The new 'village' beneath the railway arches coming to Manchester's unique island

A new ‘village’ for homeless people will be built in railway arches in Manchester city centre.

Embassy Village will provide space for 40 homeless people on St George’s Island in Castlefield. Some 40 studio homes are going to be built in the area, so each resident will have space to themselves.

The project was given planning permission three years ago, but bosses have been pulling funding together in the interim to make it a reality. Now, they have secured more than £3.5 million in donations, so work will get going on-site.

READ MORE: Grieving mum, 44, slams five-star TUI holiday after falling badly ill on flight home

“Once open Embassy Village will provide homes, support and stability for people when they need it most,” explained Embassy Village’s Sid Williams.

"Our aim is for it to be a community where residents, with support, can rebuild their lives and break the cycle of homelessness that people so often get trapped in.

“We’ve got a brilliant and busy few months ahead as our vision for Embassy Village becomes a reality and people can expect a flurry of activity this summer. We’ll soon be able to confirm the contractor we’ll be partnering with for the build and we are aiming to get going on site this summer.”

It’s hoped the scheme will be completed next year. Alongside the homes, there will be a village hall meeting area, green areas like a community ‘mini allotment’ and a sports area.

Although there is the cash to get the village off the ground, Embassy is now seeking more donations to pay for the long-term maintenance of the site.