More houses get spruced up

Mick Skinner and his father Vic, restoring stonework on Rochdale terraced homes

More terraced homes across Rochdale neighbourhoods are getting a new lease of life through the Housing Market Renewal programme in the borough.

New stonework, cleaned and repointed brickwork, new gutters and downpipes and work to protect roofs are all helping to brighten the appearance of whole streets. The houses are easier to live in too, becoming better insulated and better able to withstand the weather.

Smart new railings and gates are being added to the fronts of the houses, creating an attractive look across the neighbourhoods. The contractors carrying out the work have cleaned and repointed garden walls, and in some cases taken down and rebuilt them.

On a row of stone fronted terraced homes on Park Road in Hamer, Mick Skinner is working with his father, Vic. He said: “The residents have been the best we have worked with. Nothing has been too much trouble and they’ve kept us well supplied with cups of tea.”

Residents have expressed their satisfaction with the work so far. Bernard Ward of Reservoir Street in Belfield said: “The works have made a big difference to my house and a big improvement to the way the area looks.”

They’ve put in new gutters and fascias, and painted my windows. I’ve got a new garden wall with iron railings.”

Yousaf Mohammed of Kent Street, Deeplish added: “We are very happy with the work which has taken place on our house. We never imagined that small changes made to the front of our house would make such a big impact.

J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd is carrying out the work on behalf of Housing Market Renewal in East Central Rochdale. John Greenwood said: “We have a lot of staff who have been involved with the HMR programme for several years now, which is helping to build expertise and experience. “

Over £1.8 million is being spent on refurbishment this year across Rochdale’s Housing Market Renewal neighbourhoods. £1 million will be spent in East Central Rochdale and a further £800,000 in Milkstone and Deeplish .

The works underway for this year will bring the total number of houses improved through Housing Market Renewal in Rochdale to over 1100.