The project is Phase 3 of the New Islington development, the latest phase of the HCA’s Millennium Community in Manchester. The scheme - christened ‘The Guts’ by residents owing to the site’s central position in the ‘belly’ of the New Islington masterplan - provides 18 affordable homes for residents of the former Cardroom Estate who are set to return to the area. Addressing the need in the area for large family homes we have created a series of distinct semi-detached dwellings. Each house has its own identity achieved by changing the brick colour at first floor level. The houses are bound together by a red brick wall at ground floor, which continues beyond the building envelope to become garden walls thus forming a perimeter block. Each house is designed to generous space standards and with private garden and on-plot parking. The project was realised to a tight design and construction programme in response to funding timetables. It was completed in April 2012.