De Metz has been selected as the winning team following an architectural competition for the second phase of social housing at Manchester's Millennium Community, New Islington.
 
The competition, organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on behalf of the New Islington Client Group, led by Manchester Methodist Housing Group (MMHG) and the residents, selected a shortlist of six architects following an open call for expressions of interests. The shortlisted teams then made presentations to the judging panel which included all the project stakeholders together with representatives from the local residents.
 
The full shortlist was: Riches Hawley Mikhail; Studio Egret West; De Metz; Ash Sakula; Sarah Wigglesworth; Alison Brooks.
 
"I am delighted that de Metz were chosen for the project. They clearly demonstrated the spirit of the Alsop framework plan and really won the residents over," said Matthew Harrison, deputy chief executive, MMHG.
 
Julian De Metz said: "We believe the New Islington masterplan creates an exciting model for development in the UK. It's inherently democratic, both in the way designers are selected and in the development of schemes directly with local communities whilst encouraging design excellence. We're delighted to be part of such a pioneering approach".
 
The project, known at present as Piercy Street, is to provide between 20-25 homes for rent by social landlords, MMHG.
 
Following the successful consultation process undertaken by FAT for the first phase of social housing, which is currently under construction at New Islington, de Metz will spend the next few months in discussions with the residents to work up the designs.
 
"This is another exciting step forward on the journey to New Islington, "said Nick Johnson, director of development, Urban Splash. "We are already on site with the FAT scheme and de Metz will bring another new and bold dimension to the project."
 
The New Islington Client Group recently announced that Taylor Woodrow and shedkm Architects have been appointed to develop one part of the New Islington site, it is expected that a planning application will be submitted in early 2005.
 
New Islington Millennium Community is one of seven Millennium Communities managed by English Partnerships as part of a national programme. New Islington will be the subject of a special fringe event at the Delivering Sustainable Communities Summit (30 January – 2 February 05) at Urbis, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester from 1.30pm until 3.30pm on Tuesday 1 February 2005.