Salix Homes, the Salford based social housing provider has handed the keys back to the first residents on Shakespeare Road following upgrade works led to the demolition of a number of houses on the site. Salix has constructed a total of 160 two, three and four bedroomed homes on the housing estate that is also known as Beechfarm. These new properties will replace 146 properties that had historic structural problems and were in need of demolition. Of the new homes that have been built, 120 will be set aside for social housing, and the rest will be affordable homes made available for sale or shared ownership.
The construction work started in January of this year and the development took place in phases in order to reduce the level of disruption caused to residents. Now, the first phase of residents on Shakespeare Road have been given the key to their modern new homes.
The residents were involved throughout the development process and the original residents affected by the demolition were re-housed temporarily. Gail Howell was the chair of the residents steering group and has lived in Shakespeare Road for the majority of her life. Moving onto the street at the age of six with her parents, Gail took the opportunity to take over the house on the after the death of her father. Christine McMullen has also lived on the Road for more than half of her live, and she and Gail have been friend for more than thirty years. It is great that the new development is welcoming back residents that have been neighbours for decades.
The community spirit that is a dominant feature of Shakespeare is expected to remain when all of the residents move back into their plush new and trouble free homes. Seeing old neighbours moving back into new homes together as well as creating new homes to try and ease the housing deficit in the city is a reflection of the proper planning and care of their properties by Salix Homes.
