The transformation of Miles Platting in East Manchester has reached a new milestone with the start of work on a major new housing development bringing affordable homes and jobs.

In partnership with Manchester City Council, New East Manchester and Adactus Housing Association, Lovell is building 53 two- three- and four-bedroom houses at Sandal Street with the help of £1.03 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) through the Kickstart programme. They are the first of 1,000 new homes planned for the area.

The £7.3 million development will create 22 homes for open market sale by Lovell. The other properties will be managed by Adactus: 11 will be available for social rent and 20 for HomeBuy, part-buy, part-rent shared ownership. All homes will meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the system for assessing the environmental performance of new housing. The scheme will also create training opportunities. Lovell will join forces with Construction Industry Solutions, based at Manchester College in Openshaw, to find two local apprentices to join the award-winning Lovell apprenticeship programme. Local Lovell apprentice carpenter / joiner Ben Palfreyman, who lives within a mile of the Miles Platting site, will also be based on the development.


HCA investment and regeneration manager Delyse Bailey, Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, Lovell regional director Nigel Yates and Hilary Roberts, group director of development and deputy chief executive, at Adactus Housing Association were among those who visited the site to mark the start of work.

Deborah McLaughlin, executive director North West at the HCA, commented: "Working closely with Manchester Council and Lovell, I am pleased that we have been able to help bring these important new affordable homes forward, which I am sure will prove popular with local people."

Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services for Manchester City Council, says: "This new development is a welcome demonstration of the continued commitment of the Council and its partners to the regeneration of East Manchester despite the difficult financial backdrop. It will be an important step towards improving the choice of high-quality, affordable housing in Miles Platting and builds on the investment already made in improving the quality of the 1,500 Council-owned houses through the housing Private Finance Initiative."

(CD)