New 76-home development aimed at helping key workers into housing

A new flagship development of 76 new affordable homes and a medical centre is now under way in West Didsbury, South Manchester, with an incentive to help key workers into housing.

Two Didsbury Point is a £20m scheme being built by housing association Southway Housing Trust at the former Withington Community Hospital site off Princess Parkway, just six minutes from West Didsbury town centre.

It will provide 30 homes for social rent and 46 for shared ownership in an affluent urban village where affordable housing options are limited.

Southway has secured grants totalling more than £6m, including funding from the Brownfield Housing Fund to help build the development.

The Brownfield Housing Fund is a partnership between Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Government’s Department for Levelling up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to regenerate brownfield land to create new homes and jobs.

The one- and two-bed homes will be built across two connected eight- and five-storey blocks with an outdoor communal terrace and green spaces for residents to enjoy.

The 1,200 sq m purpose-built ground floor medical centre, delivered in partnership with Citybranch Healthcare, will help to improve community NHS services with appointments, testing, minor surgery, family planning, physiotherapy, mental health support, diabetic specialist care and research facilities all under one roof.

There will be onsite car parking for residents, medical centre staff and patients, electric vehicle charging bays and bicycle storage.

Southway has also worked with Greater Manchester’s Ecology Unit to promote biodiversity with bat and bird boxes, safe routes for hedgehogs, a mix of landscaping and an insect hotel featured at the development.

Karen Mitchell, Chief Executive at Southway Housing, said: “Southway is a local community-based housing provider working hard to meeting housing needs, particularly in the south of the city. We work closely with the city council and other partners to deliver our ambitious affordable homes new build programme.

“Two Didsbury Point is an important project for us as it demonstrates our commitment to providing homes that people can afford, in the places where they are needed. Didsbury is one of the highest value areas in the city and we are delighted to be able to provide affordable homes in this neighbourhood.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: “Through the Brownfield Housing Fund we are continuing to unlock sites across Greater Manchester. It’s great to see work begin on another project that will deliver much needed homes in an area where there is high demand.”

Adam Gross, Director of Citybranch Healthcare, said: “We are local property developers experienced in delivering mixed use community-based schemes and are delighted to be working with Southway Housing to provide much needed affordable homes together with a brand new, purpose-built, bespoke health centre for local residents. With Southway’s vision, we hope this scheme will be the first of many.”

Shared ownership homes will be sold via Southway Housing’s ‘profit for purpose’ sales and management company Gecko.

The contractor for the development is Bridgestone Construction.