A housebuilder has acquired a five-acre site for 65 new homes in Chorlton, from a youth charity.
Anwyl Homes will bring much needed affordable homes to the area, while The Greater Manchester Youth Federation will use monies from the land sale to reinvest in local youth facilities.
Anwyl was selected as preferred development partner for the Wilbraham Road site in 2022 after a competitive tender process. Planning permission was granted in October 2023.
Work has now started on new development, which will be marketed as Dalton Fields, a nod to its former name of Harry Dalton Fields. The venture will include three and four-bedroom homes for private sale, plus 13 affordable homes, seven of which will be designated for social rent and six for shared ownership.
The homes will be highly energy efficient, using air source heat pumps to provide heating and hot water in place of traditional gas boilers, and each will have an electric vehicle charging point.
Redevelopment of this redundant parcel of land has been able to unlock wider community benefits of almost £558,000, with the funding committed as part of the planning agreement. This will go towards a new 4G football pitch at the neighbouring St Margaret’s Centre and Playing Field, where an orchard will also be enhanced to encourage biodiversity.
Funds are also earmarked for Maine Road FC, who play at the adjacent Brantingham Road ground, as well as Alexandra Park, and South Manchester Cricket Club.
Youth services across Manchester will also benefit from the sale of the land by the Greater Manchester Youth Federation (GMYF). The charity supports approximately 30 clubs across the city region.
Phil Dolan, chief operating officer at Anwyl Homes (pictured right with Karen Wilson, CEO of GMYF) said: “Our new development will bring far-reaching benefits for the community. As well as delivering energy efficient new and affordable homes to meet strong demand, it will also bring on-site biodiversity net gain, additional tree planting and funding for local sports facilities. This includes upgrades to LED floodlights for our neighbours Maine Road FC so the club can host more home fixtures.
“We’ve worked closely with the GMYF throughout the planning process. This land transaction represents a significant step forward for the charity in securing a more sustainable future. It has taken several years of work for them to bring this site to market and achieve planning consent. It’s been a real team effort between us, the GMYF, property consultants Roger Hannah, planning consultants Asteer Planning, and legal advisors Shoosmiths. On behalf of ourselves and the GMYF, I’d also like to thank Manchester City Council and local ward members for their input and support throughout.”
The charity opened its first youth centre, Partington Youth and Community Centre, in April 2022, entering into a 99-year lease with Trafford Council for the building.
It also committed £200,000 to refurbish The Charlestown Centre (formerly the Whitemoss Youth and Community Centre), which reopened to young people in June this year, run by three full-time members of staff.
