Manchester’s Piccadilly East neighbourhood is set to grow once again as plans for a new £28 million development are given the green light.
In what is another prominent milestone for the renowned social impact developers, Capital & Centric have announced that Manchester City Council has approved plans for the new ‘Ferrous’ block in the vibrant neighbourhood, which will feature a total of 107 design-led rental apartments on Chapeltown Street, just a stone’s throw from Manchester Piccadilly station.
Ferrous will act as a neighbour to Capital & Centric’s existing projects in Piccadilly East, which are the historic Crusader Mill restoration, and the new build Phoenix community.
As well as 107 new homes over 15 storeys, according to Capital & Centric, Ferrous will also boast a rooftop residents’ garden, two café-bars, lush pocket parks on the ground floor, and most-notably, The Cabin – a new space for pop-up events.
The 20,000 sq ft site was once protected as part of the expansion of the Metrolink line, but has since been left empty for years.
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It’s official there’s a new kid on the block…Meet Ferrous 👋🏻
Not only are we bringing 107 beautiful design-led rental apartments to Piccadilly East but we’re also adding shared garden and a cabin set to become a community hub to the area. pic.twitter.com/kzddaIJOXJ
The green light for Ferrous will see more street-level spaces for residents to hangout, with the shared gardens, and The Cabin set to become a social hub.
Speaking on the green light, Tim Heatley – co-founder at Capital & Centric – said: “It’s no mean feat establishing a new neighbourhood in a city centre, but Piccadilly East is becoming an awesome place to live and Ferrous is the next part of the story, bringing more new homes with our trademark design-led finish, but crucially more spaces that’ll breathe life in the area.
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“There’s a genuine community forming across Crusader Mill and Phoenix, with owner occupiers forging friendships and making the most of the awesome location, and Ferrous will deliver a new social hangout space, with lush planting and The Cabin – a space for indie pop-ups and one-off foodie events to get people spending time there.
“That, plus the two spaces for café bars or shops should really help foster that close-knit neighbourhood feel, right round the corner from Piccadilly station.”
Construction on Ferrous is planned to start this autumn, and complete in late 2024.
Featured Image – Capital & Centric
Property
Government announces homebuying overhaul to fix country’s ‘broken’ housing system
Emily Sergeant
The Government has announced what it’s calling the biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history.
In a bid to ‘rewire a chaotic system which has become a barrier to homeownership for thousands nationwide, the Government has today (Monday 6 October) unveiled proposals that it says will speed up the long-drawn out and costly process of buying a home by four weeks.
The Housing Secretary says this will not only save people money, but unnecessary stress too.
The proposed new plans would see sellers and estate agents required to provide buyers with ‘vital’ information about a property upfront – including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move.
It’s hoped this will help end any last-minute chain collapses and ultimately give greater confidence to first-time buyers when they’re making one of life’s most important decisions.
The Government has announced plans to fix the country’s ‘broken’ housing system / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after buyers painstakingly spend months in negotiations to hopefully halve the number of failed transactions.
The new reforms are also proposing that prospective buyers are provided with side-by-side information on estate agents and conveyancers, including their track record and expertise, alongside new mandatory qualifications and Code of Practice to drive up standards and work to rebuild trust in the industry.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to Twitter this morning to address the proposed new homebuying overhaul, commenting: “I promised that my Government would fix the broken housing system.
“Buying or selling a home will be faster, unlocking the dream of homeownership and allowing hardworking people to focus on the next chapter of their lives. That’s national renewal.”
I promised that my government would fix the broken housing system.
Buying or selling a home will be faster, unlocking the dream of homeownership and allowing hardworking people to focus on the next chapter of their lives.
“Through our Plan for Change, we are putting more money back into working people’s pockets and making a simple dream a simple reality.”
Featured Image – James Feaver (via Unsplash)
Property
Inside the brand-new rental houses at Bolton’s landmark £35m development, Deansgate Gardens
Daisy Jackson
The first residents are in, and the launch of Deansgate Gardens – a landmark £35m development in Bolton town centre – is live.
This impressive new development has brought 167 high-quality rental homes to Bolton, creating a residential neighbourhood that features rooftop terraces, gardens, and stunning communal spaces.
The homes on Deansgate, Bolton have been built specifically for renters, with spacious layouts in an ideal location just a two-minute walk from Bolton Town Hall and a short commute to Manchester.
And, unusually for new rental developments, it’s not all about apartments here (though there are beautiful one- and two-bedroom apartments with rooftop gardens available).
It’s also somewhere you can rent two-bedroom townhouses, and have your very own yard.
Every home is built with energy efficiency in mind, with heat pumps and enhanced insulation, plus rooftop solar panels on selected homes, keeping those pesky bills down.
This pet-friendly development comes from developer Placefirst, and is a key moment in the wider £1bn regeneration masterplan for Bolton.
Inside Deansgate Gardens in BoltonInside Deansgate Gardens in BoltonA spacious bedroomThe rooftop terraceView from the rooftop terrace
Deansgate Gardens is located just opposite the former Beales department store, connected by the train station, bus interchange, and town centre within walking distance.
These stylish new homes are built around a central square and communal courtyards. The result? Somewhere residents can relax, socialise, and connect.
There’s even a dedicated Resident Service Manager and 24/7 maintenance support for peace of mind.
And just a short walk away you’ll find parks like Queen’s Park, plus beautiful routes along the River Croal.
Ready to make these houses your home? Book in for a tour around Deansgate Gardens today HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
18th March 2022 
