The council has announced the next steps towards creating the UK’s first purpose built apartments for LGBTQ+ older people in Manchester by choosing its preferred housing provider for the 'ground-breaking' project.
The homes will be built on the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road in Whalley Range. The plans, which have been in development since 2017, are set to include around 100 one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside a restaurant/bistro , lounge areas, treatment rooms and a landscaped outdoor community space.
Great Places Housing Group has now been announced by Manchester City Council as the preferred housing provider for the scheme, which will be developed by the council alongside the Russell Road Community Steering Group and LGBT Foundation.
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Manchester-based charity organisation LGBT Foundation said the ‘ground-breaking’ scheme would help to provide LGBTQ+ people aged 55 or over with a safe and welcoming home.
Paul Martin OBE, CEO at LGBT Foundation, said: "The creation of the UK's first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care housing scheme is a positive and exciting step in addressing the housing needs of our older LGBTQ+ people.
“Today’s announcement is an important step in the project’s development and we are looking forward to working with Great Places to deliver this ground-breaking scheme for our community.”
Great Places, which owns 25,000 affordable homes in more than 30 local authority areas across the North West and South Yorkshire, was selected through a competitive process for their ‘proven track record’ of designing, developing and managing a wide variety of affordable supported and specialist housing.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “I'm very pleased that we can announce Great Places as the preferred provider for the ground-breaking LGBTQ+ majority, extra care housing scheme in Whalley Range.
“Great Places has a proven track record of delivering high quality housing across the city and will bring that expertise into this much needed scheme.
“Extra Care homes create safe, vibrant communities which help residents to live independently as their needs and lifestyle change. Importantly, these homes will also be low-carbon and affordable, further supporting our affordable housing delivery targets.”
Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, added: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as the preferred housing provider to deliver and manage Greater Manchester’s first LGBTQ+ majority extra care housing scheme.
“The Russell Road site presents an exciting opportunity and we look forward to working with the LGBT Foundation, the Community Steering Group and Manchester City Council in delivering this unique and ambitious scheme.”
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