Work to restart on troubled scheme

HOUSING chiefs insist work will start within weeks on the much-delayed St Mary’s housing scheme.

Plans to build 93 eco-friendly homes in the Oldham town centre project have been on the agenda for more than seven years but have faced numerous setbacks.

Salford-based housing association Contour Housing, which manages the Limehurst, Avenues and Hollins estates for Oldham Council, has drawn up the latest plans for homes for rent, sale or on a flexible tenure.

Fears have been raised over the scheme ever going ahead as the derelict land, bounded by St Mary’s Way, Egerton Street and Horsedge Street, has remained untouched.

A freeze on cash for large housing schemes last year had left question marks but funding was secured.

The most recent setback involved sub-contractor Rok Construction, a social-housing repairs company, going into administration in November.

But Contour says it has now struck a deal for the work to be done by Bramall construction, which has taken over possession of the site and is set to start in mid-February.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said: “They have got the new contractors in place, replacing Rok, and work should be starting very soon, within a few weeks. There are no major changes to the plans and it’s still the same scheme.”

Plans include two, three, four and five-bedroom houses plus car parking to fill the area once occupied by the Jepersen Street flats, demolished in 1997.

The land became the largest free car park in Oldham until it was landscaped last year and turned into a wildflower meadow with limited parking.