Liverpool construction firm Vermont to build 24 homes on a cost-only basis for homeless and vulnerable men in £4.5m project. Tony McDonough reports
A £4.5m project to build a new ‘village’ for homeless and vulnerable men has appointed Liverpool construction firm Vermont.
In 2021 Manchester-based charity, Embassy, joined forces with developers Peel Waters, Capital&Centric and a pro bono team across the city’s business community to bring forward the Embassy Village. It will provide 40 new purpose-built homes in Manchester.
Funding has already been secured for the first 24 homes following a £3.5m donation from the Moulding Foundation. Vermont now signed up to construct the village for no profit.
A further £1m is needed to enable the charity to deliver the full scheme, which was consented by Manchester City Council in 2021.
Set to be ready in late 2025, the village will transform the site below the 22 railway arches between the Bridgewater Canal and River Irwell, on land provided by Peel Waters, into a housing-led community.
As well as the homes it will also offer a village hall, lots of green space, mini allotments to grow vegetables and a multi-use sports area.
Vermont chief executive Mark Connor said: “Vermont is delighted to be supporting Embassy, the Moulding Foundation, Peel Waters, Capital&Centric, as well as the rest of the Manchester business community in delivering this fantastic project.
“Homelessness is a massive challenge and a responsibility for us all to help in solving. Vermont has committed to ensuring the scheme can be delivered and the accommodation available in 2025 for those people that need it most.”
Average time waited in shelters in Manchester and Salford is now estimated at 10 to 15 years for council housing.
Even then, more than 50% of those finally housed choose to return to the streets because of loneliness and feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of managing their first home.
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The Embassy Housing project is a live dress rehearsal at managing a home. People are housed from day one and stay an average of 14 months.
92% of residents have moved on to remain housed – usually with a full time job and no further need for benefits. Embassy is also planning to open a separate facility to help homeless women.
Sid Williams of Embassy added: “To be starting construction soon is a huge moment for Embassy and we can’t thank all the partners and friends that have helped us along the way enough.
“Taking on a project of this scale is unprecedented but Manchester is a pioneering city and we’ve been overwhelmed by the support from businesses and the public to make this happen.”