Seventeen self-contained flats in Wythenshawe are set to be refurbished as temporary accommodation for homeless families from Wythenshawe and south Manchester.
The Greenwood Road block in Woodhouse Park has been acquired by Manchester City Council from registered housing provider Mosscare St Vincent’s. The council says the project is part of a wider plan to increase publicly owned temporary accommodation and reduce the need for families to be placed outside their local area.
Work is due to begin this summer and is expected to be completed in December 2026.
Seventeen flats for families near their support networks
The accommodation is intended for families who become homeless and need a temporary place to stay while longer-term housing is arranged. By locating the flats in Wythenshawe, the council says it can keep more families closer to schools, relatives, health services and familiar neighbourhoods in south Manchester.
Out-of-area placements can add pressure at an already difficult point for households, particularly where children are moved away from classrooms, childcare or family support. The Greenwood Road scheme is designed to reduce that disruption by adding local temporary homes in an area where the council says there has been a particular shortage.
The flats will be supported by an accommodation team based on site. Their role will be to help families move on as quickly as possible into permanent settled tenancies and to support residents to be ready for those tenancies.
Refurbished kitchens, bathrooms and shared facilities
Manchester City Council said all 17 flats will be refurbished. Each home is due to receive a new kitchen and bathroom as part of the works.
The plans also include two new laundry rooms for shared use. Gardens at the rear of the building will be improved with raised bedding for residents.
The property’s reuse means an existing residential block will be brought into the council’s temporary accommodation supply rather than relying only on new-build schemes or private placements. The council described the Greenwood Road project as an example of using existing properties to respond to housing pressure.
Deputy Leader Cllr Tracey Rawlins said Manchester needed more temporary accommodation and more 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.”
Wider push to expand temporary accommodation
The Greenwood Road flats form part of a broader council programme to increase the number of temporary homes available across Manchester.
Recent proposals include plans to create accommodation for more than 50 homeless families at Mauldeth House in Chorlton, a derelict former office block. That scheme remains subject to planning permission.
The council has also submitted an application to transform the former Alexandra Park housing office into accommodation for 20 people currently experiencing homelessness.
Together, the schemes point to a strategy of using public ownership and repurposed buildings to reduce reliance on placements away from the city or far from a household’s existing ties. Other UK councils are facing similar pressure on temporary accommodation, with local authorities seeking more stable options for people who have lost housing or are at risk of doing so. A related example can be seen in homelessness support funding in Stoke-on-Trent, where supported housing services have also been extended.
Summer start and December completion target
Refurbishment work at Greenwood Road is scheduled to start in summer 2026. The council’s current timetable is for completion in December 2026.
Once finished, the 17 flats will be used for homeless families from Wythenshawe and south Manchester, with support delivered from the site to help households move into permanent settled homes.
Source: Manchester City Council
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This article is based on Manchester City Council’s published details about the Greenwood Road temporary accommodation project.
- Confirmed the location as Greenwood Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe.
- Checked the stated number of homes against the source: 17 self-contained flats.
- Matched the project timetable to the source: work due to start in summer 2026 and complete...
- Separated confirmed Greenwood Road works from other Manchester schemes still listed as pla...
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- Manchester City Council
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- Manchester
- Updated
- 2026-06-08 00:07
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