Information about the scheme and partners
What's in the scheme
- The UK’s first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care housing scheme on the site which will be a flagship of inclusivity and a centre of Excellence for LGBTQ+ affirmative Housing and Care
- Circa 40 apartments available for shared ownership
- Purpose-built accommodation designed to meet the needs of people aged 55+, which is accessible and inclusive by design
- Use of a previously developed site within an urban area of Manchester that is ideally located to deliver this type of accommodation
- Securing direct investment into the local economy through the creation of employment opportunities. This includes both temporary job creation during the construction period and longer-term job opportunities associated with the operation of the extra care scheme including the shared facilities
- A reduction in GP and hospital visits due to the inclusion of accident prevention design features within the proposed scheme and the provision of on-site community activities including wellness and care services
- The opportunity for people to ‘right size’ - move from accommodation that is larger than they need to appropriate, well maintained, accessible and more economical accommodation
- The provision of this suitable alternative can release a significant number of existing family-sized homes onto the local housing market, including smaller properties that could be suitable for first time buyers
What is an Extra Care scheme?
Extra Care housing schemes create high-quality, accessible homes for people over 55 years of age. They provide specialist accommodation to meet the personal needs of older people in the local community whilst supporting them to maintain their independence.
Extra Care housing schemes offer a safe, secure environment with peace of mind within a community setting, whilst allowing people to continue to enjoy their independence.
The Design
The proposed design aims to respect the existing character of the local area. The appearance of the development has been considered from the start, focusing on creating attractive views into the site.
The majority of the building is positioned in the centre of the site protecting existing trees and retaining landscaping at the boundary. This also helps to minimise the building’s appearance on adjacent roads and to include a suitable amount of parking set within extensive landscaping.
The height of the scheme will be 4 and 5 storeys which falls into line with adjacent buildings. The building will be positioned to allow for substantial green space, amenity space and sufficient car parking.
The proposed elevations will use brick as the main material like neighbouring and nearby properties, the final brick type will be discussed via consultation with Manchester City Council planners to create a building we believe sits in and is similar of the local conservation plan. Presently we also propose to include metal cladding to the top floors to improve the modern aesthetics of the building.
Large windows will create light and contemporary accommodation and balconies will provide private outdoor space to some apartments (in addition to the communal gardens). At ground floor level, where communal facilities are located, the frontage is opened up with more windows to provide a welcoming public face to the building.
Greenspace and landscaping
The proposals will be designed to maximise the green space throughout the site for the enjoyment of future residents including attractive planting and trees, carefully considered pedestrian access routes and high quality hard landscaping, such as seating, at the building entrance.
A landscape architect will be appointed in order to make the best of use of the landscaping area provided and as part of our proposal we will retain as many trees as possible to the front of the site.
Transport and parking
We believe that the site is ideally located to deliver Extra Care housing accommodation with a range of amenities and public transport links close by.
Extra Care housing, typically has lower levels of both car ownership and traffic when compared with other uses or different types of residential accommodation.
The parking provision proposed is in line with Manchester City Council’s requirements.
Energy and sustainability
Our sustainability measures for all new homes follow a fabric first approach. A 'fabric first' approach prioritises the energy efficiency of a property from the start of the design and development process. By focusing on reducing a home's heat loss, you can achieve a low carbon, sustainable house that's affordable to heat.
Russell Road will deliver on reduced energy consumption and carbon footprint, whilst future proofing for changes in environmental factors, energy delivery models and customer requirements.
Our development sites address climate risk through the use of robust and resilient construction materials to provide structural stability, durability, and weather protection, ensuring that homes mitigate the effects of a rapidly changing climate, both now and in the future.
We will mitigate increased overheating risk through appropriate design and construction for each home’s orientation, glazing extents and site constraints. We will also utilise solar shading, improved glass specification, and ventilation strategies, which do not adversely impact safety, security and wellbeing.
Electric vehicle charging points will be provided to some of the resident’s parking bays and all bays future proofed with the infrastructure in place to provide additional chargers as required.
The proposed scheme will support and encourage the use of bicycles by providing secure storage within the grounds of the development for both residents and visitors.
The development will also incorporate an internal mobility buggy store for use by residents.
Benefits
The development will facilitate a number of benefits including:
Who's involved
- Affordable, high-quality independent living where people still have their own front door
- On site flexible care and support if needed
- Communal facilities offering opportunities for activities and socialising
- Efficient, secure and easy to manage modern apartments
- Improved housing choice for Manchester residents over 55s
- 89% wanted more supported housing options for older LGBT people
- 74% wanted to move into the proposed LGBT extra care scheme
- 51% would be uncomfortable in non-LGBT specific care or housing (for over 75s this was higher at 67%)
About Manchester City Council’s extra care programme
Manchester’s ambitious Extra Care housing development programme will deliver almost 1,000 affordable apartments in 15 schemes across the city, including three specialist dementia developments, by 2026.
People in extra care housing report high levels of satisfaction and an improved feeling of wellbeing from knowing help is at hand 24/7.
Extra care housing offers:
Information on and how to apply for their existing schemes can be found on the Manchester Move website under Housing Options/Housing Exclusively for people over 55.
About LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation is a Manchester-based national charity with LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing at the heart of everything they do. Since 1975, they have been providing services and activities that give a lifeline to LGBTQ+ people in need. LGBT Foundation creates safe spaces, amplifies voices and works with partners and allies to drive positive change.
In 2020, LGBT Foundation conducted a year-long project to better understand the housing and support needs of LGBT people aged 55+. This project included a survey to ask members of the LGBTQ+ community about their current finances, their housing situation, their care needs and their thoughts on the proposed LGBT Extra Care.
The results showed:
The full survey report can be found on the Housing LIN website
About the Community Steering Group
Co-production is a key part of the scheme’s development. Great Places is working with the Community Steering Group (CSG) to ensure the scheme achieves its agreed purpose and creates a lasting positive addition to Whalley Range. The CSG, made up of representatives from the local, LGBTQ+ and older people’s communities, along with LGBT Foundation and Manchester City Council, has been meeting regularly with the design team to co-produce the top-level design of the scheme ahead of the public planning consultation. These discussions have included making decisions about flat layouts, design features, and internal communal spaces. As part of the co-production, the CSG has also learned about the planning process and the conservation area in Whalley Range to ensure that the building and its purpose enhance the local area. Going forward, the role of the CSG will develop further to support the design of the delivery of services, including working closely with the care provider onsite to ensure that the needs of the LGBTQ+ community are met.
About Great Places
Social purpose is at the heart of Great Places Housing Group. A not-for-profit organisation, Great Places owns 25,000 affordable homes in more than 30 local authority areas across the North West and South Yorkshire.
In 2022/23 Great Places delivered 649 new affordable homes, had an additional 1,600 homes on-site and sold 192 homes for shared ownership.
It invested £110M into building new homes as well as running a wide range of projects and initiatives to benefit our customers and their communities.