£4m scheme to build 16 affordable homes in Middleton completed

A £4m scheme comprising 16 new affordable and eco-friendly family homes in Middleton has been completed.

The family dwellings are part of a First Choice Homes (FCHO) investment plan to ensure people living in the communities it serves can get on the property ladder and are not priced out of the housing market, alongside its Net Zero carbon ambitions to make a positive difference and build sustainable homes.

FCHO worked with KMM Homes as the main contractor for the mixed tenure project which benefited from a £0.7m Homes England Grant.

The 16 high quality sustainable homes include six two-bedroom and two three-bedroom houses for affordable rent, which means tenants can enjoy rent rates set at no more than 80% of the local market rent.

These homes have been allocated via Rochdale Council's housing register.

The remaining properties are made up of six four-bedroom and two three-bedroom homes for shared ownership. This offers people the chance to buy an initial share of a home and pay rent on the rest. They can then buy more shares in their home in the future, as and when they can afford it.

All eight shared ownership properties have been reserved after being marketed through Fabric Living, FCHO’s shared ownership and sales brand.

And in a further demonstration of FCHO’s green focus, all 16 homes have a raft of sustainability features.

These include timber frame construction; low carbon electric heating and hot water systems; highly energy efficient windows; high-performing wall and roof insulation to prevent heat loss and ensure all year-round comfort.

All homes have achieved a “B” rating for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) bands – meaning they are exceeding the minimum C band rating standard government officials have encouraged landlords to work towards where possible.

The eco-friendly nature also extends to outside the homes, with the development including landscaping and tree planting to promote biodiversity, alongside bat and bird boxes. Delighted new Oldham Road residents include Natalie Baker who has moved into one of the homes for shared ownership.

She said: “I’ve bought an initial share in the house for now, with a view to staircasing to buy it outright in the future.

“It’s ideal for my needs at the moment. Everything is coming together and it just feels like we’ve lived here always.”

This is the second project FCHO has worked on with KMM Homes, after coming together to deliver the  Ridge Hill scheme in Stalybridge with the Grassmoor development creating eight affordable four-bedroom houses last year.

Joel Owen, FCHO’s Director of Development said: “We are committed to playing an active and positive role in the communities we serve, and this project is another great example of our focus to provide high quality affordable homes.

“This project also complements our work towards net zero, generating a range of opportunities for customers and the communities we serve by lowering energy bills and reducing fuel poverty within our neighbourhoods.”

The development is part of FCHO’s wider £160m investment to build 1,100 affordable, green homes in Oldham and surrounding areas between 2020 and 2026 to improve the lives of local people.