Brunswick wins at National Housing Awards
The Brunswick neighbourhood in Ardwick, Manchester, scooped ‘Best Regeneration Project 2023’ at the prestigious Inside Housing Development awards in London recently.
S4B, the consortium behind the £106m project, is made of four specialist organisations on behalf of Manchester City Council: North West housing association Onward Homes; repairs and maintenance specialist Mears; construction firm Vistry Partnerships; led by independent investor Equitix.
Originally built in the 1960’s for Manchester City Council, the S4B consortium was commissioned to carry out the 25-year programme that has delivered a transformative regeneration of the area in the last ten years.
Since its launch in 2014, S4B has refurbished more than 650 council homes, built 500 new properties for sale and rent, helping local people put down roots in the area, along with a 60-apartment purpose built Extra-Care scheme for the over 55s.
The new homes will help to deliver Manchester’s residential growth strategy, providing much-needed quality housing in the city. The homes have been designed to be future-proofed for generations to come, with various improvement works to improve overall energy efficiency.
But S4B isn’t just about bricks and mortar, there is so much more on offer and so much has been achieved. As well as providing new homes, the area has been transformed into a thriving new community with play areas, allotments and a community orchard with over 700 trees planted across the neighbourhood by the end of 2023.
S4B also works closely with local community groups such as Brunswick Tenants and Residents Association and Manchester Young Community Champions to provide a variety of events such as fun days and sports activities for the whole family, especially during the holidays. They also have regular community group sessions working with local partners such as Brunswick Church and Chorlton on Medlock Allotment Society.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “We are pleased to see the investment and regeneration that has been achieved in Brunswick by S4B. More than a thousand homes built or refurbished for sale and social rent is really welcome – creating a legacy for local residents and future generations. This is a close knit, lasting and thriving community and this award is deserved recognition for nearly a decade of intense work to regenerate this area.”
Speaking on behalf of S4B, Joanne Danaher, Director of Housing and Home Ownership at Onward Homes, said:
“In the last ten years, we have worked with our local partners and customers to deliver major improvements across Brunswick from improvements to existing homes and building new ones to cater to the different needs of local residents. The end result is a thriving community that brings together modern homes alongside quality green spaces and community facilities within walking distance from Manchester City Centre.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and all the community groups and customers that have helped us alongside this journey. Your support has been invaluable and we look forward to building on this success in the future.”