128 new homes in Ancoats have been approved by Manchester’s planning committee in the first of a new council housing development project.
Manchester City Council explains that the green light given to the first phase of the new ‘This City’ development will include 118 apartments across two buildings, alongside 10 townhouses – which will have either three or four bedrooms.
The apartments will be a mix of 27 one-bedroom and 91 two-bedroom homes.
30% of the homes will be made available at the Manchester Living Rent, which is capped at the Government’s Local Housing Allowance rate and is therefore “affordable to residents on housing benefit”, according to the Council.
This will increase the number of homes available to people on lower incomes in the city centre, while the remainder will be available at market rent.
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The development brings back into use a Brownfield site bound by Rodney Street, Jersey Street, Wadeford Close, and Butler Street on the border of Ancoats and Miles Platting.
128 new homes in Ancoats have been approved by Manchester’s planning committee / Credit: This City / Buttress
As well as the homes sitting in a “highly sustainable location” close to the city centre, which give residents the option of walking, cycling, and using public transport to access local services and employment, the town houses will also each include a parking space with electric vehicle charging points, and private gardens to the rear.
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There’ll also be plenty of space for bicycle parking, and the addition of The Mobility Hub – a new concept that the Council says will centralise and reduce the need for onsite car parking, as well as limiting traffic in the wider neighbourhood.
£32 million will be invested in the wider public realm, and a greening scheme will also see Ancoats become a low-carbon sustainable neighbourhood – with a focus on active travel, walking, and cycling routes.
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1,500 homes are expected to be delivered in this area in the coming years as the final phase of the regeneration of Ancoats, the Council confirms.
30% of the homes will be made available at the Manchester Living Rent / Credit: This City / Buttress
“It’s great to see the first This City site out of the blocks and delivering the homes that we know Manchester people need,” said Cllr Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council.
“Our intention is to scale up development to at least 500 homes per year and at least 20percent of these will be made available at the Manchester Living Rent – delivering high quality, affordable housing for families on lower incomes.
“This is a really exciting time for Ancoats and the beginning of the completion of a regeneration journey spanning two decades.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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‘Groundbreaking’ new police team launches on Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world
Emily Sergeant
A ‘groundbreaking’ new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world has launched.
Described as being ‘pioneering’, the first-of-its-kind approach – named the Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) – will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour, and safety issues across the region’s transport network.
So, how will it work then? Well, according to TfGM, the command will ‘effectively establish’ the Bee Network as GMP’s eleventh policing district.
It will bring together up to 300 personnel, including new police officers, who are all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers travelling across the region.
Efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes, and roads across Greater Manchester will be ‘strengthened’ through the new team – improving co-ordination in response to incidents, and helping to reassure communities.
A ‘groundbreaking’ new police team has launched on the Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world / Credit: TfGM
The new team will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, the motorbike unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and more.
Overall, the key focus of TPACC is to:
Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
The launch of TPACC is said to represents ‘the next phase’ of Greater Manchester’s commitment to creating a ‘safer, more secure, and more welcoming’ transport network for everyone who lives, works, and travels across the region.
“I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together more than 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
Featured Image – TfGM
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Two arrested after assaulting and burgling 90-year-old woman in Stockport suburb
Emily Sergeant
Two people have been arrested following reports of an assault and burglary at a 90-year-old woman’s home in a Stockport suburb.
While en-route to the incident in Heald Green – which was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at around 2:30am on 29 October – officers located the victim’s vehicle being driven by an unknown man.
The stolen vehicle made off from police before it lost control, went up a grass verge, and collided with a stationary vehicle.
Police confirmed that a white British man, aged 41, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a burglary and serious assault, while a white British woman, aged 47, was also later arrested on suspicion of burglary and serious assault – with both remaining in custody for questioning.
The victim, a 90-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for treatment and is being supported by specialist officers, although luckily, her injuries are not life-threatening.
Enquiries are now ongoing, and officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the shocking incident.
“This was undoubtedly a traumatic experience for the victim, and we have specialist officers supporting her through this investigation,” explained Detective Inspector Craig Turner, from Stockport CID.
“This was a violent burglary and thanks to the brave victim reporting it, our officers made two swift arrests with the suspects taken into police custody to be interviewed.
“We believe this was a targeted attack and there is no wider risk to the community. Extra patrols of officers have been deployed to the area to offer reassurance to members of the community. Please let them know if you have any concerns.
“We are committed to tackling dangerous offenders and keeping our communities safe from harm.”
Emily Sergeant -
2nd September 2022 
