RBH on track to deliver new mutual homes

New RBH homes at Queens Drive in Kirkholt

Local mutual housing society RBH remains on track to deliver more affordable homes across the Borough, as work starts on the next phase of the RBH development programme.

Over the past year, tenants have settled into new homes on Queens Drive in Kirkholt and at Longridge Drive in Heywood.

At Queens Drive, 11 new two-bedroomed family homes for affordable rent were delivered by RBH with support from the Homes and Communities Agency. The development was designed by architects Pozzoni, and built by Bolton-based contractor Forrest.

At Longridge Drive, RBH have built 19 two-bedroom houses, four three-bedroom houses and three two-bedroom bungalows, all for affordable rent. Additional support was again provided by the Homes and Communities Agency. The development was designed by architects TADW, and constructed by Cruden Group.

The first new tenants for RBH's 11 new two-bedroom flats for older people on Daventry Road in Kirkholt are also now settling into their new homes. These were designed by Triangle architects and built by contractor Tysons.

Looking forward, RBH is now on site in Lower Falinge to deliver a further 19 homes for affordable rent, on a site formerly occupied by garages and a kick pitch. The new homes are due to be completed by late spring 2018. As part of this development, a brand new kick pitch has been provided which opened in July 2017.

Work also continues on the redeveloped Strand on Kirkholt. This will provide 16 new apartments for affordable rent in addition to new community facilities and a new parade of shops.

Looking further forward, in January 2017 RBH were allocated £3.4m in Government grant to support the delivery of a further 99 new homes, as part of the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme for 2016 to 2021. The schemes will include 60 ‘rent to buy’ homes to be delivered across different areas of Rochdale borough.

These new homes will take the total number of new mutual homes built by RBH since the 2012 transfer to 278.

Clare Tostevin, RBH Director of Communities, said: "We are really proud of the new homes we have built in the five years since 2012. We know these are greatly valued by our tenants and by the local communities. As well as providing much needed new homes this investment in our communities boosts local jobs and apprenticeships. All our homes built last year were designed by Greater Manchester based architects with all main contractors based in the North West.

Our development programme will continue to provide new high-quality homes across Rochdale borough and will now also offer new affordable options for those who would like to own their home".