‘Urgent’ 300-home Moss Side plan progresses
Manchester City Council and Mosscare St Vincent’s are seeking feedback on plans to redevelop a clutch of sites into housing, a scheme that aims to address an “acute housing shortage” in the area.
Around 300 homes could be developed across four sites in Moss Side to cater for the area’s rapidly growing population.
“The demand for new homes in Moss Side is urgent,” said MSV chief executive Charlie Norman.
“The population has grown by more than 20% in the last decade, but the number of homes, particularly those that local people can afford has not kept pace.”
There are more people on the priority list for social housing than any other area in Manchester, according to the project partners.
In response, the city council and MSV have launched a consultation on plans to transform derelict land at the site of the former Reno nightclub and neighbouring sites at Barnhill Street, Westwood Street, and Raby Street into a mix of multigenerational family homes and apartments.
The sites, which total 3.4 acres, have been vacant for several years and are described by partners as “hotspots for anti-social behaviour”.
Norman added: “We have worked with the community on our plans from day one, to ensure that what we are bringing forward not only addresses the acute housing shortage, but also builds on the area’s proud history.”
The sites being redeveloped have been vacant for several years. Credit: via Hough Bellis
The homes MSV and Manchester City Council plan to deliver would be either for rent, shared ownership, or rent to buy.
Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester City Council, said the scheme forms part of a wider effort to deliver more discounted housing across the city.
“We have an ambitious plan to work with our local housing associations to increase the amount of affordable housing available across our neighbourhoods.
“This exciting development will bring forward hundreds of affordable and sustainable homes where we know that they are needed.”
The public consultation opens officially on 22 July at 12pm with a drop-in session at Moss Side Community Park.
The Consultation will close on Sunday 13 August and the findings will be presented at a future meeting of the council’s executive committee.
MCAU is advising on design and Nexus is the planning consultant.
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All for seeing brownfield land being developed, but these proposals come under ‘must try harder.’ It doesn’t cost any more to have attractive buildings, it just takes imagination.
By Heritage Action
The cantilevering block is overbearing – the podium too tall – the art mural can’t be relied on address shortcomings in the design. Please consider a contextual, landscape and people-first approach.
By Human scale
Looks very good. Design proposals for the blocks seem to work really well on those sites. This looks to be an amazing project for Moss Side and just the ticket and looks very contemporary and just what the area needs. Well done
By Philip G
Those images look great. I like the modern design. Glad the council is finally doing something in this area.
By Alice B
What’s needed is the maximum number of properties for the minimum amount of money. Maybe reconsider the details to give more for less?
By Bernard Fender
How damn ugly can you make buildings? This looks like a post-war disaster and even like it is a victim of a war! Utterly horrendous. Do they honestly expect disadvantaged people to have any motivation or be enthused looking at this every day?! You can already see the drug dealers on the corner. Where is the aspiration? Repeating the 60’s mistakes. It makes you so angry. What brain created this? What brain looks at this and thinks it is beautiful?! Hod help these people.
By James Whittaker
This looks really promising, nice scale and interesting architecture and creates proper streets. Hope the space and arrangement of the internals makes for a decent living environment
By Looks good
It looks like a prison, no houses with gardens for families?
By DH