£8m homes plan for key workers

AN ambitious £8 million plan to provide 140 homes for key workers in Oldham has been unveiled by a leading architecture and design practice.

The plans, created by the Frank Whittle Partnership, include a range of one, two and four bedroom key-worker units in a six storey development which could be submitted to the council’s planning department as early as next month.

The project, off Sheepfoot Lane, forms part of the proposed masterplan drawn up by the Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) for the regeneration of Boundary Park.

The entire £80 million vision was given the go-ahead by planners early last year, but had to be on the back-burner as the recession took hold, so this scheme is bound to provide a welcome boost as the economy continues to flag.

The FWP, which has offices offices in Preston, Manchester and London, says that the plans will regenerate the local area by providing essential key-worker accommodation for the near-by hospital.

David Robinson, managing partner of FWP, said: “Affordable housing for key workers is an important priority for this area of Oldham.

“We have designed a modern building with clean lines that will greatly enhance the area and will provide stylish self-contained accommodation for local hospital workers.

“We have worked hard with the developers to create a building which hopefully will lead to further regeneration benefits for the community.

“While all the partners in the Oldham Arena masterplan wait for conditions to become favourable, this is a step in the right direction of adding to Oldham’s stock of affordable housing.”