MSV unveils £12m later living proposal for Chorlton Baths
The housing group has submitted plans two years after being selected by Manchester City Council to deliver a residential solution to the problem of the derelict leisure centre on the main road through the trendy suburb.
There will be 50 flats in an affordable later living scheme aimed at local people. There will be a mix of one- and two-bed units.
Seven of the apartments will be for sale by shared ownership, three will be neighbourhood apartments providing step-up accommodation, with the remaining 40 capped at the Manchester Living Rent at or below the local housing allowance level.
The council said lettings will be prioritized to over 55s with a “housing priority need, including those wishing to right-size and free up a social rented family home in the local area for families on the housing waiting list.”
Buttress architects designed the development to the HAPPI (Housing Our Ageing Population Panel) principles which includes space and flexibility and a focus on health and wellbeing so that occupants’ changing requirements will be met over time. There will be large balconies, increased light levels, and shared social spaces .
Pending approval, the development is expected to be completed in summer 2025. MSV was selected in spring 2021.
Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development, said: “We know that local people have been eager to see this site brought back into use for some time and it’s great to see the project moving at full steam.”
Charlie Norman, chief executive of MSV Housing Group, said: “This scheme has been some time in the planning, but it’s absolutely vital that we get this flagship development right. Chorlton and the surrounding area needs affordable homes to rent for its older citizens and we are proud to be the organisation that will deliver a highly sustainable, age-appropriate development of the highest calibre and green credentials.”
Plans can be found on the council planning portal under code 136791.
Balcony Warrior won’t be able to contain his excitement! 🙂
By Tomo
Is the word: ‘Trendy’ still trendy?
By Lanky
Ha ha, surprised he hasn’t been on already! A lifetime of Joy in that picture alone.
By Anonymous
Not sure a gated community is the right frontage smack bang in the middle of chorlton, looks a poor design by all measures. Great to see age friendly living though in the middle of the town, but it’s such poor street activation. Why not add community spaces that front to the street? Encourage community interaction.
By Anon
What about the younger people???
By Sue
Chorlton could do with a lot more of this density to bring greater spend to the area. Ground floor commercial to activate the street would have been better than dead space though.
By Gorgeous Scheme
@Tomo you aren’t wrong! What a scheme 🙂
By Balcony Warrior
For a prime location, how this interacts with the street is a travesty. Come on, this is a once in a lifetime chance to connect one of the separate parts of chorlton. Are we building Florida style gated communities now in the middle of our city centres? Over 55s great, but this?
By Dan
It’s a good scheme but the design is very uninspiring and a bit municipal considering the 12 million tag. As the original baths building was probably a 1930s build there could be some kind of sympathy with its original era.
By Fletch
I think older people will be at risk of becoming isolated in these elevated units. What happens when a lift breaks down, or their contact with neighbours lessens? I am about to move into Chorlton but I wouldn’t have chosen accommodation like this building. It is a bad idea.
By Anonymous
Although I think the housing initiative behind this is great, clearly they know they’re missing one thing? It is on a busy stretch with lots of shops both up and down from this location. Why not create more shop space on the bottom floor of the flats for new business to come to the area? This just seems out of place when it is in the middle of a bustling strip of shops with lots going on
By George