Highest point reached at Lumina Village’s £120m Podium

Domis Construction is delivering Glenbrook’s 440-home build-to-rent scheme in Trafford, which is set to be managed between the Greater Manchester Pension Fund and Moorfield when it completes in mid-2026.

Podium, the BTR development which has now reached its highest point at 20-storeys, will comprise one- to three-bedroom apartments, three- to four-bedroom townhouses, and a central public realm, aimed at young families and professionals.

Last week, the GMPF injected £20m into the scheme, in a deal that sees the fund enter a 50:50 joint venture with Moorfield and take ownership of the project.

A £170m forward funding deal with Moorfield was secured in January 2024, kick-starting Trafford Council and Bruntwood’s wider £250m mixed-use Lumina Village.

Lumina Village is expected to be complete by the end of 2026 and deliver 639 homes over the 120-acre neighbourhood on the 12-acre former Kellogg’s headquarters off Chester Road.

The scheme has been designed by architect Sheppard Robson and will deliver 200,000 sq ft of office space, a primary school, and a 100-bed hotel alongside the properties.

It forms part of the Trafford Council’s Civil Quarter Area Action Plan, which aims to deliver 4,000 new homes, 540,000 sq ft of commercial space, public realm improvements, and infrastructure to the area.

Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said: “I am delighted to be celebrating this important milestone, which will see the building of 440 BTR properties.

“Trafford Council is totally committed to the building of more new and affordable homes throughout the borough to help tackle the housing crisis.”

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Caddick Construction is delivering the adjacent affordable phase at Lumina Village, which will deliver 199 homes comprising a mix of shared ownership and social rent, on behalf of manager Clarion Housing Group, which has committed £49m to the scheme.

The 199 affordable properties will also be supported by grants from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Hugh Canham, head of asset management at Moorfield Group, said that Podium is Moorfield’s third BTR investment in the city, one that “marks [Moorfield’s] re-entrance into the sector” – Trilogy in Castlefield and Duet in Salford Quays are the others.

Construction by Domis is expected to complete by the end of 2026. Credit: via Domis

Canham added: “We have taken our experience from delivering and operating some 10,000 homes for rent and student lets and incorporated our latest brand standards to create a customer-focused offering that will enjoy a very attractive garden podium courtyard and extensive amenities.”

Stuart McCrone, projects director at Glenbrook, said reaching the milestone was a testament to the project team’s “dedication, collaboration, and expertise”.

Karl Dobson, project director at Domis Construction, added: “Topping out is always a significant project milestone as we now push toward completion of these much-needed new homes.

“Our team has extensive experience of delivering build-to-rent schemes in the North West, and we are proud to be involved in bringing this part of Lumina Village to life.”