Family homes will breathe new life into St Mary’s

PLANS for the St Mary’s housing scheme, which will regenerate a derelict area

AMBITIOUS plans for environmentally friendly family homes will breathe new life into a derelict part of town.

The council’s cabinet members backed proposals to build 93 eco homes in St Mary’s on land bounded by St Mary’s Way, Egerton Street, Horsedge Street and Scoltock Way.

The area has lain vacant for a number of years since flats built in the 1960s were demolished.

The cabinet decision includes support for a crucial application to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for Kick-start grant funding by Contour Homes.

The firm, one of the biggest social housing and regeneration agencies in the North-West, has applied for HCA funding to build 59 new houses with the potential for a further phase to bring the total to 93.

Contour has been working closely with the council and the Unity Partnership to develop the bid.

It has also given a commitment to provide more than £4 million of its funding to help ensure the £14 million scheme will happen.

Councillor Mohammed Masud, community champion for East Oldham, said: “This is an exciting scheme that could regenerate St Mary’s after so many years of disappointment.

“If this succeeds it will remove the blight of this site and provide a real boost for neighbouring residents and their quality of life — plus potentially help attract new investment into the town centre.

“We are supporting this because we believe it is a fantastic opportunity to see this land finally developed and provide the kind of new high-quality family homes which we desperately need.”

If Contour Homes’s application to the HCA is successful, a further report will be submitted to cabinet to dispose of the site in February.

Contour has also submitted a detailed planning application to Oldham Council for the scheme, which would comprise two, three, four and five-bedroom houses for sale, rent or shared ownership with associated car parking and public open space. A decision is expected in the New Year.

Vicky Carroll, of Contour Homes, said: “We have been working closely with colleagues at Oldham Council to develop a plan for this site that will provide much-needed family homes, and will also ensure this gateway is transformed into a development that the town can be proud of.

“We are also working with local contractors ROK and architects Nicol Thomas on our plans.

“We are committed to involving local residents and consultation is already under way with First Choice Homes as a key stakeholder in the neighbourhood.”