Architecture by Design
Greenbrow Road had stood vacant for years: a derelict site with a history of anti-social behaviour, overshadowed by the M56 motorway. It is now a new community of 130 homes. A Manchester housing group appointed Architecture by Design as lead architect to unlock the site and deliver lasting social value through careful, sustainable design.
The scheme shows that affordable housing can be built to a high standard, and that community benefit can be designed in from the first day.
The masterplan
Working closely with the client and the wider delivery team, we drew up a masterplan with a considered mix of homes and clear principles on quality, safety and long-term viability. It provides 52 two-bedroom, four-person houses for affordable sale and 78 two-bedroom, four-person apartments for market rent.
Landscaped public spaces and streetscape improvements go alongside the homes, and clear visual boundaries support safety and social cohesion.
Standards and performance
We put compliance and buildability first without giving up architectural quality. Every home was designed to meet or exceed:
- Homes England standards
- Lifetime Homes
- Secured by Design
- Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH)
- Equality Act requirements
BIM visualisations supported early engagement and the sales strategy.
Delivery
The project ran on a partnering contract that brought client, contractor and design team together at an early stage. We used BIM to get the work right first time. Our experience of lean social housing design shaped each stage, balancing efficiency with care for the people who would live there.
- Delivered on time and within budget
- 85% user satisfaction against a target of 80%
The effect on Wythenshawe
Beyond the 130 homes, the development has played a part in the wider regeneration of Wythenshawe. Safety has improved, the neighbourhood has a stronger identity and the architecture has a clear language of its own. A neglected site is now a place people are proud to live.
For another of our community-led schemes, see the Lodge Lane masterplan in Liverpool.
Drawings and images
Architecture by Design
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