Social landlord Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council are drawing up plans for a 1,400-home project in central Manchester. The proposals include around 380 social homes, shops and business space. The council is expected to approve the masterplan next month. However, the trust this week warned that a funding shortfall of up to £15m for the 10-year project could be created if social rents are lowered next month. DTZ advises the council.
Uni seeks digs partner
The University of Reading is seeking a partner to lease and manage the bulk of its student flats for between 25 and 125 years. The contract will include the development of halls of residence for the university, which owns more than 4,000 rooms on 13 sites. Submissionsare requested by 15 September.
HCA to take eco-town lead
The Homes and Communities Agency shouldtake over the government’s eco-town programme as part of its “single conversation” with local authorities, a government consultation has proposed. The paper details how £60m of funding would be available to the four selected schemes.
Repossession sales hit £11bn
Around £11.3bn of repossessed homes have been sold since August 2007, according to whitehotproperty.co.uk. The website reported that 80,000 properties had been repossessed and sold at an average price of £140,630, rising to £151,700 in Q2 2009 – a 6.4% discount to the general market.
Seven-year ban for director
The director of a land banking company has been banned from being a director for seven years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. Timothy Wren, of Ormskirk in Lancashire, made £3.5m selling 300 plots of agricultural land to investors in Derbyshire, Merseyside and Cheshire.
