Council targets unused sites suitable for housing

Manchester City Council is looking to work with registered providers to deliver housing across 151 infill sites.

The council's Draft Residential Growth Prospectus published in 2013 outlined the importance of bringing forward residential development and proposed investigating the potential development opportunities arising from smaller infill sites capable of delivering up to 15 homes.

Following research as part of the Strategic Housing Lane Availability Assessment, the council has identified the potential to develop 151 publicly and privately-owned sites over the next 10 years, including 115 in the next three years, bringing more than 1,000 new homes in the next decade through the use of infill sites alone.

Five council owned sites in Wythenshawe have already attracted funding for development through the Affordable Homes Guarantee Programme. These sites are on Amberley Drive, Hall Lane, Moorcroft Road, Kingsgate Road and Cotefield Road.

The council is proposing to grant 200-year ground leases on each site to registered providers, with annual rents of £50 a year with an increase of 10% every 10 years. A deferred payment mechanism will be included whereby the council receives the full market value for the land if the units are ever sold in the future.

In the future, the council will also consider clustering infill site opportunities to be developed by small to medium-sized contractors who could bring both investment and expertise to the developments.

City council officers will be putting together a programme of disposals to support the development of new homes by larger developers over the coming months.

The second round of Affordable Homes Programme Funding for 2015 to 2018 will see a further 21 sites considered, which could bring up to 164 new homes to the city.

The outcomes of these bids are expected to be announced in July.

Cllr Jeff Smith, Manchester City Council's executive member for housing and regeneration, said: "Manchester's residential growth prospectus sets out our strategy to stimulate investment in building and to create new, high quality homes to meet demand for the future.

"Using vacant infill sites brings the unused assets of an area in to use. It not only creates homes and attractive neighbourhoods, but jobs, training opportunities and an economic boost for the city."

The plans will be discussed at a meeting of the council's executive on 18 June. For the full report and list of infill sites visit http://www.manchester.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/2149/executive

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