Press Releases

August 03 2009

Boost for east Manchester housing schemes

Five east Manchester housing schemes are earmarked for a share of a £25 million grant from a Government scheme aimed at re-starting stalled developments that have been affected by the recession.

Funded through the Kickstart programme managed by the national housing and regeneration body the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the east Manchester schemes shortlisted for funding include:

City East Phase 2 (Gleeson) - 46 houses and six flats between Ashton Old Road and Grey Mare Lane, Beswick. This development will help create a more balanced housing market in this part of Manchester, help support economic and social inclusion, and ensure wider access to appropriate housing in sustainable, mixed and vibrant communities.
Advent Phase 5, Ancoats (ASCD) - 29 houses and 79 flats on Great Ancoats Street, between New Islington and the Lower Medlock Valley, close to St Ann's with St Cuthbert's RC primary school and the proposed new primary school in New Islington. This development will create homes that meet local needs, demands and aspirations, and are sensitive to local environments.
Sportcity (Countryside Properties) - 72 houses and 15 flats on a site bounded by Archer Street, Fairclough Street and Stuart Street north of Manchester Velodrome in Clayton. Building homes for sale on this site will improve tenure mix and aid the development of an attractive neighbourhood where people choose to establish roots and which grow to become sustainable communities.
Ice Plant Ancoats (Northern Group) - 82 homes in Blossom Street, Ancoats Urban Village, to help improve the tenure mix close to the city centre. The development will also include approximately 15,000 square feet of retail/commercial space that will provide long-term employment and much-needed commercial activity in the area.
Miles Platting PFI (Lovell) - 79 houses on three sites that will improve the choice of high quality housing for sale and complement the wider area renewal by the Renaissance consortium on behalf of Manchester City Council. The three sites are behind the Apple Building on Oldham Road, between Iron Street and Sandal Street, and between Sandal Street and Sabden Close

Subject to meeting the HCA's requirements on good design, value for money, financial viability and risk, as well as an assessment of quick delivery, support will be given to these developments as well as two others in the Manchester area.
If successful, the additional funding would come from the £1.06 billion for development projects across the country recently announced by Housing Minister John Healey.
Eddie Smith, Chief Executive for New East Manchester said: "This news is a real boost for east Manchester and will help keep our regeneration plans on track. One of our priorities is to build new homes in area and this funding will help us achieve this goal."
Deborah McLaughlin, North West Regional Director of the Agency, said: "The Kickstart programme is a fantastic opportunity to provide vitally important new homes and jobs for communities in Manchester and across the North West. I'm delighted that the region has responded so positively and that we now have the chance to bring forward so many blocked schemes."

For further information on New East Manchester visit www.neweastmanchester.com.