They will cover 17 areas of the cityHow Gorton might look one day

Confirmation more than 1,000 affordable homes will be built across Manchester is ‘like getting a present’, town hall chiefs say.

A wholesale regeneration of Gorton and a plan to build affordable houses on council-owned parcels of land were approved by the council on Wednesday afternoon (October 15)

The £60m east Manchester project includes a £1.1m-revamp of Gorton Market Hall to create ‘a new food and drink cluster with common seating, and beauty zone’ which will open out onto its square that opened in April.

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Councillors have also signed a 10-year-deal with Latimer, the development arm of housing association Clarion. Under the deal, 400 homes will be constructed near the suburb’s centre, ‘a significant majority’ of which ‘will be affordable’, executive councillor for housing Gavin White said at the meeting.

Ward councillor Julie Reid said ‘it’s like every day is a surprise, getting a present for Gorton’, adding: “Manchester was already working on this. We just needed the money.

“To get the food hall will be amazing. I cannot wait to see it finished.”

The plans for Broadmoss in Chorlton

Another 700 affordable homes will be built across the city, taking the total agreed on Wednesday past 1,000.

They will be constructed on council-owned plots in 17 areas, including the city centre.

Coun White said the authority was ‘taking the lead’ on increasing the number of affordable homes in a city where 19,000 people are waiting for a council house.

“Many people say it’s really challenging to deliver affordable housing with viability issues,” he explained. “We are showing we can take the lead and deliver outcomes that deliver for the community.”

The 700 homes will be built in the following spots:

  • Some 271 homes for social rent and shared ownership are eyed for Broadmoss in Charlestown.
  • An all-affordable, 23-storey tower in the city centre will contain 133 flats. Viadux 2 in Deansgate is part of developer Salboy’s project to construct the city’s tallest skyscraper.
  • On Alexandra Road in Moss Side, 64 homes and apartments are planned, and will be available at the Manchester Living Rent.
  • Over on Gransmoor Avenue, Openshaw, right-to-buy purchases of council houses is taking affordable rental properties out of the market, so 51 social rent homes are earmarked.
  • The long-disused former Levenshulme Baths will be converted into 34 apartments, also capped at the Manchester Living Rent.
  • And the council’s ‘Project 500’ programme, to build 500 affordable homes on small portions of land across the city, will enter its second phase. Phase two will build another 160 homes across 12 sites in north and east Manchester, exceeding the original 500 home target of this initiative.