Plans have been revealed for hundreds of homes in Britain's "greenest place to live" - complete with hives on rooftops to help dwindling numbers of honeybees.
The new development in Salford Quays will see Latimer build a 272-unit scheme in Furness Quay called Amplify Apartments, in a bid to further boost the city's green credentials, as well as celebrate Manchester's worker bee heritage.
According to Latimer, 172 homes will be for private sale and 100 homes for shared ownership sale, enabling first-time buyers to make their first step onto the property ladder.
With Salford recently named Britain’s ‘Greenest Place to Live’ by the Centre for Thriving Places and home to the landmark 154-acre RHS Garden Bridgewater, Latimer said it's aiming to mirror the city’s eco-credentials with a sustainability plan of its own.
Julian Cotton, regional sales director at Latimer, said: “During the industrial revolution the Manchester and Salford Docks were the third busiest port in Britain, home to many businesses and the thousands of workers who lived there.
“The area is now firmly established once again as a vibrant, thriving destination in which to live & work.
"Coupled with an abundance of recreational amenities, commercial and residential development in recent years, this has brought new life to the area and made Salford Quays an exciting place with community at its heart.
“The Quays is also home to world-leading attractions like The Imperial War Museum and The Lowry theatre, and we’re seeing that are lot of people are looking to get a piece of the rich cultural and historical backdrop that the area has to offer.
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“With sustainability a growing priority for many people, we wanted to create an eco-friendly building through design, incorporating elements such as the beehives on the rooftop garden to help increase bio-diversity in an urban environment.”
As well as a focus on prioritising spaces and routes for cyclists and pedestrians over cars, Amplify Apartment’s rooftop garden will house a number of beehives, aimed at helping dwindling numbers of honeybees, particularly in urban areas.
Scientists have said urban habitats can provide a "valuable role" in bee conservation, and the development’s landscaped communal rooftop garden is designed to offer maximum pollination for the bees with a broad mix of flowers.
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Latimer also believe that the scheme’s historical location, the former Salford Docks, and character it brings provides a significant draw for buyers.
Latimer, along with contractor Fortis Developments, will complete Amplify Apartments in 2021.
Prospective buyers can register interest and secure their home at the interactive sales and marketing suite located onsite.
Amplify Apartments is the latest investment in the Media City district which is currently home to more than 300 business and 8,000 workers.