Moss Side residents are being encouraged to help shape ambitious plans for the future of their community, which will bring around 300 much-needed affordable homes to tackle local housing shortages.
The plans are being brought forward by local housing association, Mosscare St Vincent’s (MSV), working in partnership with Manchester City Council.
The three-week community consultation begins on 22nd July with a drop-in session running between 12pm and 3pm at Moss Side Community Park on Raby Street.
Under the proposals, four sites in Moss Side will be transformed into a blend of apartments and multigenerational family homes. The homes will be either for rent, shared ownership or rent to buy. A local lettings policy will be in place to make sure that the homes will be available for future generations as families in the area continue to grow.
The plans have been brought forward in response to an acute shortage of affordable homes in Moss Side, where there are more people on the priority list for social housing than any other area in Manchester.
MSV Chief Executive Charlie Norman said: “The demand for new homes in Moss Side is urgent. The population has grown by more than 20% in the last decade, but the number of homes, particularly those that local people can afford has not kept pace.
“We have worked with the community on our plans from day one, to ensure that what we are bringing forward not only addresses the acute housing shortage, but also builds on the area’s proud history.
“The feedback that we have received to date has shaped the proposals and we encourage all community members, businesses, and stakeholders to participate in this consultation.”
A steering group, comprising representatives from resident groups across Moss Side has worked with MSV in shaping the initial design of the scheme. MSV will continue to engage in ongoing discussions with the local community over the coming months to ensure that the rich heritage and culture of the area are reflected in the final designs.
The development will see disused land at the site of the former Reno nightclub and neighbouring sites at Barnhill Street along with land at Westwood Street and Raby Street transformed into a mix of family homes and apartments. These sites have been empty and unused for many years and have become hotspots for anti-social behaviour.
MSV has also been looking at how it can develop the site at the Greenheys Adult Learning Centre into homes, with the services currently delivered transferred to a new purpose-built facility at one of the sites being developed.
In total, the plans will include around 300 new homes, bringing millions of pounds of investment to Moss Side.
Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council added: “We have an ambitious plan to work with our local housing associations to increase the amount of affordable housing available across our neighbourhoods. This exciting development will bring forward hundreds of affordable and sustainable homes where we know that they are needed.
“But it’s vital that the community is able to have its say and continue to shape the plans that are being developed. “This consultation will enable us to gather vital feedback and I would urge as many local people as possible to take part.”
The Public Consultation opens officially on July 22nd at 12pm with a drop-in session at Moss Side Community Park. The Consultation will close on Sunday 13th August and the findings will be presented to a future meeting of the council’s executive committee.
