Embassy Village is a project that looks to create a nurturing community for people experiencing homelessness in Manchester. We have helped design 40 supported residences beneath the historic Castlefield railway arches.

Embassy Village was conceived as a pioneering solution to address homelessness in Manchester, initiated by the Embassy charity with support from various other stakeholders including the Mayor’s charity, Capital and Centric and the Mouldling Foundation. By providing homeless people with their own front door in a purpose-built location, Embassy Village will help residents gain valuable experience in managing a home within the safety of a supported environment.

Located beneath the city’s railway arches in Castlefield, the scheme will transform an underutilised space into high-quality accommodation and social facilities. Embassy engaged us post-planning to refine the design and ensure the project could be delivered despite site complexities and evolving construction requirements.

The original vision for the project involved repurposing shipping containers to create compact, modular living spaces. However, significant site constraints, including limited access beneath the railway arches and regulatory restrictions meant this approach became unfeasible.

We were brought on board to refine the scheme, ensuring it was deliverable within the constraints of the site. Our team worked closely with stakeholders, including Transport for Greater Manchester and Network Rail, to develop a revised design that embraced lightweight traditional construction methods while maintaining the project’s core vision. This involved meticulous spatial planning to maximise the usable area within a heavily constrained footprint, balancing accessibility, safety regulations, and the practicalities of construction.

Beyond design, we also played a key role in value engineering, ensuring that costs remained manageable amid rising construction prices. Owing to the tight nature of the site, we also supported a phased delivery strategy that would ensure the site was never overloaded with materials.

Embassy Village is now under construction with site clearance complete and foundation works underway. We continue to support the project through the final coordination of servicing strategies, whilst also ensuring the seamless delivery of essential infrastructure such as electricity and drainage.

Once finished, the project will provide safe, dignified accommodation for those in need, creating a stable foundation for residents to rebuild their lives. By overcoming significant constraints and working in close collaboration with stakeholders, we have helped transform a disused urban site into a meaningful, long-term asset for Manchester’s homeless community.