A vacant patch of land in Oldham has been transformed by the construction of 38 two- and three-bedroom eco-friendly homes.
The development, delivered by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) in partnership with Tyson Construction, is designed to be 15% more energy efficient than the minimum set out in building regulations, the organisation says.
Built on a site off Cherry Avenue in Oldham’s Alt neighbourhood, the homes are being made available for “affordable” rent.
Joel Owen, FCHO’s director of development, said: “Completion of this development at Cherry Avenue is an important milestone for FCHO.
“We are acutely aware of the desperate need for more affordable housing in Oldham, where demand far outstrips supply, and are delighted to have worked with our partners including Oldham Council to bring forward a scheme that has transformed a former brownfield site, providing a mix of modern, high-quality homes and prioritising sustainability, all to benefit residents.”
Each property has been fitted with increased ground floor, wall and loft insulation to help make homes cheaper to heat and stay warmer for longer.
All the homes have been allocated to people on Oldham Council’s housing register and the majority of residents have moved in.
The £6.1m development is part of FCHO’s strategy to deliver 1,100 sustainable properties in Oldham and surrounding areas between 2020-2026 to meet increasing demand across the region.
The housing association received £1.5m grant funding from Homes England for the build.
As part of the Cherry Avenue project, Tyson Construction also carried out improvements to the local area to make a positive and lasting impact.
Activities include sponsoring a competition to name a street at the build; clearing rubbish from a nearby fly tipping hotspot in June 2022; and supporting FCHO’s Alt Community Waste Collection Days in January this year, providing free-to-use skips for local people to dispose of waste in.
The team has supported volunteers at Alt Community Café by clearing their garden and preparing the space, ready to make it more usable for people to enjoy, too.
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