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Are you a veteran looking for quality housing? Be part of the BBC’s DIY SOS Big Build for Veterans!

A project to develop a veteran’s community by bringing empty homes back in to use in East Manchester is calling for ex-servicemen and women to come forward to be part of the show. 

Military veterans – including those with families or who are single – could find a new home in the specially established community, while being part of the BBC DIY SOS programme. 

This biggest Big Build ever is being delivered in East Manchester by the BBC’s DIY SOS  team, Manchester City Council, charities  Walking With The Wounded and Haig Housing, Adactus Housing, key contractors Kier, ISG, Wates, Wilmott-Dixon, Rowlinsons, Keepmoat and Mears, BTP Architects, design lead Arcus plus supporting contractors and suppliers. 

The project will improve the street scene to provide disabled access and disabled parking and introduce planting, facelift all 62 properties and refurbish 8 of the 25 empty homes on the streets. 

The refurbishments will create three larger adapted residential homes for veterans and their families, one standard size property and a veteran walk-in support and advice centre - all by the end of September. 

As part of a second phase the remaining 17 empty properties will be refurbished by the charity Haig Housing. Completed properties will offer opportunities for veterans to get on the housing ladder with options including shared equity, discount purchase and rent to buy. 

The aim is to create a veteran’s housing community within the existing community, the advice centre will have a private space for therapy and counselling – run by Walking With The Wounded – and provide a space for the community. Training and employment opportunities are being developed for veterans and existing residents.

If interested or to find out more, please contact the BBC direct on 01179 742173 or diysosheroes@bbc.co.uk

Nick Knowles, the BBC DIY SOS presenter, said: “DIY SOS are coming to Manchester to take on the biggest build we’ve ever attempted. The team, and an army of contractors, are doing-up an entire street for veterans.  We’re taking derelict houses and bringing them back into use and regenerating an inner city area.”

Cllr Bernard Priest, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Through standard housing routes, veterans often have difficulty finding suitable accommodation – especially if they require adapted housing – as well as access to support networks and training opportunities.

“Manchester City Council is committed to supporting veteran integration back into communities via the Veteran Covenant – and we hope this project offers the full range of support services veterans need, while feeding in to the wider regeneration ambitions for East Manchester.” 

Edward Parker, CEO and Co-founder of Walking With The Wounded, said: “Manchester City Council and the BBC’s DIY SOS Big Build project are providing a remarkable opportunity to our veterans. One of our core philosophies at Walking With The Wounded is for our wounded, injured and sick veterans to gain their independence back outside the military, and two of the key factors for this to succeed is a home and a job.  This project will provide both.” 

James Richardson, CEO of Haig Housing, said “this project, which includes so many levels of support for our veterans, is enormously important and a unique opportunity, through working collaboratively, to provide a range of housing options and support for ex-Service personnel in the Manchester area. As the leading provider of housing to the ex-Service community and with our experience in providing specially designed and adapted accommodation for both Service and ex-Service personnel who have been severely wounded and traumatically disabled, we are well placed to deliver homes which meet the needs of our applicants and tenants.” 

Colin Savage, BTP Director said “We know how difficult it is for veterans to find suitable homes, advice and support when re-entering civilian life especially when the housing needs to adapted to meet their physical requirements. These houses and associated facilities will make a tremendous difference to their lives. It makes us proud to be part of this life-changing project. ”

“We are very pleased to be part of the consultant team on such a worthwhile project transforming some of Manchester’s run down terraces into state of the art homes for army veterans and their families,” added Lee Podmore, Quantity Surveyor at BTP.   

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