Life in Salford 35 • November 2021 4
Salford’s support for veterans
City Mayor Paul Dennett with the bronze award aboard HMS Prince of Wales in 2019.
Past and present members of the armed forces and their families can count on support in Salford. Salford City Council and ForHousing have both achieved top awards from the Ministry of Defence under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. The awards are for outstanding commitment to supporting defence services within their organisations and the wider armed forces community in the city. Salford City Council, which has a dedicated officer working directly with veterans and their families to overcome housing issues as well as two council champions, was awarded Gold, the highest recognition possible. ForHousing was awarded Silver. Both organisations have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise to ensure that those who serve or have served and their families, are treated fairly, within their community. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Supporting our veterans and armed forces communities is a key priority and I hope other organisations will look at how they can support this work.” Please visit www.salford.gov.uk/veterans or www.forhousing.co.uk/armed-forces-support
Student flats to become affordable accommodation Student flats are being turned into affordable rented accommodation. Mears, which currently manages Bramall Court, a 15-storey tower block on Cannon Street, Salford will invest more than £2 million in refurbishments. In return Salford City Council will lease them and use them for tenants needing affordable or temporary accommodation. It’s the first time the council has worked with a company like this and could be repeated to bring other under-used buildings back to life. City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “There are 115 one bed to four bed flats in the block but it is no longer commercially viable as student accommodation. “However, there is huge demand for housing and particularly high-rise housing in Irwell Riverside where Bramall Court is situated. “Mears will carry out extensive refurbishment including fire safety works, rewiring, putting in new kitchens, bathrooms and decorating the flats and will convert 12 of the three-bedroom flats into two bedrooms as demand for that type of property is higher. They will provide housing and tenancy services. “Salford City Council will allocate tenants to the properties. The first 40 flats will be available before Christmas 2021 with another 40 early in the new year and the remaining 35 by March 2022.”
