Manchester Set For UK's Largest Purpose-Built Village For Rough Sleepers

The wheels are in motion to create the largest village for rough sleepers in the Castlefield district, one of Manchester’s most desirable neighbourhoods. The project is called Embassy Village and will provide much needed homes for 40 men in purpose-built pods underneath 10 railway arches.

The land has been given to the project at no charge on a 125-year lease by Peel Group, who developed MediaCity amongst other notable sites.

Embassy Village was created by Sid Williams, director of the homeless charity Embassy, who will also be managing the project and said all residents would be interviewed and triaged before moving in.

How Embassy Village will look.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted by Manchester City Council earlier this year and received support from 61% of local people.

Embassy have made it clear that residents can stay for a maximum of two years as the project is designed to “give every resident a live trial run at managing a home, cooking, cleaning and paying rent in a sympathetic and supported environment” said Sid Williams.

The first units are due to be available from 2022.