Rowlinson partnership delivers first property

Renovation work has been completed on the first of a cluster of empty homes being brought back into use in East Manchester.

Manchester City Council identified 27 long-term empty properties in East Manchester that were transferred to its partnership building contractor Rowlinson Construction to refurbish and improve with a view to boosting home ownership in the area.

The 27 properties have been sold to Rowlinson on an agreed deferred payment basis, whereby any profit on the sale of the properties will be shared on an equal basis following the deduction of refurbishment costs and developer's set profit margin on an open book basis.

The first of the long-term empty homes, in Ancoats, has now been finished, paving the way for completion on the remaining homes throughout the year.

Manchester College is a partner in the scheme, giving students the opportunity to hone their building skills on-site, using one of the properties as a hands-on practical lesson to advance their knowledge of the building trade.

Three of the properties will be dedicated to The Manchester College students, giving them a chance to learn their trade – taking their lessons outside of the classroom and into a true working, practical environment.

The students will be involved with every aspect of the refurbishment, from demolishing old brick work, re-wiring, plumbing, plastering and finishing.

The work on the houses will give students the chance to gain a Level 1 NVQ alongside the qualification they are currently working towards.

Rowlinson will also provide work experience opportunities for construction trainees from East Manchester to work on the redevelopment to promote employment and education to ensure a lasting benefit for local people.

Each of the empty homes will be renovated ready for new owners by the end of the year.