Providing 106 sustainable later living homes

A new supported housing development providing homes for people aged 55 years and over, is now complete.

Set over four storeys, there are a mixture of one and two bedroom homes at the Gorton Mill House development.

Built by Rowlinson, and designed by Pozzoni, on behalf of Southway Housing Trust, the scheme comes with a host of features.

In all, there are 106 accessible and adaptable apartments with the option to add wrap-around care when it’s needed.

Other onsite services include a café, landscaped gardens plus a hair and beauty salon. The plan is very much to build strong links within the Gorton community by opening the facilities to local people.

Gorton Mill House will prove to be a great asset for the whole community

Sustainability measures are integral to the scheme including ground source heating and charging points for electric cars. Thanks to the environmental considerations, the building will be around a third more energy efficient to run and, with its lower carbon footprint, will help to keep bills down.

Karen Mitchell, chief executive officer of Southway Housing Trust said: “This scheme is born from a great need and demand for extra care facilities in this area. It will create a wonderful community and environment tailored for older residents, whilst freeing up other much-needed homes for young families too.

“We’ve designed this development with help from other local organisations to ensure that it provides something which really adds to the community and has regenerative effects on the neighbourhood.”

David Chilton, managing director, Rowlinson said: “In Manchester, like the rest of the country, we have an ageing population. This means there’s demand for high quality, supported homes. Gorton Mill House helps address that need. I’m certain it will prove to be a great asset for older people and indeed, the whole community.”

There are 43 one bedroom and 63 two bedroom homes catering for a mixture of needs and all available for social rent.

Gorton Mill House takes its name from the site’s earlier use as an industrial mill. As well as delivering accommodation for older people, the development sees a former brownfield site now back in productive use.

This scheme, together with Elmswood Park at the Depot and Burnage Extra Care, sees Rowlinson delivering 234 supported living homes in all, on three of the four priority extra care schemes in Manchester.

Date published: 01/10/2021