Depot development to transform services

TAKING shape . . . the new depot with Cath Green First Choice CEO and council leader Jean Stretton

HOUSING provider First Choice Homes Oldham says work on a new depot and offices for its property repairs, grounds maintenance and caretaking staff is well underway.

First Choice Homes says the new development at Primrose Bank, near Ashton Road, will help to transform its maintenance and repairs services for customers and keep 180 jobs based in the town.

The housing provider is a not-for-profit housing association which provides and manages a range of housing, including council homes on behalf of Oldham Council.

Cath Green, chief executive of First Choice, and Councillor Jean Stretton, leader of Oldham Council, recently visited the Primrose Bank site to see the work in progress.

The new building is being constructed on a site owned by the Meridian Development Company after a four-year search to find a suitable location. First Choice repair, maintenance and caretaking staff will move there from their a current base at Copster Hill, once the building work is complete.

Giving an update, Dave Woods, homes and investment director at First Choice Homes, said the new building will provide a high quality site for staff, be closer to the housing provider's town centre head office, and will present a vibrant and positive image

He said: "It's fantastic to see work progressing on our new operational facility and we're looking forward to welcoming our property and neighbourhood care colleagues into their new home later in the year.

"We have spent the last four years trying to find a suitable site for these services to be based in. This new facility follows the construction of our flagship head office at Union Street in Oldham town centre, reinforcing our continued investment in the town and commitment to our customers.

"This new facility at Primrose Bank will enable us to keep our entire workforce based in Oldham. It is also in a position next to the main transport routes through the town will also mean we are well-placed to further improve the services we provide."

In addition to its work on the new depot and existing homes, First Choice Homes has also launched a development team to explore the possibilities of building new homes on previously-used brownfield sites and through converting former commercial properties into purely residential or mixed-use residential and commercial developments.

New homes could be made available to customers under a range of different tenures.