Manchester to build low-carbon social homes
Source: SmartCitiesWorld news team
The project brings a long-term under-used brownfield site back into use and the homes will be characterised by green roofs, electric vehicle charging and other sustainable features.
Planning permission has been granted on a development of 69 low-carbon social homes to be built on Silk Street, Newton Heath in North Manchester. Features include electric vehicles charging, green roofs and ground source heat pumps.
The UK city is already on track to surpass the affordable homes delivery target, which was to support at least 6,400 affordable homes to be built between 2015 and 2025. The council now expects to deliver more than 7,000 affordable homes in this period, more than meeting the 20 per cent affordable target for all housing development in the city.
Brownfield site
The development is being part-funded through the UK Government’s Brownfield Land Fund, which will help deliver 522 new homes on disused land across the city over the next five years.
The project will bring back into use a long-term under-used brownfield site to build 36 one-bedroom apartments; 12 two-bedroom apartments; 17 two-storey, three-bedroom houses; and four three-storey, four-bedroom houses – while 16 of the apartments will be available to people over the age of 55.
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 accommodate someone using a wheelchair.
“All this while delivering properties to meet low carbon standards and sustainable technologies, which will reduce costs for residents and help us meet our target of being a zero-carbon city by 2028”
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.
This project ticks so many boxes – bringing a long-term brownfield site back into use, new affordable social housing, homes for older people, and a range of sizes to meet different levels of demand,” said councillor Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment.
“All this while delivering properties to meet low carbon standards and sustainable technologies, which will reduce costs for residents and help us meet our target of being a zero-carbon city by 2028.
“We know demand is high for social housing and we know this development will be so welcome in the local community.”
The homes will be built by construction firm and property developer Rowlinson with a design informed by the history of Newton Heath, celebrating…