New £13.3m Oldham estate built on site of derelict mill

The Great Places development, at Maple Mill in Hathershaw, comprises 98 affordable homes and each property is complete with bike storage.

It was described this week as “much-needed”, as one borough councillor argued the town needs more affordable homes.

There are one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two, three and four-bedroom houses with gardens and parking. Meanwhile, the development’s six ground floor cottage-style apartments provide accessible accommodation for people with poor mobility.

The homes include bike stores and some feature solar panels. The estate also features bat houses and bird boxes in an effort to protect biodiversity.

Maple Mill pictured in 2012 (Image: Google Street View)

This week, Cllr Arooj Shah, the leader of Oldham Council, and Cllr Elaine Taylor, the authority’s cabinet member for housing, were given a tour of the new development.

Cllr Shah said: “I’m so pleased to see these brand-new affordable homes built here in Hathershaw and was privileged to talk to some of the people who will now be calling Maple Mill home.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to live but sadly, nationally, our housing system is broken. That’s why I’m proud that, in Oldham, we’re working hard with partners such as Great Places to create local solutions to the national housing crisis.”

She continued: “Oldham needs more quality homes of all sizes and affordability, and this new development at Maple Mill is just one of the big housing projects underway that, together, will help us achieve this.

“With this, as well as new homes being built in the town centre through our partnership with Muse; major housing developments at Broadway Green and across the borough; and our pledge to build new 500 social homes; we’re working hard to address the housing crisis that currently affects too many people here in Oldham and nationwide.”

All smiles! From left to right: Nick Cumberland, Mark Wood of MCI Developments, a Great Places customer, Cllr Elaine Taylor and Cllr Arooj Shah (Image: Great Places)

The affordable estate was part-funded by Homes England and has been delivered in partnership with MCI Developments.

It is one of six new developments that Great Places is building in Oldham, which will provide 350 new homes in total.

Great Places boss Nick Cumberland added: “We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to show the councillors around Maple Mill and to speak with some of our new customers.

“We’re proud of the work we’ve done to deliver these high-quality homes in Oldham. Maple Mill is a welcome addition to our existing homes in the borough, providing much-needed affordable homes in the area with a mix of homes that meet local demand and excellent access to local facilities and transport links.”