Planning permission granted for £3.3m scheme providing 20 affordable homes

Plans for the new scheme

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has received planning permission to build 20 homes in Littleborough, Rochdale, all for affordable rent.

Helping the housing association to increase the supply of much-needed affordable homes locally, the Phoenix Ironworks development will be a mix of one-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom family homes, all with parking.

The properties will be managed by FCHO and allocated to customers on Rochdale Council’s housing register.

The £3.3m scheme on a brownfield site will be part-funded by a £760,000 Homes England grant.

It will be built by Rochdale-based P Casey & Co, with work on site beginning in September, and completion scheduled for February 2022.

The development will also make a difference to the lives of local people and businesses, with the main contractor generating social benefits during the build.

The work at Phoenix Ironworks is part of FCHO’s plan to invest £160m in building homes for local people over the next six years.

The social landlord wants to bring 850 new homes to Oldham and the surrounding areas and provide high-quality housing for 3,500 people.

Heidi Thompson, FCHO executive director of homes and investment, said: “Getting planning permission for these new homes is great news.

“Nationally, there’s a shortage of affordable housing, and the picture here in our region is the same.

“We’re working hard and investing a significant amount of money to build as many new homes as we can to help meet demand.

“Supporting the local economy is important to us, too, and this build will create opportunities for local people and businesses, and I’m looking forward to seeing these new homes take shape.”

Alan Taylor, Casey operations director, said: “Casey are proud to be working with, and in partnership with, First Choice Homes Oldham on this local scheme to provide much-needed homes to the local community.

“Our purpose is ‘improving lives’ and being able to create new communities where we can make this happen is what Casey are all about.”

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