Bulldozers move in on 60s estate

BULLDOZERS start demolishing the Primrose Bank estate

THE first step to transform the Primrose Bank estate is under way as the first flats and maisonettes are demolished.

The properties, built in the 1960s, will be replaced by around 200 new homes close to Ashton Road on a major route into the town centre.

Contractors D and M Demolitions should have cleared the site by next summer with the first of the new homes completed by late 2010.

New homes will be available to rent and buy and the remaining council-owned homes will be refurbished.

Tenants have been offered advice, support and compensation packages to help them cope with the changes.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for housing, said: “This is an important milestone. We are approaching the end of the process to select our developer partner and clearing sites to build new homes will put us in a strong position to make good progress.”

Two consortia, Inspiral and Solutions for Oldham, are competing in the final stages of the bidding process for the contract to redevelop the estate and the preferred bidder will be chosen in the next few months.

Designs so far include plans for recreational amenities, an improved environment, safer neighbourhood and a community centre.

The £181,000 clearance, funded by the Housing Market Renewal programme, is part of the Gateways to Oldham project to improve major council estates under the Government’s private finance initiative.

Gateways to Oldham is a £131 million scheme which will also include a revamp of the Crossley estate in Chadderton and the Clarkwell estate in Coldhurst.