February 11 2005

London architect De Metz has been selected to design the second phase of social housing at New Islington, from a shortlist that included Riches Hawley Mikhail, Studio Egret West, Ash Sakula, Sarah Wigglesworth and Alison Brooks.
Matthew Harrison, deputy chief executive of Manchester Methodist Housing Group, said that De Metz had “clearly demonstrated the spirit of the Alsop framework plan and really won the residents over.”

Julian De Metz said: “We believe the New Islington masterplan creates an exciting model for development in the UK. It’s inherently democratic, both in the way designers are selected and in the development of schemes directly with local communities whilst encouraging design excellence.”

The project, known as Piercy Street, is to provide between 20–25 homes for rent by social landlords, MMHG. Following the successful consultation process undertaken by FAT for the first phase of social housing, De Metz will spend the next few months in discussions with the residents to work up the designs.

Meanwhile Urban Splash used the Urban Summit as an opportunity to launch a new affordable housing initiative with Manchester Methodist Housing Group (MMHG). The scheme will be operated on Will Alsop’s New Islington apartment block, know as Chips, and Moho. The scheme, which will allow key-workers and first time buyers to purchase a percentage of their property, is the first project to get backing from the Housing Corporation following John Prescott’s pre-summit announcement on affordable homes.

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