Russell Road LGBTQ, Great Places, p Great Places

Triangle Architects designed the scheme. Credit: via Great Places

Whalley Range’s £37m LGBTQ+ resi underway

Great Places and chief contractor Rowlinson have celebrated the start of work at the extra care facility, which will provide 80 one- and two-bedroom social rent apartments for over 55s, as well as 40 shared ownership flats.

The £37m scheme was conceived through a partnership between Great Places, the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and the LGBT Foundation to provide “safe, secure, and affordable” housing for LGBTQ+ people.

Triangle Architects designed the two blocks, which rise five and four storeys respectively, with the smaller block hosting the shared ownership flats, while the larger block will home the 80-room care facility.

Great Places is funding the project, with £2.4m from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Brownfield Housing Fund, and a £950,000 Manchester City Council grant.

Contractor Rowlinson is due to complete work by summer 2027.

Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester City Council, said: “Working with the LGBT Foundation, we know that older LGBTQ+ people worry about being able to access appropriate and inclusive housing later in life.

“Although we hope all older people’s accommodation is welcoming to everyone, this scheme will provide safe, secure, and affordable housing for LGBTQ+ people to live in dignity.”

The site covers slightly more than two acres and has been empty since the previous building, a Spire hospital, was demolished in 2019.

Shared spaces in the form of lounges, treatment rooms, and landscaped gardens all feature in the project.

The scheme will be arranged around a central rear garden, which will split the two blocks and allow residents to receive maximum sunlight.

Access to the site will be from either Russell Road, Carlton Road, or Whalley Road.

Paul Martin, chief executive of the LGBT Foundation, said: “As time has passed, the need for this scheme has only grown more urgent.

“In 2025, with LGBTQ+ communities facing increasing pressure, safe and inclusive spaces like this are more essential than ever. Older LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by isolation, discrimination, and poor health, often without any traditional support.

“The Russell Road scheme offers not just housing, but community, dignity, and care. The response has been overwhelming, and we hope this flagship scheme will inspire similar developments across the country.”

Alison Dean, chief executive at Great Places, added: “We are incredibly proud to mark the official start on site for this pioneering project.

“This development represents a significant step forward in providing inclusive and supportive housing for Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.

“By working closely with our partners and the local community, we are creating a space that not only meets the needs of older LGBTQ+ people but also fosters a sense of belonging and security.

“This project is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable housing that respects and enhances the local environment.”

The project team comprises Mosaic Town Planning, Simon Fenton Partnerships, SGi Consulting Engineers, OFR Consultants, Urban Green, SK Transport, Design for Security, Energy Counsel, and Azymuth Acoustics.

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By Peter Booth

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