Rochdale residents see regeneration in action

Local people saw first hand new housing being built through the Housing Market Renewal programme, which is investing millions of pounds in areas of Rochdale.

A Residents’ Sounding Panel, which is made up of people from Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton, toured areas of Oldham where new homes are being built through the Government programme.

One of only nine in the UK, the Pathfinder is investing in areas that have suffered from a lack of investment and lower house prices to boost the choice of housing available. 

The group visited two new housing sites in Oldham: Manchester Methodist Housing Association’s Devon Street development in Werneth and McInerney’s Stoneleigh in Derker as well as a new award-winning development that Manchester Methodist completed at Selwyn Street.

The Panel later watched a presentation on new homes being planned for Rochdale including a large development at the former Dale and Arkwright Mill sites which will use solar power and wind energy.

BASE, a developer working with the Pathfinder, has developed proposals for around 80 three, four and five bedroom houses and two bedroom apartments.

The new environmentally friendly homes will re-energise the Hamer area and will be set within landscaped grounds including play spaces with views of the River Roch and the Pennine Hills.

While visiting the new homes being built on Devon Street in Oldham, Vanessa Kilburn from Whitehall Street in Rochdale said: “I really like the layout of this development.  It’s good how the properties are not directly facing each other giving the occupiers’ plenty of privacy.”

Betty Pullen from Langdale Drive in Langley said: “The rows of terraced houses in this area make it feel very cramped.  The new homes seem to have more space around them which will make the whole area more attractive.”    

The Sounding Panel is made up of residents who live in the Oldham Rochdale HMR Pathfinder area who advise and give their views on the programme.

Alastair Graham, Director of the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, said: “Local people have been involved in plans for new housing over a number of years and as we make progress in delivering a better mix of modern homes for sale, rent and shared ownership, it is important that we continue to involve residents living in the communities affected.  Regeneration does not happen over night, but real progress is being made which will give local people better choices and ultimately encourage them to stay in their areas rather than leave in search of better housing elsewhere.  We are very thankful to the residents who give their time and get involved.”

As well as the Resident Sounding Panel, who meet regularly to discuss the pathfinder programme, there is also a wider group of residents who give their views via email or telephone interviews. These opinions are fed into discussions at HMR Board meetings.  If you would like to find out more about the Residents Sounding Panel, and you live in the Pathfinder neighbourhoods in Rochdale, Middleton or Oldham, please contact the HMR Core Team on 0161 911 3755 for more information.