South Manchester's Former Council Homes commence £100 million improvements

Old Moat Housing

Improvements to 6,000 Council homes in South Manchester costing more than £100 million began on 26 November as a housing trust took them over from Manchester City Council.

Earlier this year tenants voted in favour of the transfer of homes in Burnage, Chorlton Park, Didsbury East and West, Old Moat and Withington to the not-for-profit Southway Housing Trust.

Councillor Eddy Newman, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, handed over ownership of the homes at a celebration event.

And on the same day, work started officially at a house in Old Moat, Withington where the windows were replaced.

The programme of work will see all Southway tenants receiving some of the major improvements to their homes within two years.

Councillor Eddy Newman said: "Manchester City Council is handing over ownership of these homes to Southway in the confident knowledge that not only will tenants get a socially responsible landlord but that they will also receive improvements to their homes that the Council could not afford.

"There will also be environmental improvements as well as economic and community benefits as Southway will be sponsoring a number of local apprenticeships offering jobs and training to the local community."

Councillor Andrew Fender said: "It's great to see work starting on the first day of the transfer to Southway. We look forward with confidence to all the Southway properties receiving big improvements."

The Five Year Improvement work on the 6,000 homes will include:

New uPVC double-glazed windows,
External front and back doors if needed
Fitted kitchens - if over five years old
New bathroom suites, including a shower over the bath
Rewiring where required
Upgraded heating systems where necessary
Many homes will also benefit from other work needed to bring them up to modern standards, such as structural repairs, re-roofing, security lighting and cavity wall insulation.

PHOTO: Old Moat Councillors Andrew Fender and Brian Harrison with Councillor Eddy Newman celebrate the start of the improvement programme.