'Sacred geometry' basis for masterplan in new Manchester mixed use development

The detailed plans for Gorton Monastery Village in Gorton, east Manchester have been approved by Manchester City Council, giving the go-ahead for work to start on site. The scheme will comprise 69 two and three storey family houses on a 1.9 hectare (4.7 acre) site next to Gorton Monastery, just three miles east of Manchester City Centre.

National housebuilder, Gleeson, along with their architects Taylor Young, has designed eight unique house types specifically for this scheme that offer a range of sizes and layouts from two to four bedrooms. This includes 19 detached, 34 semi-detached and 16 terraced houses. All houses will benefit from a private garden and an allocated parking space. A tree lined boulevard will run through the centre of the scheme and an area of public open space has been incorporated into the scheme to create a family orientated feel.

Gleeson Regeneration Ltd, with Taylor Young as their architects, were selected as the preferred developer team for the project following a development competition run by national regeneration agency English Partnerships, urban regeneration company New East Manchester and the Gorton Monastery Trust, with the support of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment.

New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a partnership between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is NEM's role to implement the Regeneration Framework, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects as well as co-ordinate the range of regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.

The three storey townhouses on Gorton Lane will have metal railings to the front creating an attractive street scene reminiscent of the historical properties formerly found in the area. The new houses will be built in a traditional style with brick walls, slate effect roof tiles, stone parapets and cills, timber style doors and juliet balconies. In keeping with both the Victorian industrial and residential architecture in the area, paired gables and generous proportions have been incorporated into the design including large, long windows that will create a light, airy feel.

The housing development, which is believed to be the first in the UK to use aspects of sacred geometry as a basis for its masterplan, sits next to the historic Pugin designed grade II* Gorton monastery and is designed to achieve an 'excellent' Eco homes rating giving the homes very high insulation standards, energy saving appliances, off-street parking and cycle and bin storage.

This scheme is also designed to meet national regeneration agency English Partnerships Lifetime Homes standards, which promote housing that is flexible, adaptable and robust to changing social and demographic trends. Lifetime Homes have 16 design features (both interior and exterior) that ensure a new house or flat will meet the needs of most households.
Work is due to start in the autumn.