Plans have been approved for the UK’s ‘first of its kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ social rent housing scheme for over 55s in Manchester.
Great Places Housing Group’s proposals for the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road in Whalley Range – a brownfield site which has been vacant since the hospital was demolished in September 2019 – were approved at Manchester City Council’s planning meeting last week (26 September).
The plans for the majority LGBTQ+ ‘Extra Care’ housing scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation.
According to developers and the Council, this newly-approved development will be made up of 80 one and two-bedroom apartments for older people within a “high-quality sustainable building offering a safe and welcoming feel and inviting presence”.
Designed to “respect the surrounding conservation area”, the low-carbon scheme will also include several shared communal facilities too – including lounges, treatment rooms, and landscaped gardens.
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The site will also include a neighbouring development of 40 shared ownership homes.
Plans have been approved for a new ‘first of its kind’ majority LGBTQ+ housing scheme in Manchester / Credit: John Walding (via Great Places Housing Group)
Greater Manchester‘s Extra Care housing schemes are all about increasing the opportunities for older people to move into high-quality accommodation across our region – with all the residents at Russell Road therefore being aged 55 or over.
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The majority of residents at the development will also be members of the LGBTQ+ community from Manchester, and they will live alongside allies in what developers and the Council are aiming to be an “open and inclusive place of psychological safety”.
Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said the approval of the plans is “a real celebratory moment” and a “landmark development in every sense”.
He continued: “[This development] has been in the works for some years and is designed to meet a clear need for quality, social rent housing for LGBTQ+ older people to live in safety, dignity, and as part of a welcoming and supportive community.
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“We have helped build hundreds of Extra Care homes across Manchester in recent years to meet demand for older people to live in their later lives, many with care needs provided on site, but this is the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care community in the UK”.
Work on the new development – which will be funded by Great Places, complimented by grant funding from Homes England, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Brownfield Housing Fund – will begin later this year, the Council has confirmed.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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Body of missing 15-year-old boy recovered from water at Salford country park
Emily Sergeant
The body of a missing 15-year-old boy has sadly been recovered from the water at a country park in Salford.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a teenager getting in to difficulty in the water at Clifton Country Park in Salford at around 4:51pm this past Saturday (27 June).
Since then, emergency services – including partners from Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – have been working together to locate the missing boy.
But despite their best efforts, a body was, unfortunately, located in the water yesterday (29 June).
The body was recovered from the water by specialists at North West Under Water Search and Marine Unit, GMP confirmed.
Formal identification is yet to take place, but police are supporting the family of the missing boy in the meantime.
“Saturday’s incident is truly heartbreaking,” commented Detective Inspector Dave Ogden, from the Salford CID.
“My thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life. While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water.
“We understand people want to make the most of the warm weather, but we would urge everyone to stay safe and avoid entering reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.
“Please take care and enjoy the weather in a safe way.”
Featured Image – David Dixon (via Geograph)
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Man named and charged with ‘brutal’ murder at Peak District stone circle on summer solstice
Emily Sergeant
A man has been formally named as he’s charged with murder after a man’s life was taken in ‘the most brutal way’ following a summer solstice event.
He has been named as Szymon Babynko – a 23-year-old Polish national who now lives in London.
Babynko was named as part of an ongoing investigation, which was launched after Derbyshire Police were called to reports of a man’s body being found at Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the Peak District at 1:38pm on Monday 22 June, and when emergency services attended the scene, a 26-year-old man was found and pronounced dead.
The man was identified as Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, with police assuring his family are being supported by specialist officers.
Babynko was arrested on Thursday 25 June in connection with the incident, before being charged with murder today (29 June).
He has also been charged with attempted murder in relation to another incident on Hady Lane in Chesterfield on Thursday 25 June, the same day he was arrested.
Investigators say they still remain ‘keen’ to hear from anyone who was at the stone circle site over the weekend – which was notably the weekend of the summer solstice – as well as anyone with video footage from the event, and dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend.
A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up where members of the public can send information to police directly.
Emily Sergeant -
30th September 2024 
