A village of 500 new homes is being developed on the site of the old Manchester Racecourse – and buyers are being invited to take a tour.
The panoramic video journey whisks viewers through Castle Irwell – visualising how the two, three and four-bedroom apartments will appear upon completion.
Developer Salboy has already completed the sale of 59 properties in the space of five months.
The first phase of development will see 157 homes created overall – with prices starting from £209,950.
Castle Irwell is the latest Salboy developmentThe first phase of development will see 157 homes created at Castle Irwell – with prices starting from £209,950.
Salboy – a Manchester-based property developer owned by Simon Ismail and Betfred’s Fred Done – has more than 1,200 properties under construction with a further 2,000 in the design process.
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Ismail said that the new ‘flythrough’ video technology would give an “ultra-realistic vision” of how the company’s latest project would look and feel.”
“Interest in Castle Irwell has been phenomenal,” he stated.
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“We are already compiling a waiting list for the next phase of release, with two-bedroom homes benefiting from Help to Buy proving popular.
“The current plots have been purchased almost entirely by owner occupiers with more than 80 per cent sold to buyers from Salford or Greater Manchester.
“More than half our customers to date are first time buyers who are keen to get a foot on the ladder in the heart of their own city and want to and put down roots in a new residential neighbourhood which boasts an abundance of nature but with the city centre just a short stroll away.”
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The first new residents are tipped to move into Castle Irwell this summer
Salboy is expecting to release the next available plots for sale in mid-May with reservations starting in June. The first show home at Castle Irwell is planned for later in the summer.
Ismail added: “Castle Irwell really is the best of both worlds, offering a relaxed, laid-back contemporary new village of well designed, high quality housing surrounded by natural features and green space yet convenient for commuting and all the attractions of Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK.
“I would strongly advise people to register their interest as soon as possible for the best chance of securing their new home at Castle Irwell.”
Castle Irwell has been designed by Manchester-based Calderpeel Architects and is being constructed by DOMIS Construction.
The first new residents are tipped to move in this summer.
For more information on the village, visit the Castle Irwell website.
Property
Council calls on Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use
Emily Sergeant
Residents across Manchester are being called on to help bring hundreds of empty homes across the region back into use.
Since the beginning of this year, a major review has been underway around the city’s draft strategy for bringing empty homes back into use to help meet demand for affordable homes across the city, while also improving communities by tackling empty homes that can blight an area… but now, Manchester City Council needs your help.
Following a major public consultation, the Council is now acting on feedback to accelerate plans to bring as many long-term empty homes back into active use as possible.
Although the number of long-term empty homes in Manchester is near a historic low, with the Council having managed to reduce the number by more than half since 2013, there is still more work to be done.
“Every void property is a missed opportunity to provide a family a place to live, reduce homelessness, and lessen the burden on temporary accommodation,” the Council said in a statement.
The Council is calling on the Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
So, how can residents help then? What do you need to do if you spot an empty home on a street nearby?
Well, the easiest way to report an empty home is to report the issue online here, or by emailing [email protected]. And then once that’s done, a team of dedicated empty homes officers will take up the case to find out who owns the property and work with the owner on a plan to bring the home back into use.
The vast number of empty homes are privately owned with complex histories, and there are some cases where an owner may have passed away.
While working collaboratively with housing providers, voluntary organisations and public services are also a key element of detecting potentially empty or ‘problematic’ homes to repurpose them.
Officers can also support, where required, if a communication or language poses a barrier to resolving an empty home issue.
Tailored approaches to different communities – where empty homes impact neighbourhoods in different ways – are also being considered, according to the Council.
“To think, if we could bring all empty homes back into use, then we could provide more homes for those on the housing register and take pressure off the whole housing system,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development.
“The potential of making empty homes a thing of the past is huge for Manchester families looking for a place to call home – and a significant part of tackling the housing crisis.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
Property
Much-loved Manc music shop Tasty Records goes up for sale as owners calls on next custodians to take over local favourite
Danny Jones
Much-loved Greater Manchester record and music store Tasty Records has officially closed, and the current custodian is putting the Trafford institution up for sale in hopes that someone will take over as worthy successors.
What an opportunity for any budding entrepreneurs.
The Alty record shop in its current brick-and-mortar form has stood for some time now, but popular owner Ben Molesworth has been selling physical media from 2012 onwards, and now his time at the helm of the hailed south Manchester spot has come to a somewhat bittersweet end.
A bit of a local legend with regulars who frequent and flick through his coveted vinyl collection, not just on Record Store Day but throughout the year, the area will be sad to see him go – and so will we – but it doesn’t mean this has to be the end.
“The shop deserves more than I can give it, and I have sold records in Altrincham for 14 years”, he explains, before going on to add that “It’s time for me to concentrate on different things.
“What happens now?” he continues, “Keep following! I’m not sure yet. I have closed the doors, but everything is still there… A busy website, Discogs, socials, a strong set of accounts and £ks of great vinyl stock.”
You’d think with a sales pitch like that, it would be a no-brainer for audiophiles who’ve ever dreamt of spending their days cataloguing their favourite tunes and artists, whilst providing a still criminally unsung public service: delivering printed music to the masses.
With more than a decade and a half of experience to his name, we’re sure Ben has plenty of wisdom to impart about how to take good care of his baby moving forward – he just needs some to set up to the plate/turntable.
As saturated as the Manc music market and record store scene is, it was also comfortably on this list pretty much since day one.
All that being said, part of the challenge for any independent business is getting the word out, hence why we thought we’d help do our bit by shouting about it.
He signed off by adding: “Thank you to all of my wonderful customers, friends and supporters. Tasty Recordsisn’t dead, only sleeping. Lots of love, Ben.”
For anyone who might fancy taking over this “awesome little record shop” (his words AND ours), you can express your interest/table an offer over email via [email protected].
What an honour it would be to carry on this place’s legacy – here’s hoping someone takes up the mantle soon.
The Manc -
7th June 2021 
