Homes demolition set to continue

Last night’s full Oldham Council meeting

DEMOLITION of homes in Derker and Werneth will continue despite Oldham’s £2.2million cut in Housing Market Renewal money.

Cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor John McCann, told Labour councillor Shoab Akhtar that the council will still clear empty blocks of houses to avoid the blight of tinned-up homes.

Councillor Akhtar asked what effect the £2.2 million savings would have and added: “Residents are devastated as they have already had to live through demolition and derelict streets.”

Councillor McCann said the cuts, part of £50 million from HMR nationwide, will mean no new buying-up of commercial properties to assemble new sites for housing this financial year.

Gap funding towards new-build schemes will be spread over a number of years, not just in one year, and the council will prioritise buying up properties under a confirmed Compulsory Purchase Order.

Contractors are starting work on demolishing 91 properties in Derker this year. Bellway Homes is submitting a planning application for 148 new family homes on a site between Acre Lane and Afghan Street, and work on the first phase should begin in the autumn, he said, adding that MPs are also being lobbied and are aware of the problems.