Greenbrow Social Club

Location
Wythenshawe, Manchester
Client
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
People

The Brief

This development in Wythenshawe has transformed a vacant site into 23 new homes through a carefully considered mix of apartments, smaller homes and family housing. At the heart of the project was a commitment to increasing affordable housing choice, creating opportunities for households at different stages of life and supporting a diverse, resilient community.

Greenbrow is a £4m affordable housing development on the site of a former social club in Wythenshawe. Delivered for Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, it provides 23 homes: 15 one and two-bedroom apartments and eight three and four-bedroom family houses. At the heart of the project was a commitment to increasing affordable housing choice, creating opportunities for households at different stages of life and supporting a diverse, resilient community.

Impact

Inspired by Wythenshawe’s garden-city character, we have designed 23 affordable homes framed by retained trees and new landscaping.

Our Role

BTP provided architectural services, designing homes that respond to local housing need and sit comfortably alongside neighbouring properties. We worked with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and contractor Casey to bring the scheme to life.

With existing homes surrounding the site, community engagement was an important part of the design process. Consultation events and neighbourhood letter drops gave residents opportunities to comment on the proposals, helping us address concerns and refine the design.

Supporting modern living and enhancing residents' quality of life

Secure cycle storage and carefully considered parking provision offer practical everyday convenience, while each house benefits from a private garden, providing valuable outdoor space and access to safe, usable green areas.

Design Development

The main challenge was to make effective use of the former social club site while protecting neighbouring residents’ privacy and amenity. The layout balances apartments with larger family houses, creating practical, well-lit homes that meet nationally described space standards. Private gardens give the houses usable outdoor space for family life.

The design responds to Wythenshawe’s garden-city character, retaining existing trees and introducing new landscaping to soften the development and connect it to the surrounding streetscape.

Energy performance was considered from the outset. High levels of insulation and energy-efficient glazing reduce heat loss, while air-source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels support lower carbon emissions and running costs. Low-flow water fittings, efficient lighting and secure cycle storage add practical measures to reduce resource use and encourage sustainable travel.

Sustainability

Creating homes that are energy efficient and affordable to run

Environmental performance was a key priority, ensuring the homes are not only affordable to access but also affordable to live in over the long term. Air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic panels, high-performance insulation and energy-efficient glazing help reduce carbon emissions and lower running costs for residents. Low-flow water fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and facilities that support active travel further contribute to the sustainability of the development.

High-specification interiors

Combining interior design with energy efficiency

Outcomes

Greenbrow has brought a vacant, underused site back into use, creating 23 affordable homes that fit naturally into the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

The combination of well-proportioned interiors, private gardens and landscaped surroundings provides comfortable homes with useful outdoor space. Its varied housing mix supports different household needs, while the building fabric and renewable energy systems help make the homes affordable to live in as well as to access.

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Director
Elliot Denby

BA(Hons), M.Arch, RIBA, ARB

Director
Elliot Denby

BA(Hons), M.Arch, RIBA, ARB

I qualified as an Architect in 2017 joining BTP the same year, was promoted to Associate in 2019 and became a Director in 2023.

Since joining BTP, I’ve led projects from concept through to completion, ranging from large-scale housing developments to refurbishment and high-rise fire remediation. These include an award-winning 34-home affordable housing scheme in Wythenshawe and successful Gateway 2 applications for Hatton Gardens in Liverpool and The Blake in Southampton. I’ve also built a strong relationship with a major national contractor, delivering high-rise remediation and refurbishment projects across England and Scotland.

As an accredited Building Regulations Principal Designer, I have a particular interest in building safety and compliance. My strengths lie in job running, detailed design and project management, helping projects progress smoothly and meet the required standards.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling where possible to explore different cultures and running recently completing the Great North Run 2025 and London Marathon in 2026.
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Architectural Assistant
Alin Pal

BSc (Hons), M.Arch.
Architectural Assistant
Alin Pal

BSc (Hons), M.Arch.

I joined BTP in 2018 as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant and have since completed my master’s degree in architecture. I’m now working towards my Part 3 qualification, with experience across new-build housing, retrofit, retirement living and high-rise remediation.

My projects include a 50+ unit extra care home, Bowland House 17-storey high-rise remediation and 70 unit Booth Street housing scheme in Stoke. I also lead BTP’s CGI and animation studio, creating architectural visualisations that help clients understand and explore their projects.

Outside work, I enjoy travelling, exploring new places, photography, and spending quality time with friends and family.
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Architect
Verity Roweth

BA(Hons), M.Arch, ARB
Architect
Verity Roweth

BA(Hons), M.Arch, ARB

I am a qualified architect with experience in residential, conservation and refurbishment projects. I joined BTP in August 2025, bringing a strong technical background in specification and fabric-first retrofit from my previous role at a large commercial practice.

At BTP, I am excited to apply this technical knowledge to both new build and retrofit housing projects and high-rise remediaton, with a focus on improving home comfort, reducing fuel poverty and delivering thoughtful and sustainable design.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, as well as cooking, reading and running.