Council approval signals start of work on 30 new affordable homes

Housing association, Onward Homes, is set to commence construction of 30 affordable homes on brownfield land in Whitefield, after Bury Council approved its planning application.

The homes will be located on the site of the former Wheatfield Day Centre on Victoria Avenue in Whitefield, which has lain derelict for several years.

Initial groundwork is expected to start on site before the end of March, with the first homes completing in 2024.

Didsbury-based Onward already manages around 800 homes in Bury and more than 11,000 across Greater Manchester. Its latest planning application followed a public consultation with local residents, business owners and local councillors between May and June 2022.

The new development will feature a mix of affordable homes, ranging from two-bedroom walk-up flats and two-bedroom bungalows to three-bedroom family homes. Onward worked closely with Bury Council on its proposals, to ensure the mix of new homes will respond to identified, local housing needs.

As a result, 14 of the new homes will be available for affordable rent, while 16 houses will be available to purchase through shared ownership, helping local people put down roots.

Onward received brownfield funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) 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 will enable the housing association to build 5,000 homes by 2030 – with 3,208 being delivered directly through the partnership.

Stephen Heverin, growth and regeneration director at Onward, said: “We are excited to be delivering more high quality, affordable homes in Bury, ranging from modern bungalows and flats, through to homes suitable for young families. There is a real shortage of affordable housing in the area and our proposals respond directly to this.

“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.”