Fifty new apartments being built at Chorlton Baths site

The initiative aims to help those needing support and adapted accommodation following a hospital stay move out of hospital and back into the community more quickly before returning to their home.

The apartments will be offered at social rent and will support Manchester City Council’s housing strategy target to help deliver at least 10,000 council, social and genuinely affordable homes up to 2032.

More than £14 million will be invested into this particular scheme through a mix of funding from Homes England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester City Council and MSV Housing.

Demolition of the old Chorlton Leisure Centre is well under way and the site is being cleared so that work can progress on the development situated on Manchester Road. A few architectural stones, some old tiles and other original features have been salvaged which will be sympathetically incorporated into the new design.

The scheme will adhere to the HAPPI (Housing Our Ageing Population Panel) principles. Two adjoining blocks will be built, with a central lift, making mobility for residents much easier, whilst prioritising space, flexibility, and wellbeing and catering for residents’ evolving needs over time.

There will be a community space and a residents’ lounge with the emphasis of the scheme being on maximising the excellent public transport links locally and reducing car usage.

The community space, which will be available to rent by local groups to hold meetings, workshops etc, will bring the neighbouring community and residents together, creating a cohesive and welcoming space.

Working with Manchester City Council, Caddick Construction and Manchester architects Buttress and Simon Fenton Partnerships, the MSV development is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Councillor Gavin White said: “The former leisure centre site has been a target for affordable housing for some time so it’s great to see MSV bring this development to site.

“Not only are these homes low carbon and affordable – this development will also provide muchneeded housing for older people to the heart of Chorlton, while bringing a long-term unused brownfield site back into use – a site that has become an eyesore in recent years.

“We know there is demand for this type of housing in Chorlton and we look forward to welcoming the first residents in 2026”

Charlie Norman, chief executive of MSV Housing Group, said: “I can’t tell you how pleased I am that this scheme is now on site. The way people live is changing, and its essential we can provide age appropriate homes for older people in Manchester, offering a warm, safe and comfortable environment to flourish, in a brilliant location close to the shops, transport and medical facilities.

“At the same time, we expect it to free up larger social homes in the area for families who are struggling in cramped or over-crowded homes. I want to thank our colleagues at Manchester City Council for partnering with MSV on this key development.”