SOCIAL housing provider First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has signed deals worth £8.6m with two North-West housebuilders to bring 48 green, affordable homes to Royton and Failsworth.
The developments are part of FCHO’s strategy to deliver 700 high quality, energy efficient properties in Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Kirklees, and Calderdale by 2026 to help meet housing need and improve the lives of local people.
The £3.7m development on a brownfield site on Shaw Street, Royton will be built by Robwood Construction.
The contractor is delivering 15 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments, all for affordable rent.
The apartments, located close to Royton centre, are planned to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) B and will be equipped with modern electrical heating to help cut carbon emissions.
In Failsworth, FCHO is working with Holcombe Homes to bring forward a £4.9m scheme of 14 four-bedroom and four three-bedroom properties on brownfield land next to Hale Lane and Hughes Close.
Fifteen homes for shared ownership are planned, helping local people to get a foot on the housing ladder at an affordable price. Three homes will be for affordable rent, set at no more than 80 per cent of the average local market rent.
Work at the Royton and Failsworth sites is planned to commence this summer with projects due for completion at the end of 2023.
Joel Owen, FCHO Director of Development said: “These exciting schemes are part of our continued significant investment in creating new affordable homes in Oldham and surrounding areas.
“As in many other areas of the country, demand for affordable housing locally outstrips supply and high house prices and lack of affordable options mean many local buyers struggle to secure a home of their own and make their first step on to the property ladder.
“We are bringing forward much-needed new homes with a variety of tenures to meet housing need and make home ownership possible for more people.
“We have ambitious plans to build more homes like these to make an even bigger difference and are continuing to work with our development partners to make these a reality.”
FCHO is due to complete 90 new affordable homes across a range of tenures in this financial year. Work is currently underway on 149 properties at nine development sites and the housing association is on track to commence with a further 259 homes by April 2023.
Stay up to date with news about all FCHO’s new developments at www.fcho.co.uk
As far as it goes this is good news, but more are needed; a lot more.