A development of almost 50 new and affordable 'eco-friendly' homes have been built in the Middleton area of Rochdale as part of a £12.2 million deal.

Housing provider, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), is celebrating the delivery of 47 eco-friendly family homes on Rothay Drive in Middleton following a £12m deal with developer, Lovell.

The 55-home Eden Park development comprises open market and affordable housing as well as a children's play area, open space, pathways and connecting roads.

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The energy-saving homes are also highly insulated with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) B rating and have an electric vehicle charging point.

In September this year, FCHO formally took ownership of 47 of the affordable tenure properties.

This is comprised of 19 shared-ownership homes, with one two-bedroom house, 14 three-bed houses and four four-bed properties.

Some 11 also ear-marked for affordable rent, including six two-bed homes, one three-bed house and four four-bed homes.

Finally, 17 are rent-to-buy properties, namely two two-bed homes, eight three-bed homes and seven foud-bed homes.

The development on the former Rothay Drive clearance site attracted a £2.4m Homes England grant funding.

The project also forms part of FCHO's green focus and its strategy to deliver needed, high quality and sustainable homes to Oldham and the surrounding areas to meet increasing demand.

Steve Agger, Executive Director of Homes at FCHO said: “We are committed to providing high quality family homes that, as well as being environmentally friendly, offer different buying and renting options so people living in the communities we are based in and serve can get on the property ladder and secure a home that meets their needs.”

Tahreen Shad, regional partnerships director for Lovell said: “Eden Park is the final scheme within the significant regeneration scheme for Langley, Middleton where Lovell has delivered more than 500 homes.

"The area is widely regarded as one of Manchester’s top commuting towns and an ideal location for growing families. 

"We were able to draw on our experience of delivering successful regeneration projects in the region, such as our work in Pendleton in Salford, and Miles Platting and Edge Lane in Manchester.

"It’s great to see the completion of Eden Park, and we are proud to have worked with FCHO in providing much-needed affordable housing alongside an enhanced public realm. Following on from Langley, we look forward to more collaborations with FCHO to progress similar opportunities in Greater Manchester.”   

In the past three years, FCHO has delivered 134 new affordable, sustainable one-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom family homes across the Rochdale borough.

Work is currently underway on around 130 homes at four further sites in Middleton, Heywood and Littleborough to help boost supply for people in housing need.

In Heywood, the housing provider is building 40 one and two-bedroom apartments at Rochdale Road East with Challenger Building Services.

They are bringing forward 45 family houses at Kellen Homes’ Mill Vale development, and 29 bungalows and houses at Mossylea Close with Lancet Homes, all in Middleton.

In Littleborough, construction of 14 one and two-bedroom apartments is underway with Armstrong Projects.

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