Legacie progresses Salford homelessness scheme

The developer, best known for high-density for sale schemes in Liverpool, has branched out into the social housing market for the first time, striking a deal with MSV for a 42-apartment project in Salford.

Legacie is developing a site of St Simon Street in Lower Broughton into a six-storey scheme that will provide accommodation for people seeking a path out of homelessness.

The £8.8m project is funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Homes England. MSV acquired the land from Salford City Council and has appointed Legacie to build the scheme.

Gavin Currie, managing director at Legacie, said: “We are committed to regenerating underutilized urban areas through sustainable development and are proud to be delivering much-needed housing for our client, MSV Housing.

“Our ethos of contributing to the wider community is embedded in everything we do – from delivering affordable homes that have a lasting impact, to creating local jobs on-site and through the supply chain and regenerating neglected areas to help boost the local economy.”

Residents within the development, which offers one-bedroom apartments and a facility on the ground floor earmarked for support and training services, can stay for up to two years.

From left: MSV’s CEO Charlie Norman, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, and Legacie MD Gavin Currie. Credit: via Legacie

Charlie Norman, MSV’s chief executive, said the scheme would go some way to addressing what she called England’s “deepening housing emergency”.

“There are roughly 345,000 homeless people who desperately need a chance to move their lives forward in a safe and secure home,” she said.

“I’m really pleased to see this development progressing, it marks a significant step forward in supporting homeless people in the borough and shows how working together and closely collaborating with our partners at the council can make a real difference, creating environments where people can flourish.”

The scheme is expected to be completed late 2026.

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said the project aligns with the council’s vision for all residents to have a decent home. The authority is actively seeking to “increase the supply of quality, energy efficient and genuinely affordable housing”, he said.

JDA Architects is leading on design and WSP and DEP Landscape Architecture are also advising.

Located on the banks of the River Irwell next to the Riverside House student accommodation complex, the site is a former council depot previously used in connection with Blackfriars Housing Office.