£130m boost to transform deprived estates

OLDHAM is on the brink of a £130 million development to transform its deprived estates.

A bidder will be chosen tonight to build 450 homes on Crossley, Primrose Bank, Coldhurst, Westwood and Fitton Hill.

They will also refurbish another 320 properties on Crossley and Primrose Bank where 100 homes have already been razed.

Most will be for families, with 340 for social rent and the rest for sale.

Figures obtained by the BBC show that 110,000 people are on the social housing waiting list in Greater Manchester. However, only 6,000 homes are available — one for every 19 applicants.

Oldham has a waiting list of 6,667 for 797 unoccupied homes.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for community services and housing, said: “This is a landmark stage in what we believe is a hugely exciting social housing project for Oldham.

“We all know that new high-quality family homes are desperately needed.

“Demand has grown across the country as the recession has deepened and this will be a major step forward in helping to address that problem.

“Also included in these plans are high-quality public open spaces, improved car parking, and new facilities to help create modern and sustainable communities where people will choose to live and work.”

The Gateways project was first announced several years ago and two rival bidders are battling for the Private Finance Initiative contract to build, maintain and manage the properties for 25 years.

The consortia are Inspiral, made up of Manchester Methodist Housing Association, ROK Construction and financiers Regenta; and S4O, which is made up of Contour Housing Association, builders Roland Bardsley and Cruden, and financiers Nationwide and Equitix.

One will be appointed as the council’s preferred bidder behind closed doors at tonight’s cabinet committee.

Oldham is then expected to get the green light from the Government by the end of the month before signing the contract in December. Work will start early next year.