J Greenwood completes £10.8m Chorlton Irish Club flats
Gecko Homes, Southway Housing Trust’s shared ownership arm, is welcoming residents to the 29-home development off Emerald Way.
Built by contractor J Greenwood, the redevelopment of the Chorlton Irish Club car park began a little under two years ago.
The £10.8m scheme, which was supported by the government’s Affordable Homes Programme, features 28 one and two-bedroom apartments and one studio flat within a four-storey block overlooking Beech Road Park available for shared ownership.
Under the shared ownership model, residents can acquire part of a property in the first instance and increase that share over time up to 100% ownership.
Jonathan Turner, Southway Housing’s assistant director of development, said: “I’m proud that we’re able to build homes that will help people into homeownership in such a desirable area like Chorlton.
“14 homes have already reserved and it’s great to see our first residents settle into their new homes.
“We’ve worked with partners to build these homes to a high standard while creating local jobs and supporting local initiatives to make sure Emerald Way is something the whole community can feel proud of.”
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “Delivering different types of housing that meet the needs of our residents, while broadening the options for accessing property ownership is an important part of our city-wide housing strategy – and this is ever more important in places like Chorlton where getting on the property ladder can be more challenging.
“These homes are also highly energy efficient, with solar panels and EV charging points, saving residents money during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s partnership working, like in this scheme with Southway Housing, which is contributing to our ambitious strategy to help build at least 10,000 social, council and genuinely affordable homes through to 2032 – building the homes our residents need.”
The completion of the project marks the end of an at times unsavoury chapter in the Irish club’s history.
The club and car park were put up for sale in 2020, sparking anger among members and pitting them against the trustees who ordered the sale.
Throughout the sales process, campaign group Friends of Chorlton Irish Club complained of being kept in the dark by the trustees and voiced their concerns about the future of the venue.
At one point during the sales process, Friends of Chorlton Irish Club agreed a deal with Hillcrest Homes that would see the developer purchase the site to build houses, while retaining the club as part of the project.
While that deal never materialised, Southway’s acquisition proposed similar terms, including the retention of the Irish club.
At present, the Irish club building is closed and was put on the market once again last year with Metis Real Estate appointed to find a buyer.
Really nice looking scheme overlooking the park.
By D
One bed flats in this scheme are the equivalent of £290k. That is above market value. Does anyone involved really think they are providing ‘genuinely affordable homes’?
By Nic Cyn
£315K for 75% of a 2-bed flat. That’s an overall value of £420K. How is that considered affordable? That would mean that the “market value” is £525K for a 2-bed flat, which simply isn’t the case, even with Chorlton’s inflated prices. The “affordable housing” definition needs to be redefined, as 80% of market value simply doesn’t add-up and can in now way be considered affordable.
By Anon
It’s a shame MCC has finally admitted the deliberate disregard it had for new affordable housing during the Bernstein/Leese years was a mistake, but is now putting so much effort into promoting Shared Ownership, which is generally a terrible deal – paying rent *and* a mortgage, paying 100% of high service charges and having 100% liability for repairs and maintenance – with very few benefits and limited mortgage options.
It might just be viable if the Bank of Mum & Dad stumps up the capital, or if you have enough capital in a home you already own and really, really want to live in Chorlton (or next to Victoria Station) but it’s still a bad deal, and it does nothing at all to solve the critical problems this city has with availability of genuinely affordable housing, or of anyone in genuine housing need.
By Shred Ownership
Can’t believe I’m going to say this, but they could’ve fit a few more in there. Still, they look alright and the old Islamic school site is coming along too.
By Anthony
That is a disgrace how can people afford those sort of prices. This is supposed to be helping people who are having a hard time getting anywhere to live. You can buy a three bed house for what you are pricing a two bed flat for.
By Linda Brownson
Shared ownership is a disgraceful scam. For your average punter, the combination of a mortgage and “rent” coupled with being liable for 100% of the inflated service charge makes it impossible to achieve 100% ownership and climb the housing ladder.
I have a few friends who have been stuck in the shared ownership trap for 20 years. They would love to sell and buy a decent house, but they’ll only receive a percentage of the profit generated since they bought/rented their property, to they’ll continue to tread water.
By Gigantic Steve
Those prices show that Shared Ownership is truly not affordable. You’d need a salary of probably double the UK average to get even close to being able to afford a 75% share. Crazy.
By Anonymous
This development is an example of what should NOT be permitted under affordable and an eye watering price tag £420k is less affordable than similar properties in the area, Call for Review of criteria for government support projects in housing to actually deliver affordable housing instead of developers profiteering and exacerbating the housing crisis.
By Anonymous