Development of new affordable homes in Oldham completed

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has overseen the £3.7m project on Hardman Street.

The brownfield site was vacant for more than a decade, but now boasts more than a dozen eco-friendly, affordable properties, with residents already starting to move in.

The development is part of a wider £160m investment from FCHO to build 1,100 affordable, green homes in Oldham and surrounding areas between 2020 and 2026.

The Failsworth properties, which were completed by development partner Lancet Homes, are made up of seven three-bedroom and five two-bedroom houses for shared ownership and two two-bedroom houses for affordable rent. 

The 14 homes have been built on a former brownfield site (Image: First Choice Homes Oldham)

Shared ownership offers people the chance to buy an initial share of a home and pay rent on the rest.

Residents can then buy more shares in their home in the future as and when they can afford it, with the more shares owned, the less rent residents need to pay.

The two properties for rent are designed so tenants can enjoy rent rates set no higher than 80 per cent of the average local market rent.

Charlotte Satchell-Higgins, 32, from Moston, is one of the new residents of the 12 shared ownership properties who has been able to get on the property ladder courtesy of the scheme.

The NHS pharmacy dispenser said: “I wouldn't be on the property ladder if it wasn't for shared ownership. I saw these houses, enquired about them and it all fell into place.

Charlotte Satchell-Higgins said her life has been made much easier (Image: First Choice Homes Oldham)

“Things are so difficult now with house prices. This has made my life so much easier.”

As part of  FCHO’s effort to build sustainable and future-proof homes, all properties are designed to be highly energy efficient through a "fabric first" approach, which means maximising the performance of the components and materials that make up the building.

The properties also boast an Energy Performance Certificate B rating to help customers keep bills and carbon emissions down.

The development was funded by FCHO and £618,000 in funding from Homes England.

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Joel Owen, FCHO’s director of development, said: “It is fantastic to see these 14 properties at Hardman Street ready for customers.

“A lack of affordable options can mean local buyers can struggle to take a first step on to the housing ladder.

“We are bringing forward much-needed mixed tenure developments like this one to make home ownership possible for more people.

"These are sustainable, highly energy-efficient properties as part of our Net Zero carbon ambitions to make a positive difference to local people and the borough.”

FCHO and Lancet Homes also teamed up on the £3.6m development of 14 homes on Radcliffe Street in Royton, called "The Place".

The properties were completed in October last year and are also energy efficient units with a mix of two and three-bedroom houses for affordable rent and shared ownership on a former brownfield site.

Heath Broadbent, group construction director at Lancet Homes, said of the Hardman Street project: “We are delighted to have successfully delivered this turnkey package of 14 new affordable homes for FCHO.

“Lancet Homes’ role in this project covered the acquisition of the site from Oldham Council through to securing planning permission and delivering the completed homes for FCHO in accordance with the agreed programme.”

For more information about the remaining homes or to book a viewing, call 0161 524 1699 or email sales@fabricliving.co.uk.