Work starts on £4m affordable homes scheme

Construction on a new 38-home, affordable-rent apartment scheme next to the River Tame in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester is now underway.

The development on Castle Street, on the former site of the Tame Foundry textile mill, the £4m scheme has been designed by Pozzoni Architecture and is being built by contractor Rowlinson for housing association, MSV Housing.

When complete, the three-storey building will be made up of 21 one-bedroom and 17 two-bedroom apartments, which will benefit from river views and easy access to the town centre.

The apartments will occupy a prime location that has been vacant for a number of years and sit alongside an historic mill complex, home to Engine House, a prominent part of the town’s textile heritage.

In the scheme’s design, Pozzoni says it has attempted to be respectful of the area’s history and heritage, but also recognised the need for a contemporary aesthetic that would help to drive the regeneration and revitalisation of Stalybridge.

Planning was approved in March this year, with work on site beginning in August. The building is set for completion in autumn 2018.

Eleanor McCallum, associate at Pozzoni Architecture, said: “After the hard work we put into the design of the scheme, it’s great to see construction begin on a building which will make a great contribution to the regeneration of Stalybridge.

“The building’s design blends aspects of the town’s rich mill heritage with a more contemporary style, like that of Pattern House on the neighbouring site. The result will be a modern and stylish development which is sensitive to the local surroundings and we look forward to seeing it complete.”