New £4.7m council housing boost

HOUSE about that . . . Councillor John McCann (left) and Harry Burns at Byron Green, Hollinwood

The foundations have been laid for the first council houses to be built in Oldham for more than two decades.

Byron Green, Hollinwood, is the chosen site as a £4.7m scheme to build affordable housing is pioneered in the borough.

A total of 32 new two, three and four-bedroom homes will be bought in partnership with First Choice Homes Oldham from builders McInerney Homes.

FCHO is also buying up five empty former council houses as part of the same scheme to bring them up to decent homes standard.

Harry Burns, chairman of First Choice Homes Oldham, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to work with the council to provide these 37 much-needed family homes.

“Subject to planning permission and confirmed funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, the homes will be built to a high standard and will greatly help address our housing needs.”

The news comes after FCHO became an approved bidder, able to access grants from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency. All the homes will be allocated to families who are already on the waiting list.

Councillor John McCann, Cabinet member for community services and housing, added: “As a council, we recognise that we have a real need for more affordable family homes.

“There is already planning permission for housing on the Byron Green site and we feel that, through working with First Choice Homes, we have a strong case for Homes and Communities Agency funding.

“We are one of the first authorities in the country to work with an arms- length management organisation in this way.

“The building of these homes forms part of a range of proposals for increasing the quality and availability of affordable homes for rent.”

The scheme was approved by councillors yesterday. The Government’s £2.2m grant will cover half the scheme. Oldham Council will borrow the rest.