This is an exemplar approach to neighbourhood redevelopment – putting the resident, affordable housing, and active travel first – that we’d like to see replicated in other parts of our city….
Cllr Gavin White, Exec Member for Housing and Employment, Manchester City Council
This City apartments hit the half-way mark
The first This City housing development marks 10 months on site using long-term brownfield land owned by the Council in Ancoats to construct 129 new homes – including 119 apartments and 10 town houses.
The low carbon homes range from one bed to four bed homes, overlook the redeveloped Ancoats Green and will connect seamlessly to the surrounding neighbourhood. Energy efficient sustainability features, like exemplar insulation, means these homes will be warmer, cheaper to run and support residents through the cost of living crisis.
The two apartment buildings have made good progress on site and have just hit the halfway point. Construction of the 10 townhouses is now underway.
The scheme is being built by Wates, is designed by architect Buttress and is expected to be complete in 2025. Six further sites are currently being considered for development in the coming years.
Find out more about This City.
Ancoats Green takes shape as the green heart of the community
Work is well underway to deliver major improvements to the park, creating a green focal point for the neighbourhood and connecting other developments in the area, including the first phases of This City and the Ancoats Mobility Hub.
The project has a bold and ambitious vision to create a sense of place, including new walking and cycling routes through the neighbourhood, along with new trees and planting from a range of habitats like wetlands and wildflower.
Designed by landscape architects Planit to be a quality multi-functional green space for existing and future generations, the revamped park will have new play areas with accessible equipment, open grassed areas, generous footpaths and space for hosting small events.
The development started in January and is expected to be completed later in 2024.
Find out more about Ancoats Green and public realm investment in in Ancoats
Ancoats Mobility Hub tops out
Designed to support more sustainable transport choices and help Ancoats to be a low-traffic, pedestrian first neighbourhood, the innovative new Mobility Hub has reached its highest point and officially ‘topped out’.
The hub features secure parking for 150 bikes, changing facilities, 102 electronic vehicle charging points, up to 30 spaces for car club and car share schemes as part of a total of 406 car park spaces, reducing the need for parking at new developments nearby. Disabled parking will still be designed in.
The building itself will feature 400 rooftop solar panels and over 400sqm of living green walls. A last-mile delivery hub and parcel lockers will centralise how local people can receive post and packages, vastly reducing delivery traffic in the area. A new commercial or hospitality space is also being explored.
The development will include open public space and landscaped outdoor areas equivalent to the size of seven tennis courts, linking seamlessly into the improved Ancoats Green.
The Mobility Hub is being built by Bowmer and Kirkland and is expected to be completed in late 2024. It has been funded by a combination of Homes England and GMCA Brownfield Land Funding.
Find out more about the Ancoats Mobility Hub
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of the Council, said:
“We’ve seen the transformation of Ancoats over the last two decades from a decking post-industrial inner-city area into a modern, vibrant, urban community.
“Through our This City development and the Ancoats Mobility Hub we see first hand the innovative approach we are taking as a city to create more attractive, affordable and sustainable neighbourhoods – with a improved, high quality city centre park at its heart.
“As part of this we are thinking clearly about our green public spaces, a pedestrian first approach to development, and housing affordability – the latter making sure our communities are open to all Manchester people and a key part of our commitment to build at least 10,000 social, council and genuinely affordable homes up to 2032.”
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, added:
“It’s great to see the progress at these projects in Ancoats and a privilege to witness the area’s regeneration come together – helping to create a green, sustainable neighbourhood.
“This is an exemplar approach to neighbourhood redevelopment – putting the resident, affordable housing, and active travel first – that we’d like to see replicated in other parts of our city ensuring clean, pleasant streets, finished to a high standard that our residents want to spend time in.”
Contents of this article were correct at time of press.