DIY SOS looking for contractors to help military veterans

BBC Show DIY SOS is looking for local contractors to help renovate empty homes in Manchester to create a new community for former servicemen and women.

The project is a collaboration bringing together Manchester City Council, the BBC’s DIY SOS Big Build project, charities Walking With The Wounded and Haig Housing and Adactus Housing Group and will look to provide improvements to the street scene by providing disabled access and parking, introduce planting, give a facelift to all 62 properties and refurbish eight of the 25 empty homes on the streets.

Three larger homes will be specially fitted-out for disabled veterans and their families, plus one standard size home and a veteran walk-in support and advice centre run by Walking With The Wounded will be due to be completed in September.

The second phase of the project will see the remaining 17 empty properties refurbished by the charity Haig Housing. Once completed, the properties will offer the chance for veterans to get on the property ladder with options including shared equity, discount purchase and rent to buy.

Timber frame joiners, specialist joiners, kitchen fitters and floor fitters and many other trades are being sought for help in getting the project done.

Nick Knowles, the BBC DIY SOS presenter, said: “We’d love to get local trades involved. This is a massive project – our biggest yet – and we really need your help. We especially need special joiners and timber frame experts, kitchen fitters and carpet and flooring fitters. Come and join us. It’ll be really worthwhile and a lot of fun.”

Construction firms already on board to support the project include Kier, ISG, Keepmoat, Mears, Rowlinsons, Wates Living Space and Willmott Dixon, along with architects BTP and lead designers, Arcus.

Cllr Bernard Priest, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This is an inspiring project that is bringing together a wide-ranging selection of construction and building specialists to help support veterans in to suitable accommodation – and we would urge anyone who has building experience to get in touch and get involved.”

The BBC DIY SOS team will be in east Manchester on Thursday to meet with firms interested in getting involved in the development and to discuss the opportunities available to them.

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