Fallowfield Triangle, Fallowfield, Greater Manchester

Project type: Social Housing

Requirements: Planning Permission for 14 Apartments and 10 Houses.

RIBA Stages: 0 to 3

This project was for a 24 unit housing development in Fallowfield on behalf of Great Places Housing Group. The scheme is built on a reclaimed Brownfield site, made available when the local Anglican Church closed, and the scaffolding yard sold their land.

I was first involved with this scheme while employed at Ian Finlay Architects Ltd., and assisted the Director, Ian Finlay, in an earlier design, which also included the refurbishment of Platt Lane Methodist Church, as well as the public consultations with local residents and Manchester City Council. The project had unfortunately stalled, but resumed again all be it to a different scale and housing requirements. This time my involvement was through TADW and in partnership with Ian Finlay Architects Ltd.

The new scheme was for the design of 14 two bedroom apartments and 4 four bedroom houses for rent, and 6 three bedroom part-ownership houses. This development would follow the completion of the new Aldi supermarket next to it.

The flats and houses were designed to make a bold impact on this triangular site. The specification was also to a higher standard than the then current Building Regulations, to make them environmentally sustainable, whilst remaining affordable. The scheme was designed in accordance to the 'Code for Sustainable Homes', and used renewables such as PV panels and 'air to water' heat pumps. The buildings were designed to 'Design for Access 2' standards making them ideal for disabled occupants, and older people wanting to down-size. The project was completed in May 2012 at a cost of £2.5m.