24 new affordable homes built to Passivhaus standards in Harpurhey
MSV, in partnership with Homes England and Manchester City Council, has welcomed new residents to its new affordable housing development – capped at the Manchester Living Rent – on Parkmount Road in Harpurhey. The new homes are part of Manchester City Council’s ‘Project 500’ which supplements their wider Affordable Housing Programme, by bringing surplus brownfield land in the city back into use.
Charlie Norman, Chief Executive of MSV Housing Group, said:
“This stunning ultra-low energy scheme sits within the existing landscape beautifully – showing how new modern architecture can complement historical and established city buildings. It’s a credit to the architects, AEW, and the contractors, John Southworth, who have thoughtfully brought homes of such an incredibly high standard to the area. It was a pleasure to meet and welcome the new residents today who have just moved in to start a new chapter in their lives.”
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
“This is another excellent scheme by MSV and a great example of the partnership working between the Council and the city’s housing providers. These homes are delivering much needed genuinely affordable housing, capped at the Manchester Living Rent level, and at the gold-standard for energy efficiency – helping the new residents to reduce their bills at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is still hitting households in their pockets.”
Details of the scheme:
Constructed by John Southworth Builders, the scheme will provide 24 high-quality new homes, comprising eight rent-to-buy and sixteen affordable rent homes, including 6 one-bedroom walk-up apartments and 10 three and four-bedroom houses.
All homes are being built to full Passivhaus standards, meaning they are ultra-low-energy and designed for exceptional thermal comfort. Features include super-insulation, excellent airtightness, high-performance windows, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. The homes are entirely gas-free and equipped with air-source heat pumps, resulting in significantly lower energy consumption compared to traditional buildings.
The £6.48 million project, which will be completed when phase 2 hands over next year, strengthens an already vibrant and in-demand neighbourhood. Located less than three miles from Manchester city centre, the site offers excellent access to schools, shops, employment opportunities, and transport links.