Green light for unique £7m estate

RESIDENTS in Werneth were last night given permission to build a unique £7million estate of custom-built houses.

Oldham Council planning committee unanimously granted Community Build Werneth Ltd (CBW) permission to start work on 37 homes designed and built by the people who will live in them.

The land, between Cambridge Street, Durham Street and Lynn Street, was sold to CBW in a £7million deal last year. The site has been vacant for more than a decade following the loss of Housing Market Renewal (HMR) funding.

Director of CBW Sajjad Malik, said: “This is a real milestone. Having the permission will allow us to move on and start getting everything into place.”

Councillor David Houle said: “It is a brilliant scheme and shows great confidence for the future. They are going to be large houses in which families can grow and prosper. It is one of the future ways we can improve Oldham.”

The development will see the part closure of Norfolk Street, Devon Street and Warwick Street with the creation of two cul-de-sacs leading from Lynn Street and Cambridge Street.