A former Roman Catholic church in Lower Broughton could be replaced by 60 new affordable flats under new plans.
Housing provider ForHousing wants to build on the empty site where St Boniface Church used to stand on St Boniface Road. The proposed scheme, which has been handed to Salford City Council, would see two apartment blocks built on the land between St Boniface Road and Frederick Road.
The site has been vacant for more than a decade following the demolition of the original church building in 2014. Since its closure, the local plot has fallen into disrepair, with nearby residents frequently complaining that the empty field had become an eyesore and a magnet for fly-tippers.
If councillors give the go-ahead, the development will bring dozens of much-needed affordable homes to the neighborhood. The plans include 48 one-bedroom flats and 12 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for social rent. A central car park with 51 spaces will sit between the two blocks.
The Modernist Church, constructed between 1960 and 1961 by architects Mather and Nutter, introduced a mid-century design to Lower Broughton that stood until structural asbestos rendered the building unsafe.
Due to declining numbers and shifting demographics, the congregation was subsequently merged with other parishes. The abandoned 1961 church building was demolished in 2014, following its 2004 closure, leaving the corner plot of Frederick Road and St Boniface Road vacant.
The two proposed buildings have been designed to fit in with the local area. One block will be four storeys high facing Frederick Road, while the other will be three storeys high along St Boniface Road.
The buildings will feature traditional red brickwork mixed with modern red cladding. The scheme is being backed by funding from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Developers plan to plant new trees and hedges along the front of the property to create a green border. Inside the grounds, low bushes and ornamental trees will be used to soften the look of the car park, and residents will also have access to a private garden and a wildlife pond that collects rainwater.
Salford City Council will make a final decision on the plans over the coming months. If the project gets the green light, builders hope to start work on the site this winter.
