An abandoned former women’s hostel in Salford is being transformed into social housing.
Running the project is the Salford based multi-award winning social housing provider, Salix Homes.
Lee Sugden, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “We are delighted to announce the start of work at Joan Lestor House, which has stood vacant for more than five years.
It’s such a shame to see these sorts of buildings left to go to rack and ruin when for a little investment they could be transformed into desperately needed housing, and this project is just one of several that Salix Homes is involved with across Salford to repurpose empty buildings into homes”.
Joan Lestor House on Ellesmere Street, Little Hulton, has been empty for more than five years. This has seen the location become a target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Salix Homes purchased the site last year and have now released plans to convert it into nine modern, one and two bedroom apartments for social housing rent.
Across the nation affordable housing is becoming more in demand. In March 2018 the government reported that there were 47,355 affordable homes delivered in England. This was an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2017.
On a more local level, Lee Sugden explained: “We desperately need more of the right types of homes that people can afford and our investment at Joan Lestor House will bring nine, modern homes to the social housing market at a time when there isn’t nearly enough social housing being built”.
Speaking about the communities thoughts on the redevelopment, Sugden claimed: “We are also confident that the local community will be relieved to see this abandoned site, which has become a real eyesore in the area, finally occupied and given a new lease of life.
Salix Homes will be working alongside it’s partner contractor Emanuel Whittaker to remodel the building and transform the site.
Managing director at Emanuel Whittaker, Clive Newton, said: “We are delighted to work in partnership once again with Salix Homes on another important regeneration project in Salford. We know it will make an immense impact on the neighbourhood and provide much-needed social housing for local people”
The £800,000 project has been partially funded by a £234,000 grant from Homes England Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme.
Joan Lestor House was named after the Labour MP Baroness Lestor of Eccles. The building was built in 1999 and provided a refuge for single homeless women until it closed down.
Over the past three years Salix Homes have overseen various projects to regenerate empty buildings across the areas. These include: a derelict homeless hostel in Kersal – The Hive – which is now providing homes for young people, and a former sheltered housing complex – Alexander Gardens in Broughton – which is providing homes for workers at Salford Royal Hospital.
Work is currently underway and is expected to be complete by next summer.
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