Urban Splash prepares to start on housing scheme
DEVELOPER Urban Splash is gearing up to build its first new houses.
The Manchester company, which made its name converting old mills into apartments and commercial space, says it is reinventing the traditional terraced house with its House project which will allow buyers to choose the size and layout.
Once various options have been picked the houses will be assembled on site at a plot in New Islington from pre-fabricated components.
Architect Shedkm is working on the scheme having previously teamed up with Urban Splash for the Chimney Pot Park project in Salford which involved remodelling an existing Victorian terrace.
Urban Splash has permission for 44 houses – 16 three-storey and 28 two-storey – and plans to start work speculatively on the first 11 later in the summer. The remaining 28 will be tailored to individual buyers.
Development director Simon Humphreys said: “We’ve launched a new company called Urban Splash House to enter the market and bring a slightly different approach. People buy the space and decide how they want to subdivide it. The idea is you buy space, rather than rooms.
“Customers can say how much space they’re after, whether they want there living room upstairs or downstairs, and choose from three floor plans – open plan, cellular or sub-divided.”
He added: “We are exploring off-site manufacturing technologies and the potential benefits they can bring in terms of increased quality and speed of construction, reduced waste and reduced construction disturbance to existing neighbourhoods.”
Mr Humphreys said Urban Splash was still finalising the funding with an undisclosed backer. It is neither the housing association Place for People or property investors Pears, both of which struck deals with the company last year.
