Manchester City Council-owned development company 'This City' has commenced construction on 128 new low-carbon homes in Ancoats, UK.

The development will feature 118 units stretched over two buildings, which is a combination of 27 one-bedroom and 91 two-bedroom residences.

It will also feature ten townhouses with eight three-bedroom and two four-bedroom properties, overlooking the renovated public park Ancoats Green.

A third of the houses will be offered at the Manchester Living Rent rate, which sets rent amounts at or below the government-set Local Housing Allowance rate.

This implies that the housing units will be affordable to residents receiving full housing benefits, extending the housing option for low-income individuals who live around the city centre. The remaining properties will be put up for rent at current market rates.

This city is repurposing a long-term brownfield site on Rodney Street in Ancoats, delivering homes in a location that provides residents easy access to nearby public transit, cycling, and pedestrian paths.

Each townhouse will boast off-street parking, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and private gardens at the rear. There will be seven disabled parking spots on the development site, each with its own EV charging station.

The Rodney Street development will get a boost from an additional £32m investment package supported by Homes England in this portion of Ancoats, allowing 1,500 new homes to be built.

Manchester City Council councillor Gavin White said: “Marking our first start-on-site for This City is a real moment for us. The aim for This City is about using council-owned land to build the homes that our residents need, that our residents can affordable [afford], in locations they want to live. Rodney Street exemplifies this vision.

“The regeneration journey of Ancoats over the last 20 years has been a remarkable achievement, and this development continues that story, creating low-carbon homes and affordable housing options in the city centre, complemented by quality green space and sustainable transport options.”