Consultation starts on 420 affordable Wythenshawe homes
Manchester City Council, alongside partner Muse, has opened the floor for opinions on its plans to bring forward the homes, which are to be managed by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
The consultation concerns the first phase of housing, which aims to regenerate three town centre sites – Brotherton House, Alpha House, and C2 The Birtles – into a mix of 420 apartments and townhouses.
Residents have until 26 October to submit their views.
Brotherton House, a former office, will comprise 190 apartments and 25 townhouses. At least 109 flats will be reserved for retirement living and people needing dementia care.
Muse’s development will require the demolition of C2 The Birtles next to the former market square, which is currently retail and office space.
An apartment complex comprised of 80 two-bedroom flats and ground floor retail spaces will replace C2 The Birtles.
Rounding off the plans is the demolition of the former Alpha House office, to make way for 125 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The 80-flat The Birtles is one of three scheme’s under consultation. Credit: via Font Comms
Elsewhere at the site, £20m of government funding and a further £11.9m from MCC has facilitated the start of work on the regeneration of the Civic, which is set to include a 30,000 sq ft culture hub with performance space, flexible workspaces, and a food hall.
The Civic is set to open in 2027. Before the Civic can be developed, the existing former Peacocks building will need to be razed to allow work to start in early 2026.
Enhancements to the public realm, with improved outdoor spaces, fresh paving, and a greening programme, are all planned to complement the Civic.
The consultation comprises only a part of the masterplan to reset Wythenshawe, with 2,000 homes expected to be delivered over the next 10-15 years.
- View the consultation here.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We know that good quality, affordable housing is one of the most important things to our residents.
“Great housing, in places that we can be proud of, is a cornerstone for good health and wellbeing and key to supporting our residents to thrive.
“We have made sure the majority of the new homes planned for the transformation of the Civic will be capped at social rent – the most affordable type of housing available for our residents.”
Brotherton House, a former office, will comprise 190 apartments and 25 townhouses. Credit: via Font Comms
Joe Stockton, development director at Muse, added: “Over the last few months, we’ve spoken to lots of people to understand how this once-in-a-generation investment can deliver what they need.
“We heard the response loud and clear and we’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group to create the first phase of around 400 affordable homes.
“With work on Civic due to start later this year, things are really starting to happen.”
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Andrea Lowman, executive director of development at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said: “This is all about listening and building the right homes for Wythenshawe residents and communities.
“We’re proud to work alongside MCC and Muse to create genuinely affordable, high-quality homes that reflect what local people have told us they want and need, not just for now but for the future too.”
Whilst it’s great to see more affordable housing – not something to be sniffed at in the current climate. But I wouldn’t call creating a load of flats without balconies ‘good quality’. Providing outdoor space and an escape from the confines of your home is not a luxury. It’s a basic necessity. Someone needs to get a grip of the planning department on this issue.
By Anonymous
What about drs, dentists schooling, electric, water,waste, access roads round there pathetic as it is 🤔😠
By Anonymous
We need shops not tower blocks of flats which eventually turn into problem housing. This scheme needs rethinking hugely. Leave the shops alone, how can older people live in the area without the shops which are so valuable to them. We can’t afford to eat in a good court, total nonsense. Shops are a necessity.
By None
No mention on additional Doctors/ Dental surgery/School and Car Spaces
By Joyce Hodgkiss
A proper consultation is needed…. The plans come from people who have no idea what it is like to live in wythenshawe. You ripped the heart out of wythenshawe when you wrecked the market. We need some decent shops… A reason to go into civic. Safe parking. Be here will these people park in the flats…. You can’t get an appointment at the doctors as it is! How much money has been spent in the past…… Don’t waste the money … Do some proper research into what is needed
By Anonymous
Hi Anonymous. Thanks for commenting. A link to the consultation is provided in the story. You can have your say here. There will also be a statutory consultation once plans are submitted – you can formally express your views during this process. Best wishes, Dan.
By Dan Whelan
We just need guarantees that they go to locals and that they go to people who need them.
By Moss
As if people are saying there needs to be more shops and do proper research when we all know that everyone shops online now. And if new shops opened, how will they stay open if there are no apartments with people to shop in them. Please use your brain properly and do your own research.
It wasn’t the Council that ripped the soul out, it’s the fact that people don’t use the high street anymore. This is common across the UK, except for wealthy areas where independants can survive.
By Duh
If people want traditional shops they need to stop shopping online and go to a physical shop like we all used to. This is not going to happen so due to Internet shopping we will never go back to having high street shops like we used to.
By Anonymous
Anything that makes the shopping center appear aesthetically pleasing is welcomed. The centre has a lot of vital shops for the community and there are a lot of empty wasted buildings so a whole re-vamp of those buildings will really give the community a lift. I would suggest a small indoor shopping center with public toilets is needed and please do something with the old bus station site which looks derelict and unkempt.
By Anonymous