Manchester City Council’s housing company, This City, has reached a major milestone with the completion of its first development, No. 1 Ancoats Green, delivering 129 low-carbon homes in the heart of the city. The landmark scheme, built on council-owned brownfield land, includes 119 apartments and 10 townhouses ranging from one
A new 139-home development in Watchet will bring a wide range of community benefits, including affordable homes, green spaces, and over £750,000 in local investment, homebuilder Edenstone has announced. Work is set to begin shortly at Underwood Gardens, located on land south of Doniford Road and Normandy Avenue, following reserved
McLaren Construction Midlands and North has successfully completed Plot 3 of Matrix 49, the landmark industrial and logistics scheme in Avonmouth, Bristol. Delivered on behalf of Equation Properties, the £21.6 million project spans 13 acres and includes a 219,660 sq. ft warehouse and 11,365 sq. ft of office space, alongside
Manchester City Council’s housing company, This City, has reached a major milestone with the completion of its first development, No. 1 Ancoats Green, delivering 129 low-carbon homes in the heart of the city. The landmark scheme, built on council-owned brownfield land, includes 119 apartments and 10 townhouses ranging from one to four bedrooms. As part of its mission to deliver affordable, high-quality housing, 30% of the homes will be let at the Manchester Living Rent, a level that aligns with local housing allowance, making the properties accessible to a wider range of residents. Residents are set to begin moving in over the summer as the final phases of construction wrap up. The new homes overlook the newly revitalised Ancoats Green and are closely integrated with the surrounding public space and park. With city centre amenities on their doorstep, the development also benefits from excellent transport connections and a network of walking and cycling routes. Each property is designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring large triple-glazed windows, top-tier insulation, and airtight construction to keep summer temperatures down and winter bills low. Residents will also have access to the nearby Ancoats Mobility Hub, offering cycle storage, EV charging, and car parking. The Ancoats Green development marks the first step in a much larger programme for This City. A second phase, in partnership with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, is already in the pipeline and is set to deliver more than 1,500 new homes across Manchester. An open day is scheduled for Friday, August 1 at 11am, inviting the public to tour the development, meet members of the project team, and learn more about This City’s future plans. This City plays a key role in delivering Manchester’s housing strategy, which aims to build at least 36,000 new homes between 2022 and 2032—with a minimum of 10,000 for social rent, council housing, or genuinely affordable homes, including 3,000 in the city centre. Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “No. 1 Ancoats Green is the product of a vision we have had since the inception of This City, to use our own land to build the homes we know our residents want and need, to a high specification, and on our own terms. “For many years it has been incredibly challenging for Councils to build homes to meet demand, but through This City we are proving that it is possible – while also delivering genuinely affordable housing for our residents. “This is only the beginning for This City and through our new joint venture partnership with the GM pension fund, we are scaling up delivery and we have more than 1,500 new homes in the coming years with sites across the city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new 139-home development in Watchet will bring a wide range of community benefits, including affordable homes, green spaces, and over £750,000 in local investment, homebuilder Edenstone has announced. Work is set to begin shortly at Underwood Gardens, located on land south of Doniford Road and Normandy Avenue, following reserved matters approval from Somerset Council in June last year. Chris Edge, operations director at Edenstone, said: “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes since our plans were approved and are now gearing up to start work on 139 new homes at Underwood Gardens in Watchet. Addressing local housing need, affordable housing will account for 35% of the development. There’ll be lots of open space for residents to enjoy as we’ll be creating two village greens, a hilltop park with play area, community orchard and seating areas looking towards the Quantock Hills and the Severn Estuary.” In addition to public open space, Edenstone will contribute more than £750,000 in community funding. Most of the money will go towards pre-school and primary education to support the area’s growing population, along with funds earmarked for travel plans. The affordable housing will include one- and two-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom coach houses, and two- to four-bedroom family homes. These will be available through a registered social landlord for both intermediate and social rent. The development will also offer a wide mix of private sale homes, including 20 bungalows, making up more than a fifth of the private homes—two- to four-bedroom houses, and several properties equipped with electric vehicle charging points. Chris Edge added: “Bungalows are the rarest of new builds but will account for more than a fifth of our private sale properties in Watchet. The bungalows will be among the homes that will overlook the new hilltop park and existing woodland. This area will be carefully managed to protect and enhance its biodiversity and ecology, while giving the development a rural or garden suburb feel.” Designed with sensitivity to the character of the local area, the new homes will reference Watchet’s traditional materials and architectural style. A stone dressed hedge bank will mark the entrance, reflecting the area’s rural identity, while tree-lined streets and green corridors will weave through the development, creating a connected network of green spaces. Edenstone expects to release the first homes for off-plan sales this winter, with a show home opening in early 2026. Underwood Gardens will be Edenstone’s second development in Somerset, following the success of Eden’s Green in Bleadon. The company has additional Somerset sites in East Brent and West Huntspill set to launch later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction Midlands and North has successfully completed Plot 3 of Matrix 49, the landmark industrial and logistics scheme in Avonmouth, Bristol. Delivered on behalf of Equation Properties, the £21.6 million project spans 13 acres and includes a 219,660 sq. ft warehouse and 11,365 sq. ft of office space, alongside a control tower, gatehouse, external hard standings, and extensive parking, road landscaping, loading docks, level access and drainage infrastructure. The completion of Plot 3 marks another milestone in the phased development of Matrix 49, which is transforming a 65-acre site into a strategic logistics and industrial hub with strong transport connectivity. Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, Plot 3 demonstrates McLaren’s ongoing commitment to delivering sustainable and future-focused industrial premises. Works included the management of complex ground conditions, a rhine diversion, and close co-ordination with ecological consultants to protect the site’s local water vole population. McLaren Construction are also currently onsite progressing works for Plot 4, a 596,000 sq. ft speculative warehouse development due to complete in April 2026. Building on the successful delivery of Plot 3, the latest phase will further cement Matrix 49’s role as a vital employment and sustainability-led scheme for the region. Gary Cramp, Managing Director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “Completing Plot 3 is a significant step forward in realising the vision for Matrix 49. Our team has worked diligently to deliver high-quality, sustainable space on time and to a high standard. We now look ahead to delivering Plot 4, which will build on the momentum and quality established so far across this transformative scheme.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
