Member Article

Manchester housing charity celebrate 20 years with a new home of their own

Golden Lane Housing Limited has moved its UK HQ into Parkway 4 at Orbit Development’s business park in Manchester just in time to mark two decades of service to the housing charity sector.

Originally set up by the Royal Mencap Society, Golden Lane Housing provides specialised housing for people with learning disabilities and currently look after 1800 tenants UK-wide.

The team moved into Parkway in June from Carillion Offices in Chorlton following the collapse of Carillion, having previously re-located there from Westpoint in Trafford in January 2018.

“It’s been a bit of an unsettled six months but we are very happy in our new home,” said Melissa O’Donnell, Head of Operations for the company.

She continued: “Parkway is an excellent space for our staff. It is a perfect location to manage a national team with great transport connections. It’s quality accommodation and provides an attractive and well maintained environment for everyone.

“We are especially pleased with the break out areas for the team with a fantastic café on site and space for people to have a break from their desks and relax at lunchtime.”

Golden Lane Housing works with over 150 local councils and health authorities across the country, partners with 100 support providers in a national network of expertise.

Melissa again: “We provide a person-centred approach for individuals and their families, ensuring they have a home that meets their needs and aspirations. We back that up with a housing and maintenance support service for them – which we have just made into a more specialist repairs offer - and a 24hr helpline.

“We also invest in our staff and were placed at number eight in this year’s Sunday Times Best 100 Not for Profit Organisations to work for. We are very proud of that.”

She said that the Orbit Developments’ team had been very easy to work with. “Having experienced several moves over the last 12 months we found getting into Parkway 4 the most painless. Rhys Owen was extremely helpful in ensuring that the offices met our needs and timescales were honoured. As a result we moved in without a hitch.”

Leasing Director for Orbit Developments, Rhys Owen commented: “We are pleased to welcome Melissa and her team on to the park. Parkway 4 is ideal for their requirements and we were glad to provide an easy solution for their requirements. We wish them every success in the new space.”

Melissa is upbeat about the future for the company. She added: “Golden Lane Housing has been hugely successful in the last 20 years and we want to build on that track record and continue to provide as many high quality homes as we can for some of the most vulnerable people in society.”

Orbit Developments is a leading commercial property owner with over 250 commercial properties across the North West consisting of office, retail and industrial work space.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .