Land deal unlocks 40 Wythenshawe social homes 

Manchester City Council has agreed to sell a site off Greenwood Road and Gladeside Road to Wythenshawe Community Housing Group for £310,000. 

WCHG plans to build 40 apartments for social rent on the site, subject to the agreement of a 990-year lease by the city council’s executive next week. 

Manchester City Council acknowledged that it could get a higher price for the land on the open market, but says the deal with WCHG will support the authority’s drive to create more social and affordable homes.   

The city council’s new housing strategy, which the executive is being asked to formally adopt at the same meeting, aims to create 10,000 new social and affordable homes over the next 10 years.  

• Read more about what Manchester is hoping to achieve with its new housing strategy.

“By developing this land, we are putting into action the council’s ambition to create much-needed new social housing for our residents,” said Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development.

“The city’s population is expected to keep growing over the next decade, which is why it is vital that we invest now in affordable homes. It is a positive step that the council is able to take unused brownfield land such as this, and put it to effective use.”

Andrea Lowman, executive director of development at WCHG, added: “With demand for this type of housing far outpacing supply, partnership working really helps deliver local homes for those who need them most.  

“The site, on Greenwood Road in Wythenshawe, has become something of an eyesore since the Greenwood pub was demolished, so we’re pleased that this plan will see land recycled and turned into a genuine asset for our community.”

Plans were approved in 2020 for the project, which is designed by Falconer Chester Hall. ECS Capital was the developer at the time but has since sold its leasehold interest. ECS Capital is no longer involved in the project.