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”.
Our plans to completely re-develop the former Chorlton Leisure site as an affordable later living housing scheme has taken a big step forward today 🏠💚
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”.
The development is expected to be completed Summer 2025.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Property
Council Tax in Manchester could be raised to support the city’s ‘poorest households’
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council has laid out plans to potentially raise residents’ Council Tax to help support the “poorest households” in the city.
Councillors are proposing that, under the city’s current Council Tax Support scheme, the amount owed by a household is reduced by up to 100% for pension-age residents with the lowest incomes, and up to 82.5% for working-age residents with the lowest incomes from April 2024 – with the maximum reduction for working-age residents increased by 2.5% to 85%.
This means the maximum that those eligible for support would have to pay is just 15% of the bill, according to Manchester City Council.
At the same time, it’s being proposed that rules allowing reductions to be backdated, in instances where someone “has a good reason not to have claimed sooner”, are extended to allow up to a year’s back payments, rather than up to six months as is currently the case.
With the proposals all laid out, a consultation has been opened and residents living in the Manchester borough are now being asked for their views.
The Council is proposing changes to the Council Tax Support scheme that would provide more support for Manchester residents.
The Council Tax Support scheme currently provides around one fifth of Manchester households with help paying their Council Tax, but it’s estimated that these proposed changes would cost the Council around £770,000 in 2024/25.
This proposed raising of Council Tax also comes after the Council revealed earlier last month that £50 million in funding will go towards upgrading and improving social housing in Manchester over the next two years – with thousands of tenants living in social housing and Council-owned residential complexes across the city and wider borough set to benefit.
Residents in these properties are set receive what is being dubbed “transformational investment” to their homes before 2026.
Council Tax in Manchester could be raised to support the city’s ‘poorest households’ / Credit: Archello / Rockpanel
“We are acutely aware that some residents are really struggling due to cost of living pressures,” admitted Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar, who is the Executive Member for Finance at Manchester City Council on the proposals, “and this is why we’ve already introduced a range of measures to help people access food, advice and support.
“As part of this wider response, we want to go even further to help the poorest households in Manchester with their Council Tax, and that’s what these proposals are all about.
“We’re keen to hear your views on what we’re suggesting before we make a final decision.”
The online consultation on the proposals is now open and runs until Sunday 12 November, and you can have your day here.
Featured Image – gov.uk
Property
The Manchester business busting mortgage myths and helping Mancs buy homes
The Manc
A business that wants to make mortgages and buying a house more friendly and approachable has recently expanded to Manchester.
Sett Mortgages, founded in 2021 by Elliot Benson, provides free advice and support throughout the home-buying process.
They specialise in helping first-time buyers, promising to ‘hold your hand’ throughout, from starting your house hunt to getting your keys, and beyond.
And as anyone who has tried to get on the property ladder for the first time will tell you, it can be daunting.
Elliot spotted a gap in the market for a friendly, approachable and easy to understand mortgage brokerage.
Elliot Benson from Sett Mortgages. Credit: SuppliedSett Mortgages wants to help Mancs buy homes
He has worked in property for 10 years, and is a two-time British Mortgage Award Nominee and one time finalist.
And now Sett Mortgages offer a start-to-finish service where they’ll narrow down thousands of mortgage options and badger all the banks to find you the cheapest deal possible, help with all the legal bits, and even catch up after your house purchase completes to answer any final questions.
All that with no broker fee and no hidden costs at any time, and one point of contact throughout.
Sett Mortgages wants to bust some mortgage myths and help everyone from first-time buyers to remortgagers to have the least stressful house-buying experience possible.
Five common mortgage myths busted by Sett Mortgages
The bank I use will give me the best deal! – Not true, they treat you as a new customer and will only offer you what they offer everyone else. Always shop around!
You need a 10% deposit to buy a house – Not true, if you have been renting over a year you don’t even need a deposit, otherwise you can use anything from 5% upwards
I’m self employed, it’s really difficult to get a mortgage – Nope! As long as you have been self employed at least a year, we can get you a mortgage
I need three payslips to get a mortgage – Nope, as long as you have a contract you can get a mortgage, even without your first payslip
Rates are really high at the moment! – Actually fixed rates are coming down even though the base rate has been going up
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2023 
