A freshly-painted Akse P19 mural has appeared on the side of new sleeping pods created for the homeless in Salford.
The new energy-efficient pods feature a hyperrealistic mural of Abbe Pierre, a catholic priest, former member of the French resistance, and founder of the homeless charity Emmaus which first began in Paris after the Second World War.
Pierre is pictured, mouth agape, on the side of the new insulated pods alongside a quote that reads: “A smile costs less than electricity but gives as much light.”
Created to offer some comfort for rough sleepers with nowhere warm or dry to lay their head at night, The People’s Pods at Emmaus Salford form part of Salford City Council’s A Bed Every Night provision.
All referrals to the pods are managed by Salford Housing Options, providing a safe temporary place to stay for people who are street homeless.
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The brainchild of one of the charity’s community members, the pods were borne out of the lived experience of those seeing so many homeless people coming into Emmaus shops to request emergency support.
Located within the grounds of Emmaus Salford’s community home in Pendleton, the fully-furnished pods have beds, storage, access to an en-suite toilet and mains electricity.
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A prototype of the new pods has undergone extensive testing at the University of Salford Energy House 2.0 to measure energy efficiency. It has now been refurbished to the highest thermal standards. / Image: Emmaus
The pod was originally used as a portacabin and was donated to Emmaus by Casey Construction. / Image: Emmaus
The site also has facilities to support people who want to bring their dogs with them, which is huge as many homeless accommodations to not allow residents to bring their pets.
The pods have been designed to enable people sleeping rough to be able to access support from the charity’s outreach workers, complimenting Emmaus Salford’s residential on-site community.
When rooms then become available inside, they are offered to people using the pods first as the next step to getting people off the streets and back into permanent housing.
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Sharing an image of the new mural with his Instagram followers, artist Akse P19 said: “Portrait of Abbé Pierre painted on a new energy efficient sleeping pod at @emmaus_salford which was developed in collaboration with the University of Salford and construction firm Casey for people who are street homeless.
“Abbé Pierre was a French catholic priest and former member of the French Resistance who founded the Emmaus movement after the Second World War, focusing on helping homeless people in Paris.
“‘Emmaüs’ comes from the name of a village in Palestine where despair was transformed into hope. The Emmaus movement has since grown in over 40 countries around the World, including 30 communities spread across the UK, which is the largest Emmaus community outside France.
“Emmaus Salford supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a stable home, meaningful work and support for as long as they need it. As well as a residential community, Emmaus Salford also has on-site pods to provide a safe and comfortable night’s sleep for people who are street homeless.”
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness and need advice or support please call 0161 793 2020 or visit the Salford City Council website.
Featured image – Emmaus Salford
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Plans approved for huge new purpose-built ice arena and events space in Trafford
Emily Sergeant
Plans for a new purpose-built ice arena and event space at TraffordCity have officially been approved this week.
Marking what is said to be a ‘major milestone’ for Greater Manchester‘s leisure and sports offering, the new 3,000-capacity TraffordCity Arena approved by Trafford Council will feature state‑of‑the‑art ice skating and ice hockey facilities, and a flexible event space designed to host a wide range of entertainment and community activities.
According to plans, Planet Ice is set to be the new venue’s ‘anchor tenant’ and it will become one of the brand’s largest venues in the UK.
Located on the former Soccer Dome site, adjacent to The Snow Centre, Trafford Golf Centre, David Lloyd, Fives Soccer, iFLY, and The Padel Club, this new arena is predicted to further strengthen Trafford‘s position as the UK’s leading leisure destination.
The new arena will offer year-round ice activities, lessons, and staking sessions, alongside premium hospitality experiences like family dining, bars, leisure, and VIP areas.
But on top of the that, the new venue has been ‘designed with versatility in mind’, so it will also host concerts, screenings, and a range of immersive experiences, all with the hope of creating a ‘dynamic’ destination for visitors.
The project is being developed by ICITIES in partnership with Peel Waters – the latter of which has cleared the site to enable future leisure developments.
The new arena is expected to deliver ‘significant’ economic benefits to the region, developers are saying, by contributing both construction roles during the build phase and the more than 50 permanent operational jobs once it opens – including in hospitality, event management, and leisure services.
Plans have been approved for a huge new purpose-built ice arena and events space in Trafford / Credit: April Walker | Joao Viegas (via Unsplash)
Due to the increasing popularity of ice sports, Trafford Council believes the new arena will bring a significant number of new visitors annually to the region, boosting the local visitor economy, driving further investment into the area, and also benefit surrounding businesses and leisure attractions too.
“As Planet Ice enters its 30th year, we’re delighted to see planning permission granted for this landmark project,” explained Heath Rhodes, who is the Chief Operations Manager at Planet Ice.
“Demand for ice facilities in the North West continues to grow, and this arena will help meet that need while delivering first class amenities for visitors.
Peel Waters has confirmed that contractors for the project will be announced very soon, with construction even expected to begin as early as spring 2026 and an estimated build time of around 12-15 months.
Featured Image – ICITIES & AEW Architects
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Police appeal for information after two people die in light aircraft crash in Rochdale
Emily Sergeant
Two people are confirmed to have died following a light aircraft crash into an area of farmland in Rochdale.
Emergency services responded to reports that an aircraft had crashed in a farmland area of Littleborough in Rochdale shortly after 11am yesterday (3 February 2026), and upon arrival at the scene, the bodies of two men were recovered – before they were, sadly, pronounced dead.
The plane had taken off earlier in the morning from Birmingham, and it is believed that it was a Cirrus light aircraft.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), there wasn’t anyone else onboard the plane, and there are no reported injuries on the ground either.
Police are also ‘additionally exploring’ the deployment of a parachute prior to the crash.
GMP is working in conjunction with colleagues in other emergency services – including the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), which arrived on the scene yesterday evening to begin conducting their own investigation – and a cordon remains in place around the area as all investigators continue with their enquiries.
National Grid also attended the scene to support the response and help make the area safe, however it has been confirmed there should be no disruption to electricity supply.
A public appeal for information and witnesses has now been issued, with Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis, from GMP’s Rochdale district, explaining: “This is a devastating incident where two people have lost their lives and our thoughts are with their families and friends.
“We have been working closely with emergency service colleagues and partner agencies throughout the day to establish the full circumstances. There will be an enhanced presence as officers and investigators comprehensively survey the area and ensure all available evidence is recovered.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd July 2023 
