Demolition starts ahead of Levenshulme housing

Demolition work has begun at the disused Atlas Engineering Works in Levenshulme, where housing provider One Manchester is to build 14 shared ownership and 50 rent-to-buy homes.

Developer Mulbury is to deliver the housing for One Manchester at the Chapel Lane site, one of the first locations in Greater Manchester where prospective homeowners can benefit from rent-to-buy, the Government scheme that allows people to rent at a discounted rate while saving for the deposit required to buy the home.

The scheme includes both apartments and houses and is due to be completed at the end of 2018.

One Manchester, along with the National Housing Federation, took the opportunity at the start of work to call on Greater Manchester’s first Mayor to prioritise housing and deliver affordable homes.

Group chief executive Dave Power said: “This new development will bring desperately needed affordable homes into this great suburb of Manchester and enable people struggling to get together money for a house deposit to have their dream of home ownership realised.

“One Manchester is committed to building 1,000 new homes by the end of 2021 which meet the different needs and aspirations of Manchester residents. While we know One Manchester can help make a significant difference, we are calling on the support of our new Greater Manchester mayor to ensure they listen to the people and ensure housing is a top priority.”

Katie Teasdale, North West external affairs manager for the National Housing Federation, said: “Housing associations in Greater Manchester like One Manchester built over a third of all new homes in the area between 2011 to 2015 and they will continue to be an essential part of solving the housing crisis here.”

In January, One Manchester secured a £22.8m funding boost from the Homes & Communities Agency to build 765 affordable new homes in South and East Manchester over the next five years, including homes for shared ownership and rent-to-buy.