Oldham Council signs contract for new housing project

Oldham Council has agreed a deal to develop new public housing across four sites in the borough through the “Gateways to Oldham” PFI contract.

The council and the Inspiral Oldham Consortium, which consists of Regenter, Wates Living Space and Great Places Housing Group, officially signed the 25-year contract on 30 November.

The project will see around 700 new homes being built or refurbished over three years on the Crossley and Primrose Bank estates, and on brownfield sites at Westwood and Fitton Hill.

The Government has approved £113million to fund the capital costs of the housing development, which will be paid to the council in the form of an annual grant over the term of the contract. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) manages the private housing finance programme on behalf of Government and has worked closely with Oldham Council and its partners to maximise this funding opportunity.

Most of the properties will be made available for rent through the Choice Based Lettings Scheme, operated on the authority’s behalf by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO). These properties will be managed for the council by the Great Places Housing Group and maintained by Wates Living Space.
Homes for sale will also be made available on two sites – Primrose Bank, Ashton Road and Dew Way, Westwood – by Plum Life, a subsidiary of Great Places.

As well as new homes, two new purpose-built community centres will be provided on the Crossley and Primrose Bank estates, and a new retail space developed at Crossley. These estates will also see new parks and open spaces for residents.

Additional benefits will include opportunities for local residents to take up employment and training opportunities with Wates Living Space and local companies once construction starts. This will be facilitated through Wates’ established partnership with J21, the local Construction Employment and Training initiative and will utilise J21’s close links to local contractors.

Wates Living Space has already taken on six apprentices through J21 to help deliver the project. The apprentices will have the opportunity to combine work on site with attendance at Oldham College to achieve formal qualifications in their chosen trade.

It is envisaged that up to a further 3300 weeks of paid work and training placements will be provided under the contract for the benefit of the local community. In addition, Wates will provide 800 weeks of work experience placements.

Ian Burnett, managing director of Wates Living Space said: “Wates Living Space is delighted to be delivering this landmark regeneration scheme. We look forward to working with the consortium members not just to deliver much needed new and improved homes but to bring benefits to the whole community through investment and employment opportunities.”

Substantial consultation took place with tenants and residents throughout the whole process.