Housing association bids to build 30 new homes on brownfield land
North West housing association, Onward Homes, has submitted plans for 30 new houses on brownfield land in Whitefield, Bury.
The Didsbury-based housing provider will build the new housing stock as affordable homes. These will complement around 800 homes Onward already manages in Bury, and more than 11,000 across Greater Manchester.
The site is the former Wheatfield Day Centre on Victoria Avenue, which has been derelict for several years.
Onward’s application follows a public consultation with local residents, business owners and councillors from May to June 2022.
The proposals include a mix of affordable homes ranging from two-bedroom walk-up flats and two-bedroom bungalows to three-bedroom family homes.
Onward has worked closely with Bury Council on its proposals to ensure that the mix of homes will respond to local housing needs and help local people put down roots.
Last year, Bury Council received £350,000 in brownfield funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority to help bring the former industrial site back into use.
The development will be further funded through Onward’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England, which was announced last year and will enable the housing association to build 5,000 new homes by 2030, with 3,208 being delivered directly through the partnership.
Stephen Heverin, growth and regeneration director at Onward, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part in our recent public consultation and our partners at Bury Council who have contributed so supportively during our design process.
“Our proposals offer an opportunity to deliver more high quality, modern affordable homes ranging from bungalows and flats through to homes suitable for young families. There is a shortage of affordable housing in the area and our proposals respond directly to this.”
He added: “As well as providing much needed new homes, this is also an opportunity to redevelop a derelict site that has remained vacant for several years, bringing the space back into use for the local community and helping people put down firm roots in the area.”
