Case Study - Manchester Road

The Manchester Road area had previously been dominated by 11 high rise blocks and was plagued by poverty and drug-related anti-social behaviour, including the cuckooing of properties.

Attempts at engagement with the community and encourage working age residents to get into work were mostly unsuccessful and the area was in desperate need of regeneration.

The design of the homes was causing additional problems. While the homes were generous in size, layouts were not fit for purpose. Living spaces were inconveniently placed at the rear of properties, meaning visitors would have to walk past bedrooms and bathrooms.

The design of the site also meant that it was easy for offenders of all kinds to remain hidden.

These mounting issues this meant that there was little community spirit in the area, with people feeling isolated and intimidated by crime, contributing to the sense of an area irretrievably in decline.

The regeneration of the area began in 2021 with the demolition of eight tower blocks. These blocks had been under-occupied due to poor design that had resulted in high crime, antisocial behaviour and plummeting demand.

In their place, Incommunities committed to delivering 107 family homes better suited to customer requirements, with a mix of tenures. These including affordable rent (53), rent-to-buy (37) and shared ownership (17).

It was essential that the new homes would complement the existing housing provision while raising the area’s future aspirations. This was done through the thoughtful use of scale and materials, including modern 3-storey townhouses which complement the higher density city buildings.

The new homes maximise the potential for natural daylighting. The scheme is sympathetic to the immediate suburban area and uplifts it, while also working with the many site constraints which results in a linear form with clear lines of sight along the street scenes. The broader site was designed to integrate seamlessly into the existing urban design, connecting with the new pedestrian and cycleways and supporting Bradford Council’s sustainable transport aspirations.

Construction on the £15.3m scheme began with Vistry Partnerships in May 2022 and completed on time, with the first homes occupied in February 2024 and final handovers in December the same year.

The scheme received joint funding of £7.3 million, with £6.1 million from Homes England and £1.2 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. This investment supported the delivery of higher-quality homes and played a key role in regenerating the local community.

The regeneration of Manchester Road has directly contributed to reversing economic decline by replacing outdated and under-occupied tower blocks with 107 new family homes, addressing local housing demand and creating a safer, more stable community.

The impact of this regeneration scheme extends beyond its red line, as a catalyst to the wider regeneration of Bradford City Centre.

By providing new homes, the project has contributed to the local economy supporting local businesses and services. Improving accessibility to public transport, local schools, and Bradford city centre further enhances residents’ opportunities for employment and education.

Offering safe, sustainable housing helps to address the root causes of poverty and improve the immediate prospects for residents while also uplifting the community and embedding hope for the future.

Demand for properties has been overwhelming, demonstrating how well the project had been received by the Bradford community. On the 19 affordable rented properties handed over to date, there were 394 bids for 3-bedroom houses and 1,002 bids for 2-bedroom houses.

There is evidence that average values in the immediate vicinity have risen around 50% since 2021 (£164 per sq ft to £240 per sq ft).

What you’ll find at Manchester Road now is a vastly improved quality of residential properties available to the area, sound and well-constructed dwellings that will sustain the local community for many years to come.

Matus Popik said:
“This house is great for our family. We have four children, so having all this space is really good for us. We used to live in BD8, but this location is much better for us. We have lovely neighbours, and it’s very handy being so close to the centre of Bradford.”

Summayar Bashir said:
“The whole process of moving into my new home was handled brilliantly by the team at Incommunities, and it continues to be a great experience for me and my children. I’m on the rent-to-buy scheme. It gives me so much hope knowing that I have the option of buying my home in the future, and at the minute, I have the security of having a registered landlord that does things properly. 
 
“If I have any issues, I call the team, and they just sort it for me – it’s great.  Our home and the street that we live on are perfect for us. It’s a lovely safe cul-de-sac so the kids can play out. I’m a nurse, and the house is close to my work and very handy for the local schools. For me, it’s a 10 out of 10!”