Historic site earmarked for 45-home development in £5.8m plan

Land that was home to an historic Manchester motor factory is being transformed into houses that feature a nod to vehicles made on the site.

Housing provider One Manchester is building 45 properties on the old Crossley Motors factory in Gorton.

The new homes in Crossley Street will feature vertically stacked brickwork to the front elevation in an architectural homage to the striking metal radiator grilles found on Crossley cars and buses.

The bricks will contrast against the horizontal pattern used everywhere else and be further highlighted by a white surround.

Crossley Brothers was founded by Francis and William Crossley in 1867.

They launched Crossley Motors in 1906 producing some 19,000 high quality cars until 1938.

One of the most prestigious businesses in the North West, the firm developed some of the first modern petrol engines.

It was a major supplier of military vehicles during the First and Second World Wars making cars and trucks for the British Armed Forces and Allied countries.

Crossley Motors went into full scale bus production in 1926 with models including the Eagle, Hawk and Mancunian.

Henry Ford, who visited in the early 1900s, is said to have based his revolutionary production line technique on methods he witnessed.

The factory was closed in 1958 and the site is now being transformed by One Manchester to help first time buyers on to the housing ladder.

The £5.8m scheme, christened Crossley Grange, will see a mix of two-, three- and four-bed homes built.

One Manchester received £1.3m from Homes England’s Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme that was bid for via social housing consortium JV North.

Homes will be offered as shared ownership properties to give people chance to buy a share of their home and pay rent on the remaining amount, reducing the deposit and mortgage needed.

Properties will have a private amenity space, private car parking and cycle storage at the back.

Catherine Halstead, senior development manager at One Manchester, said: “We’re really pleased to be delivering this development, which will bring some much needed affordable housing to the heart of Gorton.

“At One Manchester, we’re dedicated to creating thriving communities and this allows us to continue providing local residents with the opportunity to get on to the housing ladder.

“The homes at Crossley Grange will be built to a high standard, lowering utility bills for the new occupiers.

“We’ll also be providing electric car charge units at every property to improve the sustainability of the transport in the area and links back to the Crossley Motors factory, the site’s original owners.”

Crossley Grange is set in an enviable location close to primary and secondary schools with local amenities including a shopping centre, supermarkets and a pharmacy a short walk away.

Gorton Market sits adjacent and there are excellent public transport connections.

The scheme is expected to be completed in August 2021.