Member Article

Community association seeking to build houses in Oldham

Oldham Council is set to consider a proposal for the construction of 37 new ‘custom-built’ homes in the South Werneth district.

As part of its wider plans to complete the regeneration of South Werneth following the loss of Housing Market Renewal (HMR) funding, the council is considering the sale of land between Cambridge Street, Durham Street and Lynn Street to a community-led association.

Community Build Werneth Ltd (CBW) would create much-needed bespoke four to six bedroom detached homes on land blighted by the end of the HMR funding.

The development will enhance this area of Werneth, part of which has been vacant for more than ten years.

The council is supportive of custom build and self-build opportunities, as outlined in its recent Oldham Residential Development Framework. If this custom build proposal is approved by Cabinet on Monday, January 27, it would be the largest such scheme in Greater Manchester.

Around a year ago, opportunities for residents interested in custom build were promoted in the former HMR areas. Following a series of meetings, interested residents formed CBW, who, with professional advisers, developed plans for the Werneth site.

It is anticipated that the development would begin this summer and take around two years to complete. If the proposals are approved, CBW would pay the council full market value for the land.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Environment and Housing, said: “As a co-operative council, we want to offer residents the opportunity to collectively own and develop the type of housing that they want in their area.

“This scheme will enable economically active families to remain in their neighbourhoods and the development will help play a key role as part of our wider plans with residents and partners to regenerate Werneth.”

The 37 custom built homes form part of a wider plan by the council to complete the regeneration of South Werneth, which includes:

· The council selling ‘under licence’ 38 properties, which are being brought up to a high-quality standard.

· A major scheme underway with Great Places Housing Group to convert 33 empty homes into 20 new family houses. This is due for completion by March 2014.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .