosen to pay homage to its past, and derives from pouring molten metals and other materials into moulds.
The design-led apartments are also inspired by these industrial shapes, flowing forms, and molten textures, according to developers.
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As well as the hundreds of stunning apartments, the new lifestyle-led development will also feature a wellness studio and gym, a games room, private dining spaces, a roof terrace, and a co-working hub too – with a collection of food and drink, and retail businesses set to open for both residents and anyone in the surrounding city centre area.
The development will become a focal point of the up-and-coming Piccadilly East neighbourhood once it opens / Credit: Supplied
The Castings will become a focal point of Piccadilly East once it opens.
Not only was it named by The Sunday Times as one of the best places to live last year, but Piccadilly East – which is conveniently-adjacent to Ancoats, New Islington, and the Northern Quarter – is already home to some of Manchester’s most popular food, drink, and live entertainment venues, and is soon to welcome the highly-anticipated Co-op Live arena, too.
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“In just a couple of months, we’ll be welcoming residents into our new community,” The Castings community manager, Dave Evans, commented ahead of viewings of the show apartments launching this week.
The new lifestyle-led development will also feature a gym, games room, co-working hub, and more / Credit: Supplied
He continued: “The focus for The Castings has been to create much more than just apartments, it’s a whole new lifestyle, with the best service and living experience that Manchester has to offer.
“Piccadilly East is a really exciting area to be part of, as it’s the next generation of Manchester, and following on from the footsteps of Ancoats, we hope to help create the next bustling creative hub in the city.”
Viewings of The Castings’ show apartments are due to begin from Monday 18 March onwards, with prices expected to start from £1,150 per month for a Studio, £1,250 per month for a one-bed apartment, £1,525 per month for a two-bed, and £2,175 for a three-bed apartment.
With the first residents able to move into the apartments from June, you can now register your interest, book a viewing, and find out more on The Castings website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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The beautiful brand-new (and surprisingly affordable) homes in West Didsbury
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Listen up home hunters – we may have just found a way for you to live in your dream area sooner than you thought.
Getting your foot on theproperty ladder is often not financially viable for a lot of people these days – and this is where Shared Ownership comes in, enabling buyers to purchase shares in their homes instead.
Gecko Homes have just introduced Two Didsbury Point, a selection of stunning one and two-bedroom modern homes, in one of the most sought after suburbs of Manchester.
Didsbury is absolutely packed with charming Edwardian and Victorian architecture and plenty of green space, including but not limited to Fletcher Moss park, which is breathtaking this time of year with autumnal colours.
This area is highly desirable, and it is easy to understand why, with all of the adorable independent shops and eateries as well as Burton Road, filled with the coolest bars at the heart of it all. Not to mention the monthly Makers Market, featuring local artists and food trucks.
The cherry on the top is how well connected the area is via Metrolink, motorway and railway to Manchester city centre and beyond. Oh and the airport is only 10 minutes down the road. Could Didsbury truly have it all?
The beautiful homes at Two Didsbury PointGecko Homes’ one and two bedroom properties at Two Didbsury Point
Whether you’re looking for a home to settle down in, or for your very first place where you have the advantages of having the city centre within easy reach, whilst retaining that homely community feel in the local area, this may be the one for you.
Two Didsbury Point is a £20 million scheme of 76 affordable homes, across two connected eight and five-storey blocks – 46 of those being for shared ownership – on the site of the former Withington Hospital.
The apartments themselves are an absolute dream, with sleek built-in kitchens, fully fitted bathrooms, bike storage and other enviable amenities such as the rooftop garden and communal area, perfect for entertaining guests. Oh, and they’re fitted with the latest cost effective and climate conscious features such as solar panels and air source heat pumps.
North West developer, Gecko Homes, specialises in creating Shared Ownership homes, making some fantastic properties surprisingly affordable. Through the new-look Shared Ownership lease scheme buyers are able to own a slice of their home, with terms that flex to fit their circumstances – starting with shares as low as 10%, with the option of increasing your ownership by 1% each year for the first 15 years. This allows buyers to get on the housing ladder, without the fear of a huge deposit.
The Two Didsbury Point homes are available as shared ownershipYour chance to move to Didsbury for a surprisingly affordable price point
Shared Ownership allows you to buy 10-75% share of the property and pay rent on the part you don’t own. Starting from £58,750 for a 25% share and 5% deposits starting from just £2,937.50, making it an actual achievable way for people to get onto the property ladder – something many of us can’t even comprehend in this climate.
Not to mention you get all the advantages of owning your home – from decorating the way you want to bringing your pet.
By reserving a home at Two Didsbury Point, buyers can also receive up to £1,000 in incentives, which can be used towards gym memberships, flooring upgrades, legal fee assistance, moving cost support and much more.
For more information on this way to buy a home click here. To read Gecko Homes’ Shared Ownership Key Information click here.
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ to support Girls Don’t Sync member at XLR
Lydia Mastrolonardo
It’s no secret that Manchester has gained a surplus of aspiring DJs in recent years – well now it’s time to put those skills to use and show the rest of the UK what Manchester is made of.
Soopa Hooch has just launched Soopa Charged Sounds, an exciting competition, aiming to uncover emerging talent across the UK, offering one lucky winner the opportunity to perform at XLR, supporting member of Girl’s Don’t Sync, Gaia Ahuja aka G33.
Not only would the winner gain the platform to showcase their skills but they would also gain a year’s supply of Soopa Hooch drinks and a home DJ set up – now have I got your attention?
Come on, it seems only right that a Mancunian should win considering the event would be hosted inside our very own iconic nightclub, XLR Manchester.
So, if it’s always your job to supply the music wherever you go, you’re the friend that never fails to know the track ID or you simply practice in the safety of your bedroom – this is your time to shine. Dust off those decks, brush up on your mixes and get applying.
Soopa Hooch, the wild, bolder cousin of the classic Hooch, is an 8% ABV sparkling vodka mix available in five different flavours – Blue Raspberry, Twisted Tropical, Electric Lemonade, Darkest Berry and Cherry Cola, providing the perfect flavour for every kind of playlist.
Sam Watson, Brand Manager at Soopa Hooch and Hooch, commented: “We know there’s a huge amount of undiscovered DJ talent out there, whether they’re creating mixes at home or already making waves in their local scene.
“We’ve launched Soopa Charged Sounds to give that talent a platform to get their skills heard, and we can’t wait to shine a light on DJs who are bringing energy to pre-drinks and parties across the country.”
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ. Credit: The Manc GroupThe chosen DJ will support Girls Don’t Sync member G33 at XLR. Credit: Supplied
Think you or someone you know has what it takes? Simply create a 15-20-minute mini mix and submit it via the Soopa Hooch website to enter by Thursday 26 November 2026.
The mixes will be reviewed by a panel of experts, from regional DJ radio stations up and down the country, on the following five key criteria: creativity, originality, ability, energy and overall suitability. Five finalists will then be announced on Sunday 20 December, before the lucky winner is crowned on Thursday 28 January 2027.
The Soopa Charged Sounds winner will then swap their bedroom desks for the big stage, for a live performance at XLR nightclub, on Friday 26 February 2027.
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2024 
