The estate in the shadow of Etihad Stadium which homeowners fear will end up like 'jigsaw puzzle'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

In the shadow of the Etihad Stadium is the housing estate that time forgot. Those living at the Grey Mare Lane estate in Beswick - which was built some 50 years ago - have heard promises of regeneration for more than a decade.

And now work is finally under way with existing homes being re-roofed, over-clad and retrofitted to improve energy efficiency, giving them a fresh look. Plans are also in place to demolish 124 poor-quality maisonettes, flats and older houses, replacing them with new social rent low carbon homes, plus another 166 affordable rented homes and shared ownership properties.

But talk of a 'whole estate regeneration' with promises that privately-owned properties would also benefit has fallen flat – and homeowners are 'fuming'. Housing association One Manchester, which manages the social rented homes on the estate, told residents who have purchased their properties that they would also have their houses retrofitted too – subject to government funding.

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After months of discussion, homeowners finally signed the forms authorising the roofing, rendering and insulation work to be carried out – but weeks later they were told the funding is not available and the work would not happen. And to make matters worse, the residents have now learnt that the housing association did not even apply for any funding, saying the government grants and the other options they explored would not have covered all of the costs.

Marilyn Mannion, who has lived in her Sledmere Close home since it was built 50 years ago, said owner-occupiers like her have been 'up in arms' about it. She said: "We've been conned.

"We've