Five east Manchester housing schemes earmarked for HCA fund

Five housing schemes in east Manchester have been earmarked for a share of a £25m grant from the Government's new Kickstart fund.

The scheme is aimed at re-starting stalled developments which have been affected by the recession and managed by the national housing and regeneration body the Homes and Communities Agency.

The east Manchester schemes shortlisted for funding include:

• City East Phase 2 (Gleeson) – 46 houses and six flats between Ashton Old Road and Grey Mare Lane, Beswick. This development will help create a more balanced housing market in this part of Manchester, help support economic and social inclusion, and ensure wider access to appropriate housing in sustainable, mixed and vibrant communities.
• Advent Phase 5, Ancoats (ASCD) – 29 houses and 79 flats on Great Ancoats Street, between New Islington and the Lower Medlock Valley, close to St Ann's with St Cuthbert's RC primary school and the proposed new primary school in New Islington. This development aims to create homes which meet local needs, demands and aspirations, and are sensitive to local environments
• Sportcity (Countryside Properties) – 72 houses and 15 flats on a site bounded by Archer Street, Fairclough Street and Stuart Street north of Manchester Velodrome in Clayton. Building homes for sale on this site aims to improve tenure mix and aid the development of an attractive neighbourhood where people choose to establish roots and which grow to become sustainable communities
• Ice Plant Ancoats (Northern Group) – 82 homes in Blossom Street, Ancoats Urban Village, aimed at improving the tenure mix close to the city centre. The development will also include approximately 15,000 sq ft of retail/commercial space which is hoped to provide long-term employment and commercial activity in the area
• Miles Platting PFI (Lovell) – 79 houses on three sites aimed at improving the choice of high quality housing for sale and complementing the wider area renewal by the Renaissance consortium on behalf of Manchester City Council. The three sites are behind the Apple Building on Oldham Road, between Iron Street and Sandal Street, and between Sandal Street and Sabden Close

Subject to meeting the HCA's requirements on good design, value for money, financial viability and risk, as well as an assessment of quick delivery, support will be given to these developments as well as two others in the Manchester area.

If successful, the additional funding would come from the £1.06bn for development projects across the country recently announced by Housing Minister John Healey.