RESIDENTS who thought they were moving into dream homes say they are turning into a nightmare, after encountering damp, leaking windows and a host of other problems.
The first families moved into Islington Square, Ancoats, less than a year ago, but now many are complaining of damp on the ceilings, cracks in walls and broken boilers.
When the M.E.N visited four different households we saw a number of problems.
All had wet patches on bedroom or kitchen ceilings, one had a big crack next to a light switch and all had minor problems, such as badly fitted cupboards, loose door knobs and draughty windows.
In one house, black mildew appeared in an upstairs bedroom where water had seeped through the flat roof - although the problem has now been dealt with.
The 23 homes - with their distinctive, brightly coloured facades - were the first to be completed in the `
New Islington Millennium Community
' which is being developed by Urban Splash, English Partnerships, New East Manchester and the Manchester Methodist Housing Association.
Islington Square is mainly social housing so was developed by the Methodist Housing Association.
'Appalling'
One resident said: "The workmanship is appalling. There was black mould growing on my ceiling, and our boilers were faulty."
Another woman added: "I've had lots of leaks, doors coming off and an upstairs window almost fell in."
The situation has also worried neighbours on the other side of the Rochdale Canal, who will lose their homes to redevelopment too. More than 200 council-built properties dating from the 1960s and 1970s will be replaced.
Work will be carried out by the Renaissance consortium, the only links to Islington Square being proximity, location within the New East Manchester regeneration zone and the fact many residents are friends. Pensioner Beryl Nicholson, 64, said: "The problems with Islington Square have really worried us. We don't want the same to happen to us."
Manchester Methodist Housing Association admits boilers are being replaced at every property at Islington Square and that damp courses will be redone.
Deputy chief executive Matthew Harrison said: "We are confident we will find solutions and we are asking residents to bear with us in the meantime."
An Urban Splash spokeswoman added: "As with all new properties, there are often issues to deal with. Manchester Methodist Housing is doing all it can to solve these problems."
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Makes you despair. The 21st century, and things are worse not better.
All new houses now seem to be thrown up within days, unlike the properties built years ago which had better workmanship and were built to last.
I know it's a matter of taste but I think the properties at New Islington are awful. Their distinctive style does not suit the area and they look cheap.
From looking at the photographs I would say that we have made the same mistakes all over again. Ready made slums, what are they thinking about, we went through all this with the Hulme project which won an award and then had to be bulldozed, will we never learn?
They are awful and remind me of windmills for some bizarre reason! Ms D is right, just quickly thrown up and, I know I'm going to sound like an old bid but they really dont make them like they used to!
Nice idea but badly constructed.What a sham,and to think that the council are demolishing better property that could be updated and look better than these like the project in mosside where they made the living area upstairs in old property,And gave them balconies.(Making old property new?)
These houses look dreadful. Who on earth allowed them to be built? They look like a large scale version from lego land! I pitty the people who will have to live in them.
Im sorry but i think they look nice if they were built to a good standard,Its time we had colour in our city and different shapes ,but they need to be built of better quality rather than gerry built slums of the future...
i agree with ace that the council should redevelop existing properties to retain the historical look of manchester. these new houses look like they were designed and built by four year olds.
marc you only have to walk around the manchester area to see how badly designed some of our modern city is?Just look at the monster they have just built "beethan towers" a very large elongated box.That looks terrible like other boxes anywhere on the globe.We at least had some individual homes and offices ,but now they are trying to make manchester a clone of any other city..Very small minded designers.grey just like the concrete they use.
How many times has someone said to you, 'wow, that's gone up quick'! Enough said.
Gone are the days of quality workmanship. It's all about tight building programmes and developers needing people in their housing to get the cash rolling.