Plans to build a community of new sustainable homes overlooking Greater Manchester’s historic canals have been submitted this week.
‘Manchester Waters‘ is the newest project from waterside regeneration specialists, Peel Waters.
Located between The Bridgewater Canal and The Manchester Ship Canal, the proposed one, two, and three-bedroom build-to-rent apartments form part of the company’s collection of “vibrant and innovative” waterfront developments all across the UK, and will uniquely offer every future resident a stunning home with a waterfront view.
Split across two buildings that overlook both historic canals, developers say health, wellness, access to nature, and spaces to socialise in are all at the forefront of the proposals.
A communal rooftop terrace will provide exceptional views onto the Manchester Ship Canal, and a “welcoming” residents’ courtyard garden will offer extra outdoor space to relax in, while a dedicated residents-only gym and on-site yoga studio is set to be just one of many amenities.
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Plans have been submitted for 159 new homes overlooking Manchester’s historic canals / Credit: Peel L&P
Sustainability is said to be “at the heart” of the design of the two residential buildings.
As well as adopting a fabric-first approach with the aim of reducing carbon emissions, heat pumps and solar panels will be installed to generate energy on site, and will also be complemented by a heat recovery system to make the buildings “highly efficient”.
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Active travel options will be encouraged at the development as it will have secure on-site cycle parking hubs, and a ‘car club’ with dedicated EV charging points in each space.
James Whittaker, who is the Executive Director for Peel Waters, has called the submission of plans for the new Manchester development an “exciting step”.
Sustainability is said to be “at the heart” of the proposed residential development / Credit: Peel L&P
“Waterside living in the UK comes with many benefits that enhance quality of life and wellness,” he explained, “and our proposed homes will celebrate their waterfront location as well as delivering much needed new, sustainable, quality housing in the area in addition to providing the next section of new improved pedestrian and cycle links between Manchester and MediaCity.
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“Alongside creating new homes, the proposals represent a significant investment into the local area, which will create new jobs, apprenticeships and local employment opportunities throughout the construction stage.”
The 159 proposed homes will form part of a wider Manchester Waters masterplan to regenerate the Brownfield site – which has been largely vacant for more than two decades – and developers say it will bring “much-needed quality homes” to the area.
As part of the proposals, Peel will be making a contribution equivalent to 20% affordable housing within Trafford, and a further contribution will be made towards improving green spaces in the local area too.
Featured Image – Peel L&P
Property
Government sets date for ‘historic’ no-fault evictions ban next year
Emily Sergeant
The Government has officially set the date for the ban of no-fault evictions next year.
Renting in England is expected to be ‘transformed’ with a raft of major changes coming into effect as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill from 1 May 2026 for 11 million people across the country – and this, crucially, includes the end of Section 21 evictions at no-fault of the tenant.
As it stands, Section 21 notices leaving thousands of people vulnerable to homelessness every year, but in just under six months’ time, private renters will no longer face this threat.
To the vast majority of renters and landlords who play by the rules, this government has got your back.
Further measures announced as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill – which has now been passed in law – include a ban on rental bidding wars, making landlords and letting agents legally required to publish an asking rent for their property and prevented from asking for, encouraging, or accepting any bids above this price, and also a ban on in-tenancy rent increases written in to contracts.
The latter will prevent landlords from implementing higher rents mid-tenancy, and only allow them to raise the rent once a year to the market rate.
Landlords will also no longer be able to unreasonably refuse tenants’ requests to have a pet, nor will they be able to discriminate against potential tenants, because they receive benefits or have children.
‘No-fault’ evictions are now banned in England under historic new legislation / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
On the flip side, however, the new Bill means landlords will have stronger legally valid reasons to get their properties back when needed – whether that’s be to move in themselves, sell the property, or deal with rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
The Government says this will work to deliver a fairer system for both sides.
“We’re calling time on no fault evictions and rogue landlords,” commented Housing Secretary, Steve Reed. “Everyone should have peace of mind and the security of a roof over their head, and the law we’ve just passed delivers that.
“We’re now on a countdown of just months to that law coming in, so good landlords can get ready and bad landlords should clean up their act.”
Alongside the Renters’ Rights Act, an ‘improved’ Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which will better assess health and safety risks in homes and making it more efficient and easier to understand, will also be introduced.
And there are also planned new standards to ensure privately rented properties are warmer and cheaper to run.
Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Property
Work finally begins on Greater Manchester’s new ‘innovation hub’ in Atom Valley creating 20,000 jobs
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… work has finally begun on the first major development in Atom Valley.
If you’re not familiar with Atom Valley, this new project is set to be a unique innovation ‘cluster’ – plans of which were approved by local leaders all the way back in summer 2022 – with the potential to create up to 20,000 new jobs in Greater Manchester once it’s complete.
Greater Manchester wants Atom Valley to become a ‘springboard’ for new and emerging companies and researchers, giving them the support and the opportunities they need to trial and commercialise their innovations right here in our region.
The new development which ground has now been broken on is a Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) – which is set to become a thriving hub of innovation.
Today is a big day for GM.
We break ground on a new research centre at Atom Valley – our emerging world-class cluster in advanced materials and manufacturing.
Here, start-ups and emerging companies will be able to pioneer new technologies and scale up their ambitions, all while creating jobs and driving growth across the region in the process.
Located next to the Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale, it will offer 30,000 sq ft of new laboratory space, workshops, and design studios, as well as a lecture theatre, meeting rooms, office space, and flexible workspace for start-ups.
With the ‘right’ support, local leaders say the SMMC will also be a vital link between Atom Valley and the Oxford Road Corridor, ultimately forging a pathway for new companies and projects to expand from the city centre out into the wider city region.
Work has finally begun on Greater Manchester’s new ‘innovation hub’ in Atom Valley / Credit: DLA Architecture
Mayor Andy Burnham says this is the ‘most ambitious development’ in Atom Valley so far
“It will help unleash the untapped potential of the world-leading research taking place across our city region, bridging that crucial gap from invention to bringing those new innovations to the market,” he explained. “And it will create a new hi-tech corridor from the out to the north of Greater Manchester, creating jobs and new opportunities for start-ups to scale up their ambitions.
“This is integrated, well-connected development in action, and a clear sign of our mission to spread the benefits of growth right across our city region.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th October 2023 
