‘Statement of intent’ issued at Manchester’s Grey Mare Lane
The city council, One Manchester, and Great Places are ramping up plans to regenerate the 50-year-old East Manchester housing estate, with a revised masterplan for 550 new homes due to be ready by the end of the year.
It has been almost two years since plans to revamp the Grey Mare Lane estate in Beswick and build 290 new homes were announced.
Since then, work to retrofit around 100 existing properties has been carried out – with more planned – and the aspirations for the scheme’s new-build element have grown.
A refreshed vision for the area, which Manchester City Council intends to consult on before the year is out, proposes 550 new homes, 260 more than the 2021 proposals.
“This is a statement of intent that shows how keen we are to begin regeneration in this community,” said Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development.
This increase in homes is made possible through the involvement of Great Places Housing Group, which has been drafted in to work alongside One Manchester to deliver the units.
“We have made a clear commitment to the people of the Grey Mare Lane estate that we will bring forward a really ambitious regeneration plan for their neighbourhood,” White added.
“We stand by that commitment and we expect to see a new masterplan for the area later in the year ahead of a public consultation. But it’s good to see our partners begin preparing their sites ready for investment, as is the case with the planned demolitions by One Manchester.”
A One Manchester spokesperson described the regeneration of the Grey Mare Lane estate as “an essential part of the ongoing story of East Manchester”.
“One Manchester is working in partnership with Manchester City Council, who own the master plan for the estate, and Great Places Housing Group, to expand on previous plans.
“One Manchester has already carried out a successful retrofit of 94 properties on the estate and is now moving forward, subject to consultation, with further retrofit works and the demolition of some of our properties, which will be replaced with new affordable homes.”
A real shame that this programme has lingered for so long and One Manchester were unable to deliver the vision/promises made to residents. Having Great Places onboard gives me more confidence this will be delivered successfully, given all the changes at One Manchester in recent years.
By DP
We don’t need new affordable homes We need new social housing. Good old fashion council houses that people can afford to rent.
By Alan Eden
It won’t be local people that will get new housing !
By Anonymous
@Alan Eden – affordable housing can include social rent. It’s not clear what the proposed tenure is here.
By Ardy
No such thing as an affordable home in Manchester. All rhetoric from the Council. More social housing is needed!!!! The housing waiting list grows bigger. The so called affordable homes are NOT affordable for the majority.
By Jonathon21
Needs far more medium density for this to be future proof.
By Anonymous
Why ‘affordable homes’? Why not Social Housing? You sound like Thatcherite Tories.
By Graham Hill
What a disappointment. So many broken promises and unfulfilled expectations presented by One Manchester. They could make a film about it – Carry On Housing.
Good to hear Great Places are involved. Maybe they can capitalise on the close proximity to the richest football club in the world.
By Disgruntled local resident