Home and dry!

The area around Hill Farm Close, Fitton Hill, which is due for development under the Gateway to Oldham scheme

A MULTI-MILLION pound housing scheme for Oldham has won Government approval.

A total of £113 million will be invested in the Gateway to Oldham housing scheme over the next 25 years.

More than 700 homes will be built or refurbished on Crossley, Primrose Bank and at sites in Coldhurst and Fitton Hill, including 300 new affordable rented houses.

Plans originally approved by Oldham Council last February were for a £130million pound scheme and 989 properties built and refurbished.

A funding review by the Government reduced the amount available for the scheme to £113million.

However, it confirmed that the scheme can proceed to the next stage.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, transport and regeneration, said the approval was “excellent” news.

He said: “Although there is still a lot of work to do, we hope that schemes to improve existing homes and build new houses will start towards the end of this year.

“This agreement should also help to boost opportunities for the local construction industry.”

Councillor Hibbert said the Government had asked that the number of planned homes be reduced due to funding cuts and concerns that the scheme was too large.

Councillor Hibbert said Oldham Council was determined to build the original number of homes and were looking at ways to do this.

He said: “We are confident to be able to complete our initial aims and not necessarily through PFI schemes.”

Oldham Council has appointed the Inspiral consortium to build, refurbish, maintain and manage the new homes for the 25-year scheme.

Inspiral is made up of Regenter, as lead investor, developer and manager for the project, Wates Living Space which will be responsible for the building and refurbishment work and will also run the repairs contract, and Great Places Housing Group, which will manage the homes for Oldham Council.

Ian Prescott, on behalf of Inspiral, said: “We are delighted to hear that the Gateways to Oldham housing and regeneration PFI Project has been approved.

“This is an important scheme for Oldham which will provide new and improved housing, open spaces and community facilities, which will significantly contribute towards successful and sustainable local communities.

“We look forward to the prospect of working in partnership with Oldham Council and our consortium partners to deliver this exciting regeneration programme.”