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Manchester City Council has committed to help build 10,000 affordable and social homes by 2032 as part of an ambitious 10-year Housing Strategy.

Silk Street in Newton Heath, East Manchester, is a great example of how this can be achieved. It's the first council-developed residential project in many years and it features exemplary low carbon technology.

Silk Street provides 69 high-quality, low-carbon homes for affordable social rent in an area where need is greatest. The development brings a long-term brownfield site back into use, creating a lasting community with homes in a range of sizes. Some are designed for over-55s who are right-sizing from other council properties, allowing larger properties to be released for families. The over-55 units feature a larger internal footprint designed to HAPPI standards, to accommodate wheelchair users, plus extra storage space.

AtkinsRéalis acted as lead consultant, and provided project management, cost management, Principal Designer and party wall surveyor services. We led a multi-disciplinary team, to deliver the project cost-effectively and to a high specification, in line with Manchester City Council’s aspirations, despite challenging market conditions.

A collaborative team approach ensured identification of commercial risk at the earliest opportunity, ensuring costs were managed successfully and in a timely manner. In addition, early engagement on all commercial matters allowed for design optioneering where cost pressures were evident. This was successfully undertaken without compromising the delivery program.

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69
New homes created
300
Weeks of apprentice activity
21
Houses net zero operational energy achieved

This award-winning development in challenging market conditions has transformed a community and provided much needed homes which are truly energy efficient and sustainable.

Leanne Walsh

Associate Director, Project and Programme Services

Modern methods of construction (MMC) were used, to drive cost and program efficiencies and contribute to enhanced sustainability. The apartment blocks accordingly have an innovative lightweight steel building frame. The houses were constructed with a timber frame panel system, with timber from sustainable sources.

Low carbon initiatives include:

  • fabric-first approach with low air leakage rates
  • whole house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system
  • ground source heat pumps supplied from an ambient heat loop
  • solar PV panels
  • green roofs and green walls for biodiversity
  • efficient plan design.
AtkinsRealis

Sustainable technologies reduce costs for residents, helping prevent fuel poverty and supporting Manchester City Council’s target of becoming a zero-carbon city by 2028.

Silk Street also contributes to a much-needed regeneration opportunity for Newton Heath, enhancing its vitality and complementing other development now under way in the area.

The development has triggered considerable interest from the community and wider stakeholders alike. The project helps others to see the art of the possible, to learn from it and apply the low carbon principles in other communities, benefiting many more tenants in search of a sustainable, affordable home.

It's just wonderful to see these homes passed over to the new residents, who I am sure are very pleased with their new home. This development represents the commitment we have to our residents to build more high quality social and affordable homes, while also delivering low carbon properties that are cheaper to run.

At Silk Street we aren’t just building property. We’re building a lasting community of people who love their homes, love their neighborhood and have real pride in where they live. The relationship with our partners at Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and our professional teams AtkinsRéalis, Rowlinson, and Modern City Architecture + Urbanism (MCAU), have been key to making this aspiration a reality.

Regina Khanum

Affordable Housing Programme Manager, Manchester City Council

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