Project partners met with groundworks apprentice Jayden Thompson to see the positive work being completed as it brings large-scale regeneration to the area.
Seddon and Irwell Valley Homes have partnered to deliver Greater Manchester’s biggest estate regeneration in over a decade. The landmark project in Sale West has delivered 39 new homes for social rent, with a further 40 due for completion over the next twelve months. It is being delivered in tandem with a £7m home improvements plan for the estate. So far, 600 roofs have been replaced on existing properties and more than 40 new kitchens fitted, with an additional 200 due before April 2023.
Now, the partners of the project have visited the site to get a first-hand glimpse of the positive progress being made. They met with Jayden Thompson, a groundworks apprentice for Argyle, a sub-contractor of Seddon who grew up on the estate. Thompson is proud to have an integral role in its regeneration, creating a lasting legacy for his community.
Jayden said: “Growing up on the estate, it’s good to see the positive changes taking place – I’m happy to be part of it. In years to come, I’ll walk down the street and think ‘I helped to do this’.”
Thompson was speaking to partners at an event organised by Irwell Valley Homes to showcase the £50m project’s progress. He was joined by Councillor Andrew Western, Clean Air, Regeneration and Housing lead for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Leader of Trafford Council.
Guests were also able to see wider improvements being made to the estate, alongside the building of 79 new social housing properties. Those works include car park improvements, re-surfacing work and new street signage, with improved footpaths, cycle ways and community spaces also due to pertain a key element to the site’s large-scale regeneration.
Sasha Deepwell, Chief Executive of Irwell Valley Homes, said: “We were delighted to welcome our partners to Sale West to find out more about the impact we’re making.
“The need for more affordable housing has never been more urgent as the cost-of-living crisis hits communities hard, which is why we’re really pleased the new homes on Sale West are for social rent - priced around 40% lower than the market rate for the area. The new homes and improvements are being delivered alongside significant investment in the local community to create opportunities, boost economic mobility and raise aspirations for local people.”
Jonathan Seddon, CEO at Seddon Group Ltd echoed those sentiments. He said: “Seddon is dedicated to providing a lasting legacy and social value with the work that we do and Sale West is a powerful example of what can be achieved. Jayden’s personal connection to the project makes for an inspiring story as together we strive to improve our communities and help tackle the area’s social housing shortage, alongside our hardworking delivery partners.”
In addition, the scheme also benefits from funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Its funds are being used across a variety of environmental projects to improve the biodiversity of the area, including building new homes for wildlife - with bird boxes, swift bricks, bat boxes, bug hotels, hedgehog highways and tree planting. The funds also extend to the creation of five new natural play spaces developing and improving new community spaces.
Kerry Dawson, chair of the Sale West Community Allotment, received a portion of the grant to improve the allotment space. She said: “Growing fruit and veg is especially helpful given how much food prices have gone up. We’re really pleased to have benefited from this funding and it’s already making a difference to the community.”