Plans for over 400 affordable homes in Wythenshawe revealed

Manchester City Council (MCC) and placemaker Muse are seeking people’s views on the next phase of the £500m regeneration of Wythenshawe, which is set to deliver around 400 affordable homes in partnership with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.

The overall masterplan for Wythenshawe will deliver up to 2,000 new homes over the next 10-15 years. During consultation earlier this year on the wider regeneration plans, local people called for a range of housing types, especially affordable homes. The first phase of housing will see three town centre sites – Brotherton House, Alpha House and C2 The Birtles – transformed into a mix of apartments and townhouses. All the homes will be affordable, high quality and highly energy-efficient, to help lower energy bills for the residents. New green spaces and landscaping will promote health and wellbeing and improve local biodiversity.

Locals are now being encouraged to have their say on the plans before a planning application is submitted later this year.

Brotherton House, formerly an office building, is set to be transformed into 215 new homes, with a mix of 25 townhouses, 80 apartments and around 109 apartments for people in later life and for those living with dementia.

Located at the top of The Birtles, next to the former market square, C2 The Birtles is currently retail and office space, which will be demolished and replaced with a new high-quality apartment building. It will feature around 80 one and two-bed apartments with new spaces for shops on the ground floor to complement the existing retail in Civic.

Former office building Alpha House is also set to be demolished, creating 125 one and two-bed apartments including 16 wheelchair accessible apartments.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: “We know that good quality, affordable housing is one of the most important things to our residents. Great housing, in places that we can be proud of, is a cornerstone for good health and well-being and key to supporting our residents to thrive.  

“That’s why we have made sure that the majority of the new homes planned for the transformation of the Civic will be capped at social rent – the most affordable type of housing available to our residents. Which means they will be affordable and made available to as many local people in Wythenshawe as possible.  

“We are already moving on this commitment, creating a partnership with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group to deliver the first 400 homes – which will eventually grow to 2,000 homes in the coming years. 

“But we also need insight from the community – and this is a great chance to let us know your thoughts. After all this investment is for local people, guided by local people.” 

Joe Stockton, Development Director at Muse, said: “This is a really exciting time for Wythenshawe as we share and develop our plans to bring genuinely affordable homes to the town for local people.

“Over the last few months, we’ve spoken to lots of people to understand how this once in a generation investment can deliver what they need. We heard the response loud and clear and we’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group to create the first phase of around 400 affordable homes. With work on Civic due to start later this year, things are really starting to happen.”

Andrea Lowman, Executive Director of Development at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said: “This is all about listening and building the right homes for Wythenshawe residents and communities. We’re proud to work alongside MCC and Muse to create genuinely affordable, high-quality homes that reflect what local people have told us they want and need, not just for now but for the future too.”

People can share their views on the plans by coming along to a drop-in event at Open Space (Unit 10, The Birtles) on 16^th October (2-6pm) where they can find out more about the homes and the wider plans, talk to the team, and provide their feedback. Questionnaires are also available in the Wythenshawe Town Centre newspapers which are available at various community locations in the town centre and online.

People are being asked to share their feedback by Monday 26^th October, when the consultation closes.

Work has already started on the regeneration of Civic thanks to £20m of funding provided by the UK Government and a further £11.9m from the Council.

The plans include a new Culture Hub, with performance and artist studio space alongside flexible areas for workshops, exhibitions, classes or community events, a new food hall and workspaces to help independent start-ups and local businesses to grow.

A larger public square is also planned, with improved outdoor spaces, including new paving and more trees and plants to make the town centre a much greener and more pleasant space to spend time.

Demolition of the former Peacocks building will start by the end of the year, with work on the Culture Hub, food hall, workspaces and outdoor spaces beginning in early 2026. All of the new spaces at Civic will open in 2027.