Super housing association takes shape

MANCHESTER housing associations Eastlands Homes and City South Manchester have joined forces to become a new 12,400-home group.

One Manchester has been officially launched and will provide services for more than 30,000 customers as well as a range of new services including employment and skills support, youth projects and money advice.

The new group says it will now be in a stronger financial position in the region – able to create more opportunities with further investment and long-term improvements in its communities.

One Manchester kick-started its launch with the announcement of a new community fund of £500,000 to be awarded over its first five years.
 
It is designed to support activities of benefit to customers and projects that operate in the neighbourhoods of Eastlands and City South Manchester and is now accepting bids of up to £1,000.

The group’s schemes include new build homes on Claremont Road, in Moss Side, the refurbishment of 11 1960s tower blocks across north and east Manchester, and it has just completed a £21m improvement programme of six multi-storey blocks across Rusholme, Gorton, Longsight and Levenshulme.

It also said hundreds of customers, who will continue to be tenants of City South Housing or Eastlands Homes, responded positively to the new group structure following a six-week period of consultation.

Dave Power, chief executive of One Manchester, said: “We are proud to have launched a group that will now bring our expertise and resources together into a larger organisation, with the same ambitions and values.

 “Our mission at One Manchester goes beyond the bricks and mortar of housing.

“It’s about creating opportunities for our customers, our staff, our neighbourhoods and our services and transforming communities to ensure they thrive in the long term.

“This is why we have also launched the community fund to make that a reality.

“These are exciting times for Manchester, the city is growing and changing. With the £300m devolution deal announced recently, the city has more powers to make decisions about vital issues such as health, social care, housing, transport and work and skills.

“As One Manchester we have the strength, experience and potential to deliver real social innovation to the people and city of Manchester and beyond.”