Green light for Store Street shared ownership scheme

28 August 2020 16:28 Dan Whelan Comments (0)

Plans for 66 canalside apartments, to be operated by Clarion Housing Group, have been approved by Manchester City Council, which praised the developers for rising to the challenge of delivering city centre affordable homes.

The 68,000 sq ft development on Store Street, being delivered by housing provider Clarion and H20 Urban – a joint venture between developer Bloc and the Canal & River Trust – will see the creation of the what the developer claims is the first 100% shared ownership scheme in the city centre.

Cllr Suzanne Richards, the council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “Developing genuinely affordable homes in the city centre is a real challenge and it’s very welcome to see developers work with us to build the homes that Manchester people need.”

She added: “As Manchester continues to grow, it’s vital that homes are available across different tenures and price points to meet demand.”

The development, designed by AHR Architects, will be positioned on a small triangular plot next to the Ashton Canal, owned by the Canal & River Trust.

Comprising two adjoining blocks, the project features three two-bedroom townhouses, 46 two-bedroom apartments and 17 one-bedroom apartments.

The blocks are designed to address a 6.5-metre disparity in elevation between the canal towpath and Store Street.

The first block is 11 storeys rising from street level, while the second, at four storeys, rises from the level of the canal towpath.

A roof terrace will be created on top of the smaller of the two blocks, accessed from the taller building at the sixth floor.

Clarion is to manage the scheme once complete, with properties made available through shared ownership.

Richard Cook, group director of development at Clarion, said: “Shared ownership can provide a way for people to get on the property ladder with a lower deposit, providing an affordable route to home ownership.

“This new development will help expand the options available, enabling people to put down roots and make a life for themselves in Manchester.”

Richard Thomas, director at Bloc, added: “Our aim at H2O Urban is to create waterside developments that balance local, historical and environmental sensitivities. Our scheme at Store Street epitomises this ethos.”