Affordable homes plan scaled back in £2.5bn scheme

The Crescent scheme in Salford is expected to cost about £2.5bn

Plans for affordable homes in part of a major regeneration project look set to be scaled back.

Forty-two units in the Adelphi Village phase of the £2.5bn Crescent Salford plan would instead be sold at market value. They would also no longer be built to the "passive house" standard that would make them highly energy efficient and keep down fuel costs.

A report to Salford City Council said the homes would still be built to "robust sustainability credentials".

The report added that there were "significant viability challenges" and stated that the development firm - a partnership including Homes England - was asking the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for help with funding.

'Viability gap'

Salford City Council said last year that there were up to 5,000 people registered as waiting for affordable housing in the city.

In February this year a development in Peru Street, including about 100 eco-friendly homes to be built to the "passive house" standard, was "topped out".

In total, the Adelphi Village part of the scheme will include about 700 homes.

It is being developed by ECF, a joint venture involving Homes England, Legal & General and Muse, Salford City Council and the University of Salford.

The report to the council's planning committee recommended the approval of the amended proposals.

It said: "Both the council and university have worked closely with ECF to develop the proposals for the Farmer Norton site in the context of the wider Adelphi Village area.

"The partners are in agreement that the scheme is of a high quality and the [Greater Manchester Combined Authority] Brownfield Housing Funding opportunity would bridge the viability gap and "enable delivery of the scheme."

The report will be considered at a planning meeting on 8 September.

Max Bentham development director at ECF, said: "The homes which form Farmer Norton Phase 1 will now be available for open market sale to ensure delivery of a high-quality, mixed tenure, sustainable community that provides homes to meet the needs of different people across Salford.

"Farmer Norton Phase 1 will form part of the wider Adelphi Village, which also includes Willohaus – 100 affordable, Passivhaus certified apartments which are currently under construction. Across the rest of the masterplan, there are also plans for additional affordable and highly sustainable new homes."