Housing association continues to tackle housing crisis with new affordable homes

First Choice Homes

Oldham-based housing association, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) continues to help tackle the shortage of affordable housing locally by investing more than £20m over the past 12 months to build 84 new homes, with 146 homes currently on site. Plans are also underway to commence with a further 259 in 2022/23.

The properties will help the social landlord to achieve its ambitious target to deliver 1,100 quality, new, sustainable homes across Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Kirklees and Calderdale by 2026. These much-needed homes are designed to help meet growing demand for housing and improve the lives of local people.

The new-build developments completed between April 2021 and March 2022 range from one and two-bedroom apartments to two, three and four-bedroom family houses across Oldham and Rochdale boroughs. 

To maximise capacity, FCHO’s housing schemes have been delivered in partnership with contractors and developers including Rochdale-based Casey and J.Walker Homes; and North-West firms, Keepmoat, House Crowd Developments and JMS Property Developments.

Joel Owen, FCHO’s Director of Development said: “As in many other parts of the country, demand for affordable housing in Oldham and surrounding areas significantly outstrips supply and the pandemic has shown us that increasing the number of affordable homes for people is more urgent than ever.

"Despite interruptions in programme over the past year due to Covid and challenges from rising costs and reduced availability of materials, we've continued to deliver quality, modern, sustainable homes for people in greatest need, and I'd like to thank our partners for their continued support to help us achieve this."

Looking ahead, FCHO plans to step up the pace and volume at which it delivers new housing. It will also offer properties for shared ownership and rent to buy, helping more people to get a foot on the property ladder. 

Mr Owen adds: “Just this month we have signed four deals to deliver 50 new affordable homes across a range of tenures in Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside. This is in addition to 146 homes already in progress across five sites in the Royton, Alt, Fitton Hill and Waterhead areas of Oldham.

“This puts us in a strong position for this financial year and the next. To keep up momentum on the supply of new homes we're actively looking to acquire land, land-led package deals and Section 106 units and form partnerships/joint ventures with housebuilders, developers, contractors, local authorities or other registered providers. Together we can make a real difference to Oldham and nearby areas going forward.”

For more information about FCHO’s new developments, visit www.fcho.co.uk

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