Manchester approves 71 affordable homes

A total of 42 apartments and 29 houses are set to be built on two acres off Louisa Street in Openshaw after the city council granted the project planning permission on Tuesday.

Developer Westchurch Homes and social housing provider Jigsaw Homes are delivering the scheme together. All of the approved 71 homes will be designated as affordable, with 46 available under a social rent tenure and another 25 set as rent-to-buy.

The homes will be built on brownfield land that was once an iron foundry. All of the residences will have air-source heat pumps and be built with energy efficiency in mind.

The project will have 25 homes set as rent-to-buy. Credit: Views Associates

Westchurch land and planning manager Sophie Turbefield said the company was pleased to secure consent for the project, which is Westchurch’s first affordable housing scheme in East Manchester.

“This will hopefully be the first of many schemes in Manchester as we continue to expand our portfolio of projects across the North West,” she said.

Altrincham-based View Associates designed the project for Westchurch and Jigsaw, while Euan Kellie Property Solutions secured the planning approval.

View architect Harry Harrison said: “From its early concept the scheme at Louisa Street looked to provide high-quality, urban living for its future residents, with significant open space and the creation of community at its core.

“View was inspired by the existing Victorian street patterns, heritage, and terraced vernacular to create a scheme which is contemporary but will sit confidently in its locality for years to come,” he continued.

“To receive planning permission for this 100% affordable scheme on post-industrial land in Manchester is a great achievement by Westchurch Homes working alongside Manchester City Council.”

The project team also included heritage advisor Stephen Levrant, highways consultant SK Transport, and landscape architect Trevor Bridge Associates.

You can learn more about this project by searching application reference number 134775/FO/2022 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.