Tall & Urban News

Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, has acquired a 1.2-acre (0.4-hectare) brownfield site in Manchester, investing in the city and committing to affordable housing.

The brownfield site sits within a wider mixed-use redevelopment plan which includes a brand new city center campus for The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester providing facilities for courses linked to the digital and creative sectors from September 2022.

The ambition is for residents to benefit from communal lounges and workspace, with many homes having private balconies alongside communal roof terraces and high-quality public realm.

The proposed scheme comprises 442 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, of which 60% will be affordable housing including a mix of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership, as well as 6,000 square feet (557 square meters) of commercial space.

Work on site is expected to begin mid 2022 subject to planning.

Richard Cook, group director of development for Clarion Housing Group, said: “We’re delighted to have acquired this important site in the center of Manchester that will enable us to deliver much-needed affordable homes, with 60 percent of the homes we build being recognized as such.

“Our scheme is part of a master plan that will see the delivery of new high-quality homes in close proximity to all that the city has to offer, from bars and restaurants to local employment opportunities and the specialist technical education and training facilities provided by The Manchester College, creating a thriving new neighborhood.”

John Thornhill, CEO of the LTE Group, said: “We are delighted to complete on the sale of this land adjacent to our new landmark City Campus Manchester which will welcome its first students in September 2022.

“This is a fantastic example of partnership working across the City and will see hundreds of new affordable homes being developed to support the City’s housing need.

“The sale to Latimer will bring a wealth of experience in providing both affordable and private housing to Manchester and will enable a new community to be placed in a prominent city center location energizing the area for all.”

For more on this story, go to PBC Today.