Low Carbon Social Homes

Products used: Bricks - Ivanhoe Cream Original, Grosvenor County Mixture

Factory: Leicester

Project location: Silk Street, Manchester

Architects: MCAU Architects

Brickwork Contractor: Rowlinson Construction

Manchester City Council has delivered 69 zero and low carbon social homes on Council-owned land. The remarkable project features 36 one-bedroom apartments, 12 two-bedroom apartments, 17 two story, three-bedroom houses; and 4 three storey, four-bedroom houses. To accommodate for older residents, 16 of the apartments will be designated for individuals aged 55 and above.

Designed by MCAU Architects, the purpose of the project is to assist in addressing the need for high-quality affordable housing in the Manchester region, while guaranteeing accessibility, particularly for those in wheelchairs. Each apartment features a balcony, with living walls adding to the development's green appeal, alongside communal outdoor green spaces. Furthermore, the apartments are constructed according to HAPPI design principles, ensuring spacious interiors as a norm, facilitating wheelchair access, and offering additional storage space.

Another factor at the core of the project is sustainability. Twenty of the houses feature solar panels. Each of the houses were also designed to be zero carbon on completion. Boasting spacious gardens and solar panels, the apartments incorporate living green roofs as part of the project's commitment to low carbon footprint. This also involves the use of Ground Source Heat Pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to keep utility costs down for residents.

The project, constructed by Rowlinson Construction and partially funded through the government’s Brownfield Land Fund, with work on the site beginning in early 2022, was completed in December 2023.

To add to the modern look of the project, the apartments feature Ibstock’s Ivanhoe Cream Original Stock Facing bricks. Featuring a captivating blend of warm and earthy hues, the bricks were a key part in adding a textured and inviting appearance that enhances the visual appeal of housing within the project. Mixed with this was the Grosvenor County Mixture which is a stock, frogged facing brick featuring a rich red hue and a gentle texture.

The city is set to surpass its goal of delivering affordable homes, which was initially aimed at supporting the construction of at least 6,400 affordable homes between 2015 and 2025. The council now expects to exceed this target by delivering more than 7,000 affordable homes during this period. This achievement will surpass the 20% target for affordable housing in all developments across the city.