Official opening of FCHO's new maintenance site
Reporter: Simon Smedley
Date published: 28 September 2018
First Choice Homes Oldham Board member Bernie Callaghan officially opens the new site alongside the company's Assistant Director (Property Care) Siobhan McCoy
Members of the First Choice Homes Oldham leadership team, along with board members, were on hand at the official opening of the new maintenance site at Primrose Place.
The new site is now the home of First Choice's repairs, grounds maintenance and caretaking teams, who previously worked from the housing provider's Copster Hill base.
Staff moved into the building during the spring.
The official opening of the building was conducted by Board member Bernie Callaghan, as she was joined by external partners that First Choice have worked alongside during the whole process of getting the building to where it is now.
Siobhan McCoy, First Choice Homes' Assistant Director (Property Care), oversaw much of the project over the past few years.
She told the Chronicle: "The old building at Copster Hill just wasn't fit for purpose, it was outdated.
"Therefore we embarked on a search for new premises in 2013.
"Eventually we worked with the Council and Meridian, they drew up some plans, we looked at the warehouse space and the office space above that, and work started in 2016 after we'd secured planning permission.
"There was a bit of a delay in us moving into the premises, but we've been here for a few months now and the building works really well.
"It's been a long journey, but our repair staff here can now stock lots more materials so we can any repairs completed much quicker and that can only benefit the customer.
"It's just enabled to have a different culture and ethos about how we do things. It's given everyone at First Choice Homes a huge lift."
Following a huge transfer of Council housing stock, First Choice Homes Oldham was formed seven years ago for the benefit of the community.
It is a ‘not for profit’ housing association, which features a Board of Non-Executive Directors made up of between eight and 12 Members, who oversee the overall running of the company.
FCHO manages approximately 12,000 homes in Oldham, with any surplus money made reinvested into homes and neighbourhoods.
FCHO is completely independent from Oldham Borough Council and therefore do not have to depend on Government funding to improve its homes.
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