‘I have my home, I can plan for the future and look forward to it with real hope for better times ahead’
Resident Elaine outside the new homes(Image: Southway Housing Trust)
Homeless residents say they can now look to the future with “real hope” after moving into a new Trafford housing development.
The 80 homes in Warwick Road South, in Old Trafford, form the developer Southway Housing Trust’s largest ever affordable rent and shared ownership scheme. Completed ahead of schedule, the project aims to help families and individuals who are stuck on housing waiting lists, and to give them a leg up onto the housing ladder.
One resident said she had been “unsettled” for the past eight to nine years, and was living in homeless accommodation for young people when she received a call from Trafford Council telling her she had a flat in the new £18.2 million estate. She said it “didn’t feel real”.
Chyna said: “Sometimes I still can’t believe this has finally happened for me. I have my home, I can plan for the future and look forward to it with real hope for better times ahead.”
Another resident, Elaine, has also moved into one of the new homes with her 17-year-old son. She said: “We were homeless due to unforeseen circumstances. I had been living in my friend’s mum’s house for six months when I contacted Trafford council and they put us in temporary accommodation.
Resident Elaine cuts the ribbon watched by John Bowker, Southway Housing Trust Chief Executive, Coun Sarah Haughey (Longford), Andrew Western MP for MP for Stretford and Urmston, Trafford Council Leader Tom Ross, Coun Judith Lloyd (Longford) and Coun David Jarman (Longford)(Image: Southway Housing Trust)
“Trafford Council and Southway Housing Trust have been great with us and it’s a huge relief that we’ve been able to move into this flat. I really missed the community feeling I had where I lived before, but the neighbours are all really nice here.”
A mix of one and two-bed apartments are split across three buildings on the site, with a communal garden also included. The scheme, approved by Trafford Council in June 2023, is a joint venture between Victor (Old Trafford) Ltd and Southways.
The project was funded from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund and by Homes England via the Affordable Homes Programme. McGoff Construction acted as main contractor, using an offsite-fabricated, lightweight steel frame, from Panacea Building Solutions, to deliver the project at speed and minimise waste.
George Devlin, Trafford Council’s executive member for housing and advice, said: “This is a fantastic scheme which is helping house Trafford residents on housing allocation lists. Trafford – like most local authorities – has a huge shortage of affordable homes so I am delighted it has opened. The council is totally committed to providing more schemes of this nature across the borough.”
Jonathan Turner, assistant director of development at Southway Housing Trust, added: “We’re proud to celebrate our first homes in Trafford which help people buy or rent more affordably with excellent transport networks, local amenities and world-class cultural, sporting, retail and educational facilities all on their doorstep. These homes are in great need for many, and we’re pleased to be working with Trafford Council to help families move out of unsuitable temporary housing into some of these homes.”
Andrew Western, MP for Stretford and Urmston also commented on the scheme, saying: “I was delighted to see this development from Southway Housing Trust taking shape over the last couple of years. Trafford has a shortage of housing, but in particular a lack of housing available at affordable rent.
John Bowker, Southway Housing Trust Chief Executive: Richard Roe, Corporate Director for Place; Coun George Devlin, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Advice; Andrew Western MP for MP for Stretford and Urmston; Coun Sarah Haughey (Longford Ward), Trafford Council Leader Tom Ross; Coun David Jarman (Longford Ward); Coun Judith Lloyd (Longford Ward); Ian Lowe, Victor Director and Jane Gant, Southway Housing Trust Executive Director of Home and Communities outside the new homes(Image: Southway Housing Trust)
“All 80 properties on this site are either available at affordable rent or for shared ownership, and I know that Southway are already working with Trafford Council to help house families in need.”
Mike Purcell, development director, Victor added: “We purchased this site for its sustainable location credentials, lying on brownfield land next to Old Trafford Metrolink station, just outside of the Civic Quarter regeneration zone. It was an ideal spot to revitalise and add true value to the wider area. To see these fully affordable, high-quality homes, which have been built by our JV partners at McGoff Group, has realised this ambition in full.”
Director at the McGoff Group, Chris McGoff, continued: “We are delighted to deliver this sustainable development of high-quality affordable homes ahead of schedule and look forward to handing it over to Southway Housing Trust for the benefit of residents in Trafford.”