Land cleared as work starts on new houses

LAND behind the former Mathias Pilling sheltered housing site in Shaw has been cleared ready for development.

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LAND behind the former Mathias Pilling sheltered housing site in Shaw has been cleared ready for development.

The land, in Siddall Street, was bought from Oldham Council by Regenda Homes for housing on July 24, with Chadderton firm Wiggett Construction as contractors.

Work is already under way for the construction of 10 three-bedroom houses.

They are due to be completed by March, 2015.

The space between Milnrow Road and Crompton Way was one of the few remaining green areas in the town centre.

As part of the council’s asset management planning, which oversees the disposal of unwanted land, the former sheltered housing site was packaged together with the public open space.

In a report by Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance, the authority set out plans to dispose of non-profit making land and decided to advertise the plot as a whole.

A Regenda Group spokesperson said: “We are currently constructing 10 houses which will all be offered for shared ownership.

“Around 10 per cent of our properties are occupied by residents who are buying them, allowing families to take a step on to the property ladder.

“A clear condition of our agreement with the council is that we will retain a small area of open space to the rear of the new properties, which will be designated for public use.”