Housing association enters into £13m contract for new family homes
Reporter: Charlotte Green, Local Democracy Reporter
Date published: 07 August 2023
Homes being developed in Middleton by First Choice Homes Oldham
An Oldham housing association has agreed a £13m contract for new ‘affordable’ family homes in nearby Middleton.
First Choice Homes Oldham is currently delivering a six-year development strategy for 1,100 new energy energy efficient homes in Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Kirklees, and Calderdale.
It has now entered into a £13.1m contract with housebuilder Lovell Homes for 47 family properties at its Eden Park scheme in Langley.
First Choice Homes Oldham, which is a social landlord, has secured a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes at the Eden Park scheme, comprising 19 properties for shared ownership, 17 for rent to buy and 11 for affordable rent.
Homes England has also invested £2.4m in grant funding for the project.
All the homes are planned to achieve Energy Performance Certificate rating of ‘B’ and each will also equipped with an electric vehicle charging point.
Homes are due for phased completion between August 2023 and early 2024.
Director of development at First Choice Homes Oldham, Joel Owen, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Lovell Homes to deliver more much-needed affordable housing in the Rochdale borough, which is one of the key areas in our development strategy.
“Ever rising demand for affordable homes, high house prices and lack of affordable options means many buyers in the area struggle to make their first step on to the housing ladder.
“At this development we have agreed a variety of property types and are offering a range of tenures to help locals secure the quality homes they need and make home ownership a reality for more people.”
In the last three years, First Choice Homes Oldham has delivered 74 new affordable one-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom family homes across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
Work is currently underway at a further four sites in the borough.
In Middleton, it is working with Kellen Homes to build 45 mixed-tenure two and three-bedroom houses at its Mill Vale scheme, and 16 two, three and four-bedroom family houses are underway with KMM Homes at their Oldham Road build.
The final homes at the housing association’s mixed tenure development at Boothroyden Road in the town of 30 two, three and four-bedroom homes are also due for completion this summer.
In Heywood, 40 one and two-bedroom apartments for affordable rent are under construction on Rochdale Road East in Heywood with Challenger Building Services.
Last month First Choice Homes Oldham also signed a £2.1m deal with Armstrong Projects to bring forward 14 one and two-bedroom apartments at Smithy Bridge in Littleborough.
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