Ten years of hard work and innovation by Manchester Methodist Housing Association (part of the Great Places Housing Group), Manchester City Council and the local community have transformed the Northmoor area of Longsight.

The first housing association regeneration project to receive Housing Corporation funding for demolition, the Northmoor scheme paved the way for the introduction of the Housing Renewal Programme.

A programme of gradual renewal has seen new houses built, existing houses refurbished, others demolished and, in some cases, two knocked into one to provide
homes for large families. Streets have been remodelled and the UK’s first Home Zone completed. An alley-gating project led to a huge reduction in crime.

An area formerly dogged by empty homes, crime and anti-social behaviour, Northmoor is now a neighbourhood with a 200-strong community association where people want to live.  

Central to the success has been community involvement. “There was a good understanding of the diverse community’s needs,” noted the judges, “and genuine
involvement in the design and detail of the regeneration work.” An ethnic community link officer works with people from the local black and minority ethnic communities who account for 30% of the area’s residents.

More than a dozen organisations have worked with the residents and Great Places, among them the city council’s private sector housing and the environment and development teams. Other partner organisations include the local police, the fire service, the ambulance service and the Streetmates Youth Group.

Improved community safety emerged as a priority for residents, and the introduction of an award-winning community warden scheme, managed and part-funded by Great Places.

Northmoor Community Centre, fashioned from a grade II listed former Co-op building, provides a new focus for the community. Three paid staff supervise the centre, which is used by up to 500 people a week. Services provided include IT drop-in sessions, a homework club, a playgroup and crèche and arts and leisure activities.

“Value for money is a great strength of this project,” commented the judges. “Great Places did not have a large investment pot, but took a long-term view and set about
steadily and pragmatically tackling the problems. It is a great scheme delivering obvious benefits for residents.”