Shawe View

Location
Manchester
Client
MSV Housing
Contract Value
c.£1.4m
People

The Brief

Shawe View is a £1.4m affordable housing development in Urmston, delivered for MSV Housing Group in partnership with Trafford Council.

Built on part of a former car park, it provides 12 fully furnished, one-bedroom apartments for people moving on from homelessness or temporary accommodation.

Residents were actively involved in shaping the scheme

Our Role

BTP provided architectural services, creating homes that offer privacy and independence while encouraging a sense of community. Our approach combined the practical needs of supported housing with a design that feels welcoming and sits comfortably within the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

The development was delivered together with contractor Tyson Construction and supported by Homes England grant funding. Partnership working between MSV, Trafford Council and local homelessness services helped shape a scheme around the people who would live there.

Impact

Trafford’s first dedicated move-on housing scheme offers homes for social rent, with light-touch support to help residents prepare for independent living

Design Development

A key challenge was making effective use of the former car park while respecting the scale and character of neighbouring homes. The cottage-style apartments draw on nearby Shawe View Terrace, with a sympathetic brick and stone palette that connects the development to its setting.

Each apartment meets nationally described space standards and has its own front door, giving residents a clear sense of ownership and a fully self-contained home. Generous windows maximise natural daylight, creating bright, comfortable interiors.

A landscaped green buffer softens the relationship with the surrounding neighbourhood, while shared outdoor spaces provide opportunities for residents to meet informally. Secure cycle storage and on-site parking support everyday travel needs.

Purpose-built homes allowed energy efficiency to be considered from the outset, helping reduce energy use and keep running costs manageable. Bringing an underused site back into productive use also provided much-needed housing within an established community.

Resident Testimonials

“I like being independent and having my own space. Living here has helped me feel optimistic about the future because I know I’ll be supported to move on to permanent housing when the time is right. I’ve also got to know my neighbours and feel part of a community."

“Before coming here I was couch surfing and staying in hotels while dealing with serious health problems. I’d been waiting years for surgery but couldn’t manage my health properly without stable housing. Since moving to Shawe View I’ve been able to have the treatment I needed and start looking after myself again. Having my own home has made a huge difference.”

Outcomes

Shawe View has transformed an underused car park into 12 well-proportioned, self-contained homes that sit comfortably within the surrounding neighbourhood. Cottage-style forms and brick and stone detailing reflect the character of nearby Shawe View Terrace, giving the development a familiar residential feel.

Individual front doors, generous daylight and layouts that meet nationally described space standards create comfortable homes with privacy and independence. Landscaping and shared outdoor spaces soften the development and encourage neighbourly interaction, while energy-efficient design helps keep running costs manageable.

The fact that Shawe View has remained fully occupied since opening, demonstrates the demand for move-on accommodation in Trafford.

Elliot Denby, BTP Director

Shawe View

"Transforming an under-used car park into homes shows how we can create homes and re-imagine how we use areas in a way that directly benefits local people and communities. More importantly, these homes provide an opportunity for people taking their next step towards stability and independent living."

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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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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.
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Architectural Assistant
Jack Bourne

BA(Hons)
Architectural Assistant
Jack Bourne

BA(Hons)

I joined BTP in 2025 after graduating from the University of Liverpool. Prior to this, I spent two years working on site on domestic extensions and refurbishments, gaining practical construction experience that informs my design work.

Since joining BTP I have been involved in retrofit, refurbishment, conservation and new build projects, from pre-planning to delivery on-site. I’m particularly interested in housing and keen to develop my conservation experience.

Outside of work I box and play football and am a devoted (and long-suffering) Everton fan. I also enjoy skiing, which has led to the decision to spend this winter working in a ski resort.