Strategy tackles housing problems

A THREE-YEAR action plan to upgrade housing in Oldham aims to cut the number of empty homes, improve neighbourhoods and reduce inequalities.

The Oldham Partnership Housing Strategy, which will be reviewed every three months, has been drawn up following a housing conference in January and after consultations with focus groups, tenants, officers, landlords, all political parties on the council.

Challenges in Oldham include the unusually high number of Victorian terraces, the poor quality of properties, high number of empty homes, inadequate private rented houses and only a small amount of land for new housing.

Allied to these problems are a rising population, including a fifth aged under 15, overcrowding in central Oldham, a large older population, and a shortage of homes for groups such as homeless people, care leavers, young people, ex-offenders and substance abusers.

There is is also no authorised gypsy or traveller site.

Tomorrow, councillors will vote on the plan at a Cabinet meeting.

The council already plans to improve council housing for 12,000 tenants with a stock transfer to a housing association which would unlock more than £400 million worth of investment over 30 years.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for community services and housing, said: “It is vital that we have the right mix of affordable housing, sheltered housing and new private housing to satisfy future demands.

“If this strategy is approved we plan to attract new funding, reduce the number of empty homes and improve energy efficiency for our most vulnerable residents.

“Despite the fact that Oldham’s had a lot of success bidding for funding to improve housing, we still have major issues such as overcrowding.

“We recognise that these are difficult economic times for people and will work with partners to ensure our residents benefit from improved housing.”

The strategy will be published online on the council website — www.oldham.gov.uk — from June 15, or contact Oldham Council on 0161-770 2045.