A THREE-storey block of 30 social housing flats will be named after a much-loved councillor who died earlier this year.

Building work has started on the flats, which are the first social housing to be built in the Trafford for more than a decade, on Carrfield Avenue in Timperley.

The block of 20 one-bed and 10 two-bed flats will be named after former mayor Cllr Ray Bowker who died aged 83 in January this year.

The new development is a joint project from Trafford Council and Trafford Housing Trust.

The homes will be for social rent and are the first to be built from the Trafford Affordable Housing Fund and will be named Bowker Court in tribute to Cllr Bowker.

A lifelong Timperley resident and former Mayor, Cllr Bowker was first elected to the Charter Council of Trafford in 1973 and was heavily involved in the Carrfield Avenue project from its beginnings.

Cllr Bowker’s wife Hazel said: “I am so proud that this new housing block is to be named after Ray – it is a really lovely tribute to him and he would have been overjoyed.

"Ray was extremely passionate about social housing and was involved in this particular scheme from the very start.

“He loved Trafford, particularly Timperley, and always wanted to help people so this development was very important to him. Thank you very much to everyone involved.”

Larry Gold, chief executive of Trafford Housing Trust, said: “Ray was a huge advocate of this development, taking time to talk to residents during public consultations about the advantages he felt it would bring to this part of Timperley.

“He was a former board member of Trafford Housing Trust and – as chair of governors at Broomwood Primary School – a real force for good in the community.  We are proud to be naming this new development in his honour.”

The work is due to be completed in November 2021.