Luxury homes for old school site

THE former Hill Top school site — to be a group of luxury homes

A DERELICT school targeted by arsonists and vandals is to make way for a gated development of luxury custom-built homes.

Oldham-based property developer UDUNK bought the former Hill Top Special School in Strinesdale last year.

Demolition work is due to start this month, before properties manufactured elsewhere will be brought to the site and assembled.

The homes are expected to sell for up to £600,000 - with an option to include a basement swimming pool.

Terry McNicholas, director of the Waddington Street firm, said: “This is what the council asked for when we were buying the land. It wanted substantial houses to be built in Oldham to attract businessmen and women to the area.”

Hill Top School, off Arncliffe Rise, was built around 1936 and closed in 2005 when it was replaced by New Bridge School, Hollinwood.

Planning permission was granted by officers, without having to go to the planning committee, for eight “chalet”-style buildings which would each have a balcony and patio, a large garden and a car port for two vehicles.

Mr McNicholas said the properties were inspired by the luxury German Huf Haus kit homes. A sales brochure is being put together by estate agent Alan Kirkham.

He added: “What we would like to do as well is sell the plots as they are so people can design their own homes. We will supply an architect if they want to do that. We could offer staged payments to help with cash flow.”

UDUNK has other developments in the borough including the former Marston Tavern, Royton, and the former Warburtons Bakery, Shaw. It is also applying for planning permission to convert Thornham Mill, Royton, into apartments.