Rowlinson starts Manchester affordable homes
Great Places Housing Group is developing a 68-home scheme at Downley Drive in New Islington.
Designed by Buttress, the scheme will deliver 23 two- and three-bedroom houses, and 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments within a four-storey building.
The houses will be available for shared ownership and the apartments for social rent. The Downley Drive scheme is positioned next to the Rochdale Canal and boasts features to boost its sustainability credentials including air source heat pumps.
Nick Gornall, director of development at Great Places, said: “We are thrilled to have commenced works on site with our partner Rowlinson to deliver our mixed tenure affordable scheme in the heart of New Islington, a neighbourhood we have been involved in regenerating for many years.
“As well as delivering homes to meet local need, we are excited that Downley Drive will provide a flagship low carbon development for Great Places.”
David Chilton, managing director of Rowlinson, added: “This development is a great opportunity, building on the work that has already helped to transform the area so far. With a superb canal-side location and range of affordable options, it’s sure to be in demand.”
The Downley Drive scheme was one of four revealed by Manchester City Council, Great Places and Manchester Life last year.
The city council, Manchester Life and affordable housing provider Great Places signed a 10-year cooperation agreement in 2019 to identify viable sites for housing delivery in East Manchester.
The others are:
Ancoats Dispensary – the conversion of a grade two-listed Old Mill Street building into 39 apartments
The Ancoats Mobility Hub – Located on land between Poland Street and Ancoats Green, the proposed mobility hub is an emerging concept of a shared car and cycle parking facility for residents and visitors, with electric vehicle charging outlets, and a last-mile delivery consolidation centre to reduce vehicle movements and street parking.
Eliza Yard – An eight-storey apartment block on the corner of Poland Street and Jersey Street featuring 118 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
It’s to be hoped that with their next planning application, Great Places are confident enough to reject what I assume to be MCC’s demands to exclude balconies during pre-applications discussion. There is no obvious reason why they are excluded here and on most new proposals, in contrast to every other planning authority handling similar applications.
By Balcony Watch
Looks really good, although that gable is absolutely crying out for a larger feature window or two.
By Walt
Lack of balconies is terrible
By Balcony warrior
Three things seem amazingly odd to me here.
1) Affordable homes in one of the most expensive parts of central Manchester… has to still be expensive then
2) Waterfrontage affordable homes… the most expensive part of the most expensive central city neighbourhood…
3) No balconies overlooking the waterfront… amazing. I don’t think I have ever seen a waterfront apartment without a balcony overlooking the water anywhere in the world outside of Manchester
By Jo
Dull design
By Anonymous
I am disabled and do not understand how all these apartments are going up in the new Islington and ancoats area, and they don’t cater for the disability none of the apartments that are being built for disability wider doors or wet rooms in the buildings just find it very odd that it’s just making money for themselves and not catering for the community. I have Community connection in Ancoats for years and it’s his pushing myself and office like myself out of the community area and no one is making any attempts for us to stay or return
By Pauline