Manchester flats to help homeless families

By Beehive Web Newsroom
Published: 8 June 2026

Seventeen self-contained flats in Wythenshawe are set to be refurbished as temporary accommodation for homeless families from the local area and south Manchester.

The block on Greenwood Road in Woodhouse Park has been acquired by Manchester City Council from registered housing provider Mosscare St Vincent’s. The council says the scheme is part of a wider push to increase the number of publicly owned temporary homes available in the city.

Work is due to begin in summer 2026, with the refurbishment scheduled for completion in December 2026.

Temporary homes close to existing support

The flats are intended for families who have become homeless but need to stay close to schools, relatives, health services, work and other support networks in Wythenshawe and south Manchester.

Manchester City Council said the Greenwood Road project is designed to reduce the need for out-of-area placements. Those placements can move families away from familiar neighbourhoods at a time when they are already dealing with housing insecurity.

The approach reflects a wider issue facing many councils: demand for temporary accommodation has risen while settled social and affordable housing remains under pressure. Similar local housing pressures have led other authorities to look again at dedicated accommodation models, including council-backed alternatives to B&B placements.

New kitchens, bathrooms and shared laundry rooms

Each of the 17 flats will be refurbished with a new kitchen and bathroom. The council also plans to create two shared laundry rooms for residents.

Gardens at the rear of the Greenwood Road property will be improved with raised beds for residents’ use. The site will also have an accommodation team based on-site to support families while they are living there.

That support is expected to focus on helping residents move into permanent settled tenancies as quickly as possible. The council said this includes helping people become tenancy-ready while they are in temporary accommodation.

Wider plans for council-owned accommodation

The Greenwood Road scheme is one of several projects being brought forward by Manchester City Council to increase temporary accommodation within the city.

In Chorlton, plans have been proposed to create accommodation for more than 50 homeless families on the site of Mauldeth House, a derelict former office block. That scheme remains subject to planning permission.

An application has also been made to convert the former Alexandra Park housing office into accommodation for 20 people who are currently experiencing homelessness.

Together, the projects show the council is trying to use existing buildings to expand its temporary housing stock rather than relying only on external placements or emergency options.

December completion target

Deputy Leader Cllr Tracey Rawlins said Manchester had identified a need for more temporary accommodation, particularly council-owned accommodation.

“We’re doing a lot to support people so that they don’t become homeless in the first place,” she said. “But we’re also determined to increase our stock of quality temporary accommodation – especially in Wythenshawe and south Manchester where there has been a particular shortage – to prevent people who do end up experiencing homelessness from being uprooted from their social support networks.”

Cllr Rawlins said the use of existing properties, including the Greenwood Road flats, was “part of the answer”.

She added that support for families in temporary accommodation would remain central to the scheme: “It’s also important that where people do find themselves in temporary accommodation, they are supported to find permanent settled homes and be tenancy-ready. We are providing this support.”

Source: Manchester City Council

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Source check Source trail

This report is based on Manchester City Council’s published details about the Greenwood Road temporary accommodation project.

Checks

• Confirmed the location as Greenwood Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe.
• Checked the stated refurbishment plan for 17 self-contained flats.
• Verified the council’s stated timeline of summer 2026 start and December 2026 completion.
• Included the council’s stated reason for reducing out-of-area placements.

Manchester City Council Check wider coverage

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Manchester City Council

Scope

Manchester

Updated

2026-06-08 01:14

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Tracey Rawlins

#Greenwood Road#Manchester homelessness#Mosscare St Vincent’s#south Manchester families#temporary accommodation#Woodhouse Park#Wythenshawe housing

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