A rare Grade II-listed mid-century modern home designed by a renowned architect has gone on the market in Lancashire.
Now, we know this one is a little off patch for us… but honestly, it’s a truly unique masterpiece worth hyping up.
Before we all get carried away, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have the money to buy this house just chilling in bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This is Domus – thought to be one of the first ‘modern’ houses in the county, commissioned for Eric Cookson and his wife all the way back in 1958.
Mid-century modern homes are commonplace in the US, but rare in the UK / Credit: The Modern House
Mid-century modern (MCM) homes are commonplace in the US and in other countries across Europe, but here in the UK, it’s a different story.
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MCMs homes are said to be rare in the UK due to a preference for traditional, durable materials like brick, as well as higher land costs demanding smaller footprints, and because we have a climate that makes large, single-pane glass windows more impractical.
Hence why this home in the sought-after Burnley town of Reedley is so special.
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Designed by the renowned architect Alan Chambers, and concealed from view at the foot of a private driveway, fronted by landscaped gardens and a screen of mature specimen trees, estate agents say this exceptional Grade II-listed modern masterpiece is set intended for ‘creating, communing, and entertaining’.
This Grade II-listed home was designed by renowned architect Alan Chambers back in 1958 / Credit: The Modern House
One of the property’s other stand-out features has to be its abundance of natural light in the main living spaces, where expansive full-height windows frame views of the garden.
Retaining the building’s legacy has also been integral to its current owners, with much of the property’s internal detailing having been beautifully preserved throughout – most notably in terrazzo tiles, marble floors, and aluminium door furniture, light switches and sanitaryware.
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Oh, and of course, we have to mention the artfully crafted open-tread staircase as one of the many original features that just steals the show.
The outside of Domus is just as impressive as the inside too / Credit: The Modern House
The outside is just as impressive as the inside too, as not only is there a collection of characteristic balconies surrounding the property, but you’ll also find that the gardens and woodland extend to around 5.7 acres – which form an integral part of what makes this home so remarkable and unlike anything else in the North West
Like what you see then?
This property is currently on the market with mid-century modern expert estate agents, The Modern House, for a (pretty reasonable, to be fair) £1.1 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – The Modern House
Property
Derelict Manchester office block to become ‘vital’ accommodation for homeless families
Emily Sergeant
A derelict former office block in Manchester is set to become vital accommodation for homeless families in the region.
Manchester City Council has announced that, subject to planning approval, new temporary accommodation for dozens of homeless families will be created on the site of a derelict former office block in south Manchester, off Nell Lane in Chorlton.
The Council acquired the 1.1 acre site last month with the support of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund.
The initiative – which is part of wider plans to boost the city’s stock of quality temporary accommodation – will see self-contained two-bedroom accommodation created for around 55 homeless families built where former NHS offices, Mauldeth House, currently stand.
Mauldeth House has been empty for several years now at this point, and had become somewhat of a ‘blight’ on the neighbourhood, attracting anti-social behaviour along the way and being targeted by squatters – but with the plans for the new accommodation, this could change for the better.
The site, and therefore the new accommodation, is said to be ‘ideally located’ for families, as it’s close to shops, schools, public transport, leisure facilities, and Chorlton Park.
The new accommodation will see families supported by a specialist team based on site to help them move on as quickly as possible into permanent settled tenancies, which is, of course, the long-term goal for many.
The Mauldeth House initiative is cited as being one example of the Council’s drive to increase its temporary accommodation stock across the city to reduce the number of out-of-area placements.
Other successful examples of this initiative include Mariana House in Whalley Range, and The Poplars in Rusholme.
It also comes after it was announced last month that homeless children in Greater Manchester, particularly those who are placed in temporary accommodation out of area for their school, will now get free bus travel to and from school.
“Mauldeth House is a great example of how we can put derelict properties to good use to benefit those experiencing homelessness, as well as making our neighbourhood look better,” explained Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Joanna Midgley.
“We are tackling homelessness on many fronts, the most important one being prevention, but we also need an increased supply of good quality temporary accommodation within the city so that if people do become homeless they are not uprooted from their social support networks.
“One of the ways we are doing this is through the innovative use of existing sites whether they are council owned or we are able to acquire them, as in the case of Mauldeth House.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Property
The plans to build 107 new homes in Manchester city centre – including affordable housing
Daisy Jackson
A new community of homes – including affordable housing – is on the way to Manchester city centre.
Fresh new images have been unveiled of Ferrous, a brand-new 107-home rental scheme that will be built in Piccadilly East later this year.
The new development from Capital&Centric will include 15% affordable housing, as well as a new pocket park.
The new scheme is partly thanks to a £1.6m investment from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which will see a previously underused brownfield site regenerated.
The site near Manchester Piccadilly was previously owned by Transport for Greater Manchester.
Although the planning consent didn’t require an affordable housing, Capital&Centric has committed to delivering around 15% of the new homes as affordable.
Alongside the pocket park, there’ll be a small kiosk designed as a launchpad for an independent food or drink operator.
Piccadilly East was named by The Sunday Times as one of the UK’s most up-and-coming places to live, thanks to developments like Crusader Mill and Neptune Mill, plus the landmark ‘Jenga’ Leonardo Hotel.
Tom Wilmot, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “The GMCA funding is helping unlock new homes on a challenging city centre site while allowing us to deliver affordable homes as part of the scheme.
“We’ve also carved out space for greenery and an independent operator because small pockets of public space make a massive difference. In a post-industrial city you have to go big on planting. Kampus showed that and we want to create a mini version here.”
Construction on Ferrous is expected to start later this year with completion anticipated in 2028.
Emily Sergeant -
11th February 2026 
