More than 50 homeless families could be provided with new temporary accommodation under plans to redevelop a derelict office site in south Manchester.

Subject to planning approval, the project would see the construction of self-contained two-bedroom homes for around 55 families on the site of the former NHS offices, Mauldeth House. The building currently stands on a 1.1-acre site off Nell Lane in the Chorlton Park ward.

Manchester City Council acquired the site last month with support from the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund as part of wider efforts to increase the city’s supply of high-quality temporary accommodation.

The location is considered well suited for families, being close to local shops, schools, public transport links, leisure facilities and Chorlton Park.

-- Advertisement --

Mauldeth House has been vacant for several years and has become a source of concern for residents, with the building attracting anti-social behaviour and being targeted by squatters.

If approved, the development would include on-site support, with an accommodation team based at the site to help families move on to permanent housing as quickly as possible.

The Mauldeth House proposal forms part of the council’s broader strategy to expand temporary accommodation within Manchester and reduce the need to place homeless residents outside the city.

Other recent projects include Mariana House in Whalley Range, a former care home that was repurposed and opened in November last year with 19 beds for single homeless people with mobility needs.

The Poplars in Rusholme, previously council offices, has also been converted into 24 self-contained one-bedroom flats to support people facing homelessness following discharge from hospital. The facility opened last summer.

Additional schemes include Fulmead in the Cheetham ward, a former children’s centre and youth justice office that has been converted into temporary accommodation for single homeless people.

Brownley Road in Woodhouse Park, formerly a probation office, has also been redeveloped to provide temporary accommodation for 20 single homeless people with 24-hour support available on site.

Both the Fulmead and Brownley Road schemes have already welcomed residents who were previously placed in temporary accommodation outside Manchester due to pressure on housing provision in the city.