Fourteen new affordable homes in Failsworth completed in £3.7m First Choice Homes scheme to help people get on property ladder

A £3.7m scheme from local housing provider First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has seen 14 affordable and energy efficient homes completed in Failsworth.

Customers have started to move into the super-green properties built on a former brownfield site on Hardman Street, which had stood vacant for more than a decade.

The development is part of FCHO’s wider £160m investment to build 1,100 affordable, green homes in Oldham and surrounding areas between 2020 and 2026 to improve the lives of local people.

The Failsworth properties, completed by development partner Lancet Homes, comprise seven three-bedroom and five two-bedroom houses for shared ownership and two two-bedroom houses for affordable rent. 

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

They can then buy more shares in their home in the future, as and when they can afford it – the more shares you have the less rent you pay.

And the two properties for rent are designed so tenants can enjoy rent rates set at no more than 80% of the average local market rent.

As part of  FCHO’s drive to build sustainable and future-proof homes all properties are designed to be highly energy efficient through a ‘fabric first’ approach and boast an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) B rating to help customers keep bills and carbon emissions down.

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

Delighted new residents include Charlotte Satchell-Higgins, 32, from Moston, who has been able to get on the property ladder and picked up the keys to one of the 12 shared ownership properties - marketed through Fabric Living, FCHO’s shared ownership and sales brand.

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.

“Things are so difficult now with house prices.

"This has made my life so much easier.”

It is not the first time FCHO has teamed up with Lancet Homes, with the house builder enlisted for a £3.6m scheme completed in October last year which delivered 14 high quality, energy efficient, two and three-bedroom houses for affordable rent and shared ownership on Radcliffe Street - a former brownfield site in Royton town centre.

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.”

Heath Broadbent, Group Construction Director at Lancet Homes said: “We are delighted to have successfully delivered this turnkey package of 14 new affordable homes for FCHO.

"We deliver high quality affordable housing throughout the North West region and are extremely pleased to continue building our relationship with FCHO who are a pleasure to work with.

“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 remaining homes for shared ownership at Hardman Street or to book a viewing, call 0161 524 1699 or email: sales@fabricliving.co.uk

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