Work starts on £20m Manchester affordable scheme
Eric Wright Construction has started building an 89-apartment development on Laystall Street for Great Places Housing Group.
The £20m Manchester development will provide a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments available for rent-to-buy and social rent.
The nine-storey scheme forms the second phase of a wider project that has already seen McCauls transform the grade two-listed Armitage Showroom into 5,000 sq ft of office space.
Great Places’ project is located on an adjacent site fronting Pigeon Street.
McCauls is also planning to create a small residential element on the corner of Laystall Street and Pigeon Street, designed by OMI Architects.
“Laystall Street will provide much-needed affordable accommodation in central Manchester,” said Nick Gornall, director of development at Great Places.
“The project will breathe new life into this part of the city centre and reinforce our continued commitment to the delivery of affordable homes across Manchester.”
Great Places, which earlier this week secured a £284m funding boost, and contractor Eric Wright recently collaborated on the redevelopment of the Ancoats Dispensary, a 39-apartment scheme that has just completed.
Jeremy Hartley, chief executive at Eric Wright Group, said: Our construction team is committed to delivering excellence, and we look forward to seeing this development bring more high-quality, affordable housing to the community in this part of Manchester.
“As with Ancoats Dispensary, we will again be creating jobs, working with the local supply chain and offering work experience opportunities and apprenticeships.”
Yet another scheme without any balconies. Just who within MCC’s planning department is responsible for this?
By Balcony watch
It’s not fair that people get affordable housing
By Anonymous
The ancoats dispensary needs a new front door. The nasty cheap front door ruins the whole look of the building.
By door hater
We don’t need affordable housing within the ring road.
By Tom
Nice little filler this one. Although the title of his article is misleading. Ground works started months ago
By Steve
@Tom, Affordable homes aren’t really affordable given the rising market value, but still yet its needed if we’re going to have ordinary young people to live here. Although I do not think its the the panacea. If they provided homes at scale, homes be more affordable and we wouldn’t need these discounts for many. Maybe they should build on the ring road 😉
By Anonymous
Given rents have increased roughly 20% in two years what we call “affordable housing” today (typically 80% of market rent) is actually just what private renters were paying in 2022.
By Anonymous
Anonymous at 11.27 – It’s actually 96% of what a private renter was paying 2 years ago but I get your point.
By Maths Pedant
It’s not just about “affordable” housing, as it doesn’t mean its that much cheaper at all (unless it’s social rent). What it does mean generally is security of tenure, so you don’t have to move at short notice because the landlord needs their money beck; sudden huge rent increases because they think they can get more from a new tenant; a reasonable expectation of getting your repairs done quickly and well; and yes, paying back the cost of your home, but not also both the landlord and the developer’s profit.
By Rotringer
Agree the Ancoats Dispensary front door (and windows) are unbelievable
By Craig