‘Regeneration will go on’ pledge

DERKER residents have been reassured that regeneration efforts will continue whatever the outcome of a High Court battle to save homes from demolition.

A group of residents have asked one of the country’s senior judges, Mr Justice Andrew Collins, to quash a Compulsory Purchase Order against their houses, and are awaiting his decision.

Oldham Housing Market Renewal (HMR) want to knock down the buildings as part of plans to renovate and rebuild properties to tackle problems of housing markets failure and abandonment.

But the residents want to stay in their homes and have them refurbished instead.

HMR says it will continue to revamp the area and plans for modern, high quality homes to be built on the Albert Mill site will go on show to the public on Thursday.

At the same time, people can find out about the demolition of the mill building, how work on the site is expected to proceed and will help to choose a name for the new development.

Oldham Council deputy leader, Councillor Jackie Stanton, said: “Building attractive new homes on the Albert Mill site is an important milestone in the transformation of Derker.

“I hope that many people will take the opportunity to see for themselves what is planned.”
She added: “We appreciate that the majority of people want to see progress made on the regeneration of Derker as quickly as possible.

“We want to reassure residents that the council remains fully committed to progressing proposals for Derker.”

Gleeson Regeneration will build a mix of family homes on the mill site.

HMR, Oldham Council and Guinness Northern Counties housing association are working with Gleeson to drive the development forward.

Thursday’s exhibition, which takes place at Shaw Road Conservative Club, Derker, between 4 and 7pm, will also include a prize draw that gives one lucky person the chance to begin knocking down the derelict former mill building.