Manox, our housing project in Miles Platting, Manchester, was granted unanimous planning approval on Thursday.

The proposals focus on the creation of a family-orientated neighbourhood along the Rochdale Canal, through a fine-grained network of streets, low-rise housing types and communal open spaces, designed to foster a genuine sense of neighbourliness and community. The design features a variety of different family houses, with some apartment buildings at key locations within the masterplan.

The 410 new homes are a mix of shared ownership, build to rent, affordable rent and rent to buy. The proposals also include 744sqm of commercial space for local businesses, a community hub space and a café along the canal.

The northern half of the 6.4 hectare site is an industrial area formerly occupied by a blue dye factory and is owned by NPL Landcare. The southern half, owned by Manchester City Council, is currently covered by grassland.

The design creates a legible and clear street hierarchy with active frontages overlooking external, social spaces, which all knit into the existing street pattern of the wider neighbourhood, and re-establish the historic grain. The urban form of the masterplan has been derived from the adjacent, existing Victorian terraced housing, with rear yards and rear alleyways, which have been re-interpreted as shared outdoor spaces that encourage social interaction and a sense of community.

Congratulations to the whole team, who all appreciate quite what a feat this is. A very big thank you in particular to: Matt F, Liam, Patricia C, Archie, Rosa, Andrew, Marcus, Mark T, Georgia, Timmy and Artur.