Eco-homes are no longer economic

HOW the eco-homes project would have looked

A national building company heavily involved in Oldham’s housing regeneration plans has pulled out of a landmark town centre scheme.

The credit crunch and housing slump have killed off plans by Gleeson to develop futuristic eco-homes on St Mary’s estate.

It is five years since first plans for 200 homes on the prominent site between St Mary’s Way and Horsedge Street were drawn up.

Since then they have been scrapped once, replaced with new plans, postponed, and offered by Gleeson to a new developer in January this year.

Today the council confirmed that Gleeson is withdrawing from the project.

Gleeson is also a partner in the Derker and Werneth Housing Market Renewal schemes, and due to reveal plans for new homes at the Albert Mill site in Derker at a public meeting tonight.

The St Mary’s land used to be the site of the 1960s Jespersen Street deck access flats, demolished in 1997.

It is nicknamed the largest free car park in Oldham town centre, because so many drivers leave their vehicles there all day.

Ward Councillor Aqeel Ali Salamat said: “I am very disappointed. This would have created jobs and brought major investment in my ward.”

Oldham’s cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Mohib Uddin, said: “Like most house builders, Gleeson’s has been affected by the global credit crunch and the national downturn in the housing market. The council will now be assessing what the options are.

“The regeneration programme remains strong in Oldham and we will be assessing how we can best bring development to this site.”

Cabinet member for community services and housing, Councillor John McCann, added: “Gleeson’s has confirmed to us that its decision will in no way affect its commitment to continuing with the Albert Mill scheme or in any of its work that is currently taking place in Derker as part of HMR.”

Opposition Cabinet member Dave Hibbert called on the the council to start work on the site roads, power, sewers and water systems at St Mary’s, adding: “Once the situation improves, construction can start immediately.”