Property

Plans to turn derelict Manchester leisure centre into ‘affordable homes’ approved

The development will be made up of a mix of 50 one and two-bedroom apartments for the over 55s.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th September 2023

Plans to transform a derelict former leisure centre in Manchester into affordable homes have been given the seal of approval.

After Manchester City Council formally submitted its vision for the redevelopment of the former Chorlton Leisure Centre as an affordable ‘Later Living’ scheme for local people back in May, it’s now been revealed that the planning application was officially approved last week.

The development will be made up of a mix of 50 one and two-bedroom apartments for the over 55s. 

Seven of the apartments will be for sale by shared ownership, three will be neighbourhood apartments that provide ‘step up accommodation’, leaving the remaining 40 apartments to be capped at the Manchester Living Rent – which means they will be priced either at or below the local housing allowance level.

Lettings will be prioritised to over 55s with a housing priority need, which includes those who are keen to ”right-size and free up a social rented family home” in the local area for families on the housing waiting list. 

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The former Chorlton Leisure Centre / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)

The Council says it wants the development – which is set to see an investment of over £12 million – to have the “flexibility to adapt over time” in order to meet the changing needs of residents, meaning they can move from their existing family home and right-size to a new more suitable home that provides them with “everything they need for years to come”.

Not only will the development include “well-thought-out” communal spaces for residents, but the Council says there’ll also be opportunities to eventually integrate other external features within the community too.

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These include health services, wellbeing spaces, and different hubs for social interaction and involvement.   

Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, called the approval of the plans a “welcome milestone”.

He continued: “The project will deliver much-needed low-carbon, affordable housing for older people, helping to meet a clear need for this type of home in this neighbourhood [and] we know this will be a really positive investment in the heart of the Chorlton community.”

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As affordable homes to rent in highly sought-after neighbourhoods like Chorlton are much needed at the moment, the Council says it expects homes in the new development to be “in high demand”.

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The development is expected to be completed Summer 2025.

Featured Image – Manchester City Council

Property

The vision for Manchester’s landmark former Debenhams building

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

All of a sudden, several years after Debenhams closed in Manchester for good, work has suddenly ramped up on its landmark former home.

The magnificent Grade II-listed building overlooks the busy Market Street in Manchester city centre, and has done since 1932.

This art deco icon was home to Debenhams until the department store collapsed into administration in 2020, closing forever the following year.

Work to transform the building seemed to stall for a long time with it ending up covered in graffiti and becoming an eyesore as of last year.

But it’s now a bustling building site again and the start of its next chapter is well underway.

The vision of developer AM Alpha is to bring this beauty back to its glory days, once again called Rylands.

The ambitious project of works will include the full redevelopment the existing building.

The upper floors of the building are to be converted into high-quality office space, while a shopping arcade is also to be created on the ground floor.

AM Alpha has also revealed plans for a four-storey extension to be added to the current building, which would eventually mean that Rylands boasts 10 whole floors of mixed-use space for business, commercial, and leisure use.

It was initially set to complete in 2025 but that – obviously – now seems unlikely.

But as the months tick on we’ll see new life trickle back into this significant corner of Manchester.

Read more: A look at Embassy Village as construction on Manchester’s homeless housing project begins

Featured image: AM Alpha / Rylands Manchester

Property

A look at Embassy Village as construction on Manchester’s homeless housing project begins

Danny Jones Danny Jones Embassy Village for homeless people in Manchester work started

Work has officially begun on Manchester’s long-rumoured Embassy Village, a new living quarters designed specifically to house the local homeless community.

Set to be the largest purpose-built village of its kind in the UK, the hope is to provide short to medium-term housing for up to 40 rough sleepers in the Greater Manchester area.

Planning permission for the £4 million project proposed by the Embassy Charity was handed down back in 2021 and enabling works have been gradually taking place, with the land now fully prepped for construction to begin.

Officially breaking ground on Tuesday, 19 November, developers and regeneration specialists Peel Waters shared the first images from the site as well as concept artwork for what the district will look like once completed.

The 4.5-acre brownfield site sits beneath 22 railway arches just off the Egerton Street Bridge near Castlefield and the bustling Regent Road which heads towards Salford. Although it was initially said rooms would be made from shipping containers, the units will now be proper purpose-built structures.

Designed to house homeless and vulnerable people living in and around Manchester within individual units, Embassy Village is a joint non-profit venture by both Peel Waters and well-known property company Capital&Centric.

Contractor Vermont Group will be taking on the construction for free, with around 50 organisations offering their services pro bono, including AEW Architects, Planit and Jon Matthews Architects, who helped design the living quarters and wider communal space from the ground up.

Aiming to create a genuinely beneficial community environment, with those staying there able to access green spaces, mini-allotment plots, sports facilities; counselling services, laundry rooms, computer spaces and tonnes more, they’ve come a long way from offering tour bus beds to the homeless.

Residents will also start off on the right path towards getting back on their feet and those staying there will be required to carry out six hours of training per week in things like shopping, cooking, budgeting and other key life skills.

Speaking on the first day of proper construction, Peel Waters‘ director James Whittaker said: “Today’s launch event is an important milestone, marking years of hard work and collaboration to deliver the UK’s first purpose-built community village…”

He went on to thank all of those who have backed the plans so far, including Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, who has already applauded it as a “fantastic idea.”

With several local organisations either offering their help for free or contribute by donating to the project, the speed at which work can now move is increasing and it is expected that the 24 homes, as well as the central ‘village hall’ space, will be finished within the next 10 months.

The aim is for Embassy Village to be completed in its entirety by the end of 2025 and with more and more businesses being invited to help with the development along the way, the amount of resources and manpower is only looking like it will increase with approximately £1m still needed to fully bring it to life.

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Cooperating with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, which specialises in helping the homeless through its ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, Embassy are now working on finding long-term funding for the village’s operational costs once it is up and running.

Another key benefactor is The Moulding Foundation, an organisation dedicated to alleviating social inequalities, who donated £3.5m to support the village’s construction.

Co-founder, Jodie Moulding, told Prolific North: “For most people, access to housing, healthcare, and education is a given – but for others, it is a privilege…

“It has taken an unbelievable amount of time, effort, and energy to get to this point, so finally breaking ground is a huge milestone for everyone involved in bringing Embassy Village to life.”

As for Embassy themselves the charity’s director, Sid Williams, added: “Special thanks go to Matt and Jodie Moulding for their financial backing and the teams at Peel Waters, Capital&Centric, the Mayor’s Charity and Manchester City Council for making this happen.”

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Featured Images — Peel Waters (supplied)

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