Manchester homeless village to be built under bridge

The charity amended their initial plan to use shipping containers after costs rose during the pandemic

A village for homeless people is set to be built in railway arches.

Plans to assemble 40 homes, a hall and a green space alongside the Bridgewater Canal in Manchester were approved by the city council on Thursday.

Sid Williams, director of the homeless charity Embassy, said the scheme would provide daily support.

Developer Capital & Centric described it as a "trailblazing" project that would "take a holistic approach to battling homelessness".

Embassy, who are running the project, said all residents would be interviewed and triaged before moving in.

It said the Castlefield site would have a strict zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy and the homes would be offered to those willing to take on new opportunities.

The charity said 85% of people living on streets are men so the scheme would be offered to them.

A project for women is being launched separately, a spokesman added.

The charity's original plan was to use shipping containers but Mr Williams said due to rising costs during the coronavirus pandemic the homes would be built using "traditional bricks and mortar".

The village will be built in the railway arches between the River Irwell and the Bridgewater Canal

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said staff would manage the site around the clock.

Mr Williams said he was "ecstatic" and added the scheme would "help get people back on their feet".

"The idea is to give people a front door," he told BBC Radio Manchester, adding that it would enable homelessness to be "nipped in the bud quickly".

"The whole thing is a live run in managing a home."

The site is owned by Peel L&P which is working together with Capital & Centric and the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity to deliver the scheme.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity said the group was "thrilled" with the decision.

"Stable, supported accommodation such as this is crucial to addressing rough sleeping and homelessness, acting as a stepping stone for people to move onto the next, positive chapter of their lives," she added.