Affordable, eco-friendly homes to be built in Derker

The new homes site in Derker

Oldham-based housing association, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is bolstering its work to create more social housing in Oldham and surrounding areas, by signing a contract to build new, eco-friendly homes in the Derker area of the borough.

The affordable development on Flint Street comprises six four-bedroom family homes, each equipped with state-of-the-art green technologies to cut customers' carbon emissions and energy bills. 

The homes will benefit from cutting-edge waste heat recovery pumps to produce low-cost renewable hot water, helping to keep fuel costs down for residents.

All homes will be for affordable rent and let in conjunction with Oldham Council.

FCHO’s £1.3m scheme will be delivered in partnership with Greater Manchester-based property developer, Friday Club Developments and the project is aiming to receive £252k Homes England grant funding. The project team also includes Oldham-based Employer’s Agent, Whiteley Eaves Ltd.

Joel Owen, FCHO Director of Development said: "The new homes at Flint Street contribute to our strategy to deliver 700 new, high quality, energy efficient properties in Oldham and surrounding areas, between now and 2026.

"They will help us meet housing need today and provide sustainable homes which are fit for the future.

“With energy bills increasing, it’s more important than ever that we find renewable energy solutions that help keep bills down when we are building new homes, and we’re confident the waste heat recovery pumps will not only do this but help the environment as well.

"We're pleased to be working with Friday Club Developments on their first affordable housing scheme and transforming a vacant, brownfield site to provide more much needed affordable housing in Oldham."

Tony Houlihan, a Director at Friday Club Developments said: "Our entire ethos is built on fairness and quality. We believe in creating homes that work, with space to live.

"We are thrilled to be working on such an important project, in collaboration with FCHO, to design and build high-quality, affordable family homes."

He continued: "Affordable housing is a key element of our strategy and we are always on the lookout for new opportunities and new sites to transform unused spaces into real communities.”

Work at the Flint Street scheme will start this month and homes will be ready for new residents to move into in autumn 2023.

The development was given the green light by Oldham Council in March 2022. Read more at www.fcho.co.uk.

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