Local firms to benefit from homes boost

Ross Grace, Gleeson Regeneration; Ian Mason, Keepmoat; Alastair Graham; Oldham Rochdale HMR Pathfinder, Sarfraz Arfan, J-21 Steve Kelshaw, Artisan Construction

Over 45 local construction businesses heard first hand how they could benefit from a multi-million pound housing boom in Oldham and Rochdale.

The event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, gave local businesses the chance to meet developers delivering new homes through the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal (HMR) Pathfinder programme. At least 2,500 modern homes will be built across the Pathfinder area over the next three years and around £2 billion of public and private investment is expected in the area over the next 10 to 15 years.

Keepmoat Regeneration, Gleeson Regeneration, BASE and Bellway, the lead developers for Werneth, Derker and East Central Rochdale, are keen to use local contractors wherever possible. Dozens of apprenticeship opportunities will also be created by The Oldham College and Hopwood Hall College. 

The event was organised by J21, the Oldham and Rochdale local labour in construction initiative, which is funded by the HMR Pathfinder. Local businesses heard about plans to utilise local subcontractors and initiatives to help train local people to meet skills shortages.

Ross Grace, Development Director of Gleeson Regeneration, said: “We aim to engage local subcontractors and suppliers in the construction process as we believe it is essential that the economic benefits of regeneration are retained within the local area.”

Some of the inner areas of Oldham and Rochdale are suffering because people are choosing to leave in search of a better mix of modern housing – this can lead to a spiral of decline.  Research shows that for every household entering the HMR area, five want to leave.  

The HMR Pathfinder is giving developers the confidence to invest in areas that have suffered from lower property prices in order to safeguard communities into the future and create thriving places to live.  More than £57 million has already been invested since 2004.  Communities are feeling the positive impact with more housing choice, hundreds of refurbishments to existing homes and work to improve the environment and turn around people’s perceptions.  More than £24 million private sector funding has been attracted to the HMR area for 2007 – 08 as a direct result of HMR.

Sarfraz Arfan, J21 Manager said: “It is a crucial that local businesses take advantage of the regeneration boom.  It’s also important that we facilitate employment opportunities for skilled people to prevent a skills drain, otherwise we may lose out to competing areas such as Liverpool and Manchester. It’s excellent to have such firm commitments from the Housing Market Renewal developers.”