Wates Living Space has completed refurbishment work on over 20 empty homes in east Manchester.

The firm has handed over the keys to the first 24 homes and by the end of the year the Ben Street project will see 62 empty homes acquired by Manchester City Council refurbished.

Another 151 properties in the area are also being improved.

The properties meet Manchester's affordability definition and in addition, One Manchester has bought and is refurbishing five more properties in the area for affordable rent, which will be let through Manchester Move to people on the city's housing register.

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Cllr Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council's executive member for housing and regeneration, said: "First and foremost, I would like to welcome the new east Manchester tenants in to their new homes. These are some of the luckiest residents in the city as the first to access the refurbished housing at the Ben Street regeneration area. Wates have done a remarkable job turning these properties into high-quality family homes.

"We have a strong track record in Manchester targeting empty homes to make sure they are brought back into use and get the most out of our existing housing stock to help meeting every growing demand.

"The major project will be completed by the end of the year and more new residents will move in to their new homes and I look forward to seeing what an asset the Ben Street neighbourhood will be to the local community."

(CD/MH)