£400,000 to give homes new lease of life

£400,000 is being spent to improve the external appearance of 57 homes of terraced homes in the Deeplish and Milkstone neighbourhoods.

Rochdale building company Jackson & Jackson is carrying out the refurbishment, which is being managed by Rochdale Council’s strategic housing team.

The improvements programme is giving priority to houses on main routes through the neighbourhood, helping to lift the appearance of the area as a whole. The facelifts to older houses in the neighbourhood will complement new homes that the Brighter Futures project expects to bring to the area in future years.

“The level of work we carry out on each house depends on its condition, so not every property will need the same work doing”, explained Technical Officer Chris Kershaw. Typically we will clean and point brickwork, and restore rear walls, keeping the properties safe and secure. Replacing gutters and drainpipes, where needed, can help to prevent damp from causing problems. In some cases we may need to replace windows or doors where they are in very poor condition.”

Rochdale Council is also putting funds into improving homes, through its Housing Improvement Programme. Area Renewal Manager, Peter Maynard added: “By focusing on what each home needs, we can improve the condition of many more properties, giving much better value for money. Many residents take the opportunity to pay for other improvements to their homes while this work is being carried out, and other grants may be available to help.”