Salford to build 400 homes

The city has approved its largest public housing project in 50 years, declaring that a further 3,000 homes could follow over the next decade.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett approved recommendations from officers at Salford’s property & regeneration briefing session on Monday for a “self-build residential development case” for 417 homes, to be supported by the council’s arm’s length housing company Dérive. Not all the schemes have gone through planning yet.

Of the homes, 188 will be available for social rent, 127 for affordable rent, 52 to the private rented sector and 50 will be sold, covering a range of housing size and type.

Works on 104 of the social rent homes will start in February, at Clifton Green in Pendlebury and Brassington Avenue and Ryall Avenue, both in Ordsall. Each development area will include wheelchair-accessible homes.

The council also plans to buy 25 homes at a development on Kara Street, Langworthy through Dérive. These affordable homes will be made available for local people at social rent levels and consist of one-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom houses.

Dennett’s approval of the development also meant the way is clear for 66 homes at the former St Luke’s primary school in Weaste and 45 homes at the former Irwell Valley School in Irwell Riverside.

Of these 111 homes, 69 will be owned by community-led organisations Inspiring Communities Housing and the Broughton Trust. Available through social rent, these apartments and two-to-four bedroom homes are still subject to planning approval, which should be determined in spring 2021.

Seddon has been appointed as the selected contractor to deliver the community-led housing schemes and the Clfton Green, Brassington and Ryall Avenue developments.

The largest single site is at Longshaw Drive in Little Hulton, which will see 177 homes advanced, made up of 132 houses and 45 apartments. These will include social rent, private rent and homes for sale.

Homes England has provided grant funding for the Clifton Green, Brassington Avenue, Ryall Avenue and Kara Street properties, and Salford intends to apply for further grant support on the remaining homes.

The intention is that, apart from a small number of units that will be for sale on the Longshaw and St Luke’s sites, the homes will ultimately be taken under the control of Dérive.

Dennett described this as “the beginning,” adding: “Providing truly affordable housing has always been one of my top priorities and this marks a significant milestone in that journey.

“Housing waiting lists are far too long and the market is providing nowhere near enough truly affordable solutions to tackle the homelessness and housing crises in our city.

“These developments and others to follow, will help tackle the crisis for the benefit of local people and all our communities, providing quality affordable homes and apartments in different locations that are a mix of sizes that local people need.”

Duncan Williams, divisional director at Seddon said: “We’re proud to be working with Salford City Council to deliver more than 230 affordable family homes in five locations across the city, creating thriving communities for now and future generations.”