Manchester council homes boost as 500 a year set to be built and first site revealed

04.02.2022 - 13:19 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

The first homes to be built by a new Manchester council housing company will be in Ancoats as the town hall plans to go it alone and build 500 homes a year.

The development in Rodney Street is the first to be put forward by Manchester council's new housing company This City which launches today.

The wholly-owned council company set up by leaders last summer promises to accelerate the number of new homes available to the people of Manchester.

READ MORE: Inside Manchester council's plan to tackle the city's social housing crisis

This City will focus on delivering high-quality, low-carbon homes, offering a mix of properties at prices ranging from market rates to accessible rent.

Profits from the pricier properties will be used to subsidise the development of homes rented at or below the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate – which means they will be accessible to people in receipt of housing benefit.

The Rodney Street scheme in Ancoats has been unveiled as the first project by the new company, with 128 apartments and townhouses planned for the site which had housing on it before, but has been scrub land for some years now.

Wates Construction has been appointed as the lead contractor responsible for delivering the new homes, 30 pc of which will be available for accessible rent.

The council aims to deliver up to 500 new homes every year through This City with at least 20 pc of each development set to be accessible rented homes.

Manchester council leader Bev Craig said: "Manchester has some ambitious and radical plans to see more homes built in our city that everyone can afford.

"Every resident in our city should have access to a good quality home and Manchester is leading the way in building our own homes as part of this.

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