Welcome move for housing programme

SETTLING in . . . Hayley Woods enjoys her new home with (from left) Hugh Broadbent (FCHO chief executive) and Councillor John McCann

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TEAMwork helped the council and First Choice Homes to create six new much-needed rental properties.

The homes were bought as part of a scheme which has seen properties bought and improved with a grant from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency.

Empty properties are bought and then refurbished by First Choice before being let to applicants from the council’s housing register.

Although the funding was only intended to secure five homes, First Choice bought six for the same price in Oldham town centre, Royton, Roundthorn, Clarksfield, Werneth and Sholver. Five have been allocated to families and a one-bedroom flat to a single person.

Hayley Woods, a tenant in one of the properties in Kensington Avenue, Royton, needed to find a larger home because she is a foster parent.

She said: “I didn’t expect to find the same standard of property, but First Choice has done a great job in refurbishing it — I’m delighted.”

Councillor John McCann said: “It’s great to see these improved properties brought back into such positive use.

“Some former council homes are left empty for a long time which can affect the local area, so improving these six homes to such a high standard is really welcome news.”

First Choice is now planning to acquire four other empty former council homes under the same government programme.