Council’s low-carbon social housing project in Manchester reaches topping out milestone

Building works in Newton Heath to deliver 69 zero and low carbon social homes on Council-owned land on Silk Street has reached its highest point whilst some of the new homes near completion.

The Council-led project is bringing a long-term brownfield site back into use with 36 one-bedroom apartments, 12 two-bedroom apartments, 17 two storey, three-bedroom houses; and 4 three storey, four-bedroom houses. 16 of the apartments will also be made available to people over the age of 55.

Already 20 of the houses have been built with solar panels fitted and the homes are currently being fitted with kitchens, along with tiling works and external paving. Each of the houses will be zero carbon on completion.

The first two of the three apartment blocks have been constructed and are watertight with external windows and door fitting in progress. Steel framing and roofing is currently underway for the third and final apartment block marking the highest point of development for the project.

The first completions are expected in the Spring of next year with the first residents expected to move into their new homes soon after. Off-road parking will be included as part of the development, along with electric vehicle charging points, and private driveways for the houses.

Each of the apartments will have a balcony and living walls will provide a green aesthetic to the development, along with shared outdoor green space. They will also be built to HAPPI design principles that ensure larger internal space as standard, which will easily accommodate someone using a wheelchair, along with extra storage space.

The houses will have generous gardens and solar panels, while the apartments will feature living green roofs as part of the project’s low carbon commitment. This will also include the use of Ground Source Heat Pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to keep utility costs down for residents.

The homes are being constructed by Rowlinson with a design informed by the history of Newton Heath, celebrating the brickwork that characterises the local area. The homes will be managed by the Council. The City Council has committed to help build 10,000 affordable and social homes over the next 10 years as part of an ambitious new Housing Strategy launched earlier this year.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “It’s brilliant to come back to this site through the year and see the impressive progress at our development in Newton Heath. We are delivering the very homes that this community needs quality social housing that is zero and low carbon and therefore cheap to run.

“The housing has been designed to HAPPI principles, which means they are larger inside to accommodate a wheelchair if necessary and 16 of the apartments will be available to people over the age of 55.

“Development like this isn’t just about building a certain number of homes, it’s about building a community of people who take pride in the place they live. This project should be the benchmark for new affordable and social housing in Manchester.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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