Manchester, a major city in England, is home to over 2.7 million people. About one in 61 residents experienced homelessness as of late 2025.
Embassy, a local charity, is tackling this issue with a new approach. They have opened Embassy Village, a housing development built under 22 railway arches in Castlefield.
A New Village Under the Arches
The village offers 40 fully-furnished, private units for people transitioning out of homelessness. It also provides support services and community spaces.
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Start Your News DetoxSid Williams, co-founder of Embassy, explained that the goal is to help residents rebuild their lives and break the cycle of homelessness.
The village includes a sports area, outdoor gardens for residents to grow food, and a space for mentoring. Each resident receives six hours of one-on-one support weekly. This support covers cooking, budgeting, and job interview preparation. More than 20 local companies are partnering to offer employment opportunities.
Over 130 businesses provided materials, labor, or expertise for the project. Vermont Construction Group built the facility without making a profit. Mark Connor, CEO of Vermont Construction Group, noted that the project creates a community and support system, not just homes.
Community Effort and Future Impact
Embassy Village received a £3.5 million donation from The Moulding Foundation. It also got £1.7 million in Brownfield Development Funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Other private foundations also helped fund the development.
Embassy started in 2019, using a repurposed luxury tour bus for emergency shelter. This experience showed the need for more stable transitional housing, leading to the idea for Embassy Village. Development group Peel Waters helped make the village a reality over about six years.
Williams expressed pride in the project's completion, thanking the companies and individuals who supported the vision. James Whittaker, managing director of Peel Waters, called it one of the proudest moments of his career. He highlighted how the city came together with compassion to transform the space.
City officials are hopeful about the project's impact. Tim Heatley, Chair of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, said it shows what can happen when the community works together. He added that the city is leading the way in caring for its most vulnerable residents.
Deep Dive & References
Interactive Homelessness Map - Shelter England, 2025 Our Projects - Embassy Village Manchester's new village in the heart of the city for homeless people - Manchester Evening News Embassy Village Manchester Homeless Village Castlefield - I Love Manchester Construction completes on Embassy Village Manchester - Peel Waters
