Work has started to build eight new ‘move-on homes’ for the homeless in Salford. The site at Eccles New Road is the first of two sites in Salford to deliver critically needed homes as part of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, known as RSAP. The scheme also incorporates six affordable two-bedroom houses. Salford has seen an increase in homelessness since 2012. This includes sofa surfers, rough sleeping, unstable accommodation, or people at risk of homelessness or struggling to keep a home. Salford city council, developer Identity Consult and architects Buttress are working towards this by developing the two sites – the current one at Eccles New Road and one in the development pipeline in Weaste. The move-on homes are specifically designed to provide all the elements of a home in a small, compact design. The aim is to provide the occupier with a comfortable and secure base from which to establish themselves with an address, a bank account and through to employment. Salford city mayor Paul Dennett said: “As part of our long-term strategy to ensure that everyone has a home, this is a key project to start on-site for Salford. “This project is a crucial part of the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme and reflects our dedication to addressing homelessness.” Councillor Tracy Kelly, deputy city mayor and lead member for housing, property and regeneration said: “By working with local partners and the community, we can build homes that enable people to live independently and move forward with our vision of providing stability and security for the occupants. “We are creating more than just shelters; we are fostering a sense of home for those individuals.” The design team at Buttress Architects worked with the local charity, Salford Loaves and Fishes and Salford’s homeless community to ensure that the designs worked for the individuals. The new homes use domestic housing references in their design. The two-storey self-contained apartments have pitched roofs and are clad in red brick to correlate with the local area. Ben Tabiner from Buttress said: “From the very beginning, we approached the design by including all the normal elements that a domestic house would have ensuring that the occupant feels valued and secure. “Another important element was to ensure that each unit had its own front door, which not only gave a sense of home but enabled the occupier to have a formal address and therefore a bank account and employment opportunities.” Identity Consult will project manage the entire supply chain and construction process across the site with PLP as its main contractor. Identity Consult director Alex Atkinson said: “I am a huge advocate of collaboration between the public and private sector, especially in a project such as this which will create much-needed housing for the homeless community. “ The homes are due to be completed in the summer 2024.
