Government awards millions to transform housing market on Langley

Date published: 24/03/2006

The Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder was today awarded £67.5 million to continue improvements to areas of Langley, Rochdale and Oldham where the housing markets have suffered.

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, confirmed the funding as part of a £482 million package to continue work to regenerate parts of Northern England while on a visit to Rotherham, part of the South Yorkshire Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Project. 

Oldham and Rochdale’s money - which is at the high end of the £40 - £70 million range suggested by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - will be spent over the next two years.  During this period, it is estimated that approximately £5 million of Housing Market Renewal Funding will be spent on Langley.  

The Pathfinder is one of the partners involved in turning Langley into a place where people really want to live.  It is currently doing this by providing better car parking and boundary treatments to homes, carrying out environmental works and giving developers, such as Lovell, the confidence to invest in the area. Work in the next two years will include tackling the cottage flat sites across the estate and work to promote housing development in the heart of Langley.

This money will help to bring in other public and private money into the Borough. Approximately £2 billion of public and private investment will be invested in the Oldham Rochdale HMR Pathfinder area over the 15-year lifetime of the initiative.  Research has shown a trend of people who can afford to do so moving out of the Pathfinder area because of the shortage of good quality homes there.   Langley has a large number of empty properties that are being cleared to make way for new housing for sale.  A better choice coupled with nice surroundings through environmental improvements will mean that more people will want to stay in Langley or move to the area.

Alastair Graham, Director of the Pathfinder said: “This is great news.  Our successful bid highlights the confidence of the Government in the progress that has already been made and will allow us to continue with the vast improvement plans.

“All the evidence shows that doing nothing is not an option.  Without intervention there is a real risk that those who can afford to do so will leave Langley because the housing there isn’t right for them and property values will remain well below the average for Greater Manchester.  We will continue to work closely with residents to achieve a better mix of housing to suit modern needs, including affordable housing.”

John McGuire, Chair of the Oldham Rochdale Housing Marker Renewal, welcomed the funding.  “This money will make a huge difference to Langley.  It will help provide better, modern housing and residents will feel the benefits right across the borough with improved job opportunities, increased community safety and a better environment.”