A Manchester neighbourhood will be transformed as more than 100 new homes are built. Construction has started on the properties in Ancoats - on a disused brownfield site.
This City - the town hall's own development company - is behind the project on Rodney Street. The project is part of a £32m investment, funded by Homes England, to build 1,500 homes in the neighbourhood.
There will be a 'mobility hub'; a multi-story car park with electric vehicle chargers; car share clubs; and cycle hire. The whole thing could be finished next year.
The 128 homes on Rodney Street will include 10 townhouses and 118 apartments in across two buildings. They will look out onto Ancoats Green.
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Each townhouse will have its own garden. There will be off-street parking for electric vehicles and seven disabled parking spaces.
A third of the homes will be made available at the Manchester Living Rent, which is capped at the government's Local Housing Allowance rate.
Councillor Gavin White, Manchester council's executive member for housing and development said: “Marking our first start-on-site for This City is a real moment for us. The aim for This City is about using Council-owned land to build the homes that our residents need, that our residents can afford, in locations they want to live. Rodney Street exemplifies this vision.
“The regeneration journey of Ancoats over the last 20 years has been a remarkable achievement, and this development continues that story, creating low-carbon homes and affordable housing options in the city centre, complemented by quality green space and sustainable transport options.
“The road to building this type of housing is always challenging, particularly in the context of the current economic conditions, but we are proud to celebrate these homes and what they will mean to the Manchester people who live in them.”
Ben Tabiner, associate director at Buttress said: “Our approach at Rodney Street is to create a simple and elegant design that responds to its surrounding areas.
"We’ve worked hard to ensure that the homes have good links with their surrounding areas by positioning the apartment blocks on either side of a new tree-lined and planted street.
"The green street will create a strong connection across the site and will encourage movement through the area and beyond. The area is also surrounded by original historical streets, and we wanted to reflect this in our designs by opting for a palette of red brickwork in complementary tones."
Work to Ancoats Green and the wider public realm will begin later in 2023.
